Parce Domine

General information

For other settings of Joel 2:17, see Inter vestibulum et altare and ne reminiscaris Domine.

The hymn Flectamus iram vindicem is attributed to St Ambrose. The Gregorian Parce Domine refrain is also sung with verses from the miserere using the tonus peregrinus.

Notes on selected settings

Richard Eldon Barber SS (adds hymn) Mariano Garau TTBarB (adds hymn vv. 1-2) SAB

Menegali TTB (Variant 1) Jacob Obrecht SATB (Variant 2) Scott Villard SATB, SA or TB, all with keyboard ("Parce…nobis" & 4 stanzas of "Flectamus…")

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Richard Eldon Barber — Parce Domine  2 2 equal voices
• Raynaldus Francigena — Parce Domine  Latin ATTB
• Mariano Garau — Parce Domine II  Latin SAB
• Gregorian chant — Parce Domine  Latin Unison
• Heinrich Isaac — Parce Domine  Latin SATB
• Menegali — Parce Domine  Latin TTB
• Jacob Obrecht — Parce Domine  Latin SATB
• Simone Olivieri — Parce, Domine  Latin SATB
• Scott Villard — Parce Domine  Latin SATB,SA,TB

Text and translations

Latin text Parce Domine, populo tuo, ne in aeternum irascaris nobis. Variant 1 Parce Domine populo tuo, et ne des haereditatem tuam in [obprobrium] perditionem. (Joel 2:17. Vulgate) Variant 2 Parce Domine, parce populo tuo quia pius es et misericors. Exaudi nos in aeternum, Domine. Variant 3 (Hymn) 1. Flectamus iram vindicem, Ploremus ante Judicem; Clamemus ore supplici, Dicamus omnes cernui: 2. Nostris malis offendimus Tuam Deus clementiam Effunde nobis desuper Remissor indulgentiam. 3. Dans tempus acceptabile, Da lacrimarum rivulis Lavare cordis victimam, Quam laeta adurat caritas. 4. Audi, benigne Conditor, Nostras preces cum fletibus In hoc sacro jejunio, Fusas quadragenario.

English translation O Lord, spare thy people, and be not angry with us for ever. Variant 1 O Lord, spare thy people and give not thine inheritance to [reproach] perdition. Variant 2 Spare, O Lord, spare thy people, for Thou art gracious and merciful. Hear us for ever, O Lord. Variant 3 (Hymn) 1. Let us appease His wrath, Beg for mercy from our Judge; Cry to Him in supplication, Let us all prostrate and say: 2. By our sins we have offended against your mercy, O God Pour forth from above O pardoning One, your forgiveness 3. Having given us this acceptable time, grant that in the water of our tears we may purify our heart and that it may become a joyful sacrifice offered out of love. 4. O Merciful Creator, hear our prayers with our weeping in this holy time of forty day fasting.

As set by Isaac

Latin text Parce, Domine, populo tuo, et ne des haereditatem tuam in perditionem. (Joel 2:17)

English translation Spare, O Lord, spare thy people; and give not thine inheritance to perdition. Translation by St Ann choir