Nisi Dominus (Jehan L'Heritier)

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• (Posted 2025-02-10)  CPDL #83804:       

Editor: Bert Schreuder (submitted 2025-02-10).   Score information: A4, 14 pages, 316 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transcribed from several sources; further information at the end of the pdf. Transposed down a tone, note values halved.

• (Posted 2023-08-19)  CPDL #74915:     

Editor: Drew Sellis (submitted 2023-08-19).   Score information: A4, 11 pages, 153 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Note values halved, original pitch retained. Edited from the first edition 1532 Moderne MS.

General Information

Title: Nisi Dominus - Cum dederit
Composer: Jehan L'Heritier
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicings: SATT or SATB
Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: Latin
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1532 in Motteti del Fiore primus liber cum quatuor vocibus (Jacques Moderne), no. 24
    2nd published: 1535 in Motettorum, Book 9 (Pierre Attaingnant), no. 18
    3rd published: 1539 in Psalmorum selectorum (Johannes Petreius), Tomus 2, no. 27
    4th published: 1539 in Fior de mottetti primus liber cum quatuor vocibus (Antonio Gardano), no. 6
    5th published: 1555 in Moteti de la fama (Jehan L'Heritier), no. 10
Description: There are ten sources for this motet. Six attribute it to L'Heritier, two to Guillaume Le Heurteur, one to Claudin (de Sermisy, most likely), and one anonymous.

Original text and translations

Original text and translations may be found at Psalm 127.

Latin text Nisi Dominus ædificaverit domum, in vanum laboraverunt qui ædificant eam. Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, frustra vigilat qui custodit eam. Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: surgite postquam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum. Ecce: hæreditas Domini, filii, merces, fructus ventris. Sicut sagittæ in manu potentis, ita filii excussorum. Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis; non confundetur, cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.

English text Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, he who guards it watches in vain. It is vain for you to rise before light: rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. He provides for those he loves while they sleep. Behold: sons are an inheritance from the Lord, a reward, the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the sons of one's youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be put to shame, when they speak with their enemies in the gate.