To Dust Thou Shalt Return

A programme for Ash Wednesday or early Lent

Ease into Lent with this Ash Wednesday programme of chants and polyphonic pieces that creates just the right atmosphere of introspection and repentance. It anticipates both the grief and the hope of the coming season.

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

Below is a partial list of pieces. More will be added including meditative instrumental polyphonic works for two or three viols.

Setting the mood

Diffugere nives (based on Horace Ode IV.7)
Hans Judenkünig (c.1450–1526)

Media vita in morte sumus 
chant or setting by Pierre de Manchicourt (c.1510–1564)

Ash Wednesday repertoire

Immutemur habitu (antiphon for the distribution of ashes)
Chant or polyphonic setting
by Bartolomé de Escobedo (1505 – 1563)

Emendemus in melius (responsory for the distribution of ashes)
Chant or polyphonic settings
by William Byrd, Lassus, or Jean Richafort (c. 1480 – c. 1547)
(depending on number of performers)

Grief

Lamentations of Jeremiah (selected verses)
Roland de Lassus (1532 – 1594), possibly other composers

A hopeful ending

Karitas habundat 
chant by Hildegard von Bingen (c.1450–1526)