Monteverdi: Ab aeterno ordinata sum; John Taylor Ward, baritone, with Voices of Music

Claudio Monteverdi: the solo motet Ab aeterno ordinata sum SV 262, from his late collection of music, Selva morale e spirituale (Venice, 1640/1). This extraordinary composition is a tour de force for the soloist, combining a wide range with passaggi and angular leaps--evocative of the rugged spiritual terrain of the text, sourced from Proverbs 8: 23-31.
HD video from the Voices of Music Christmas Vespers concert, December 2013.
John Taylor Ward, baritone
William Skeen, viola da gamba
Hanneke van Proosdij, baroque chamber organ
Ab aeterno ordinata sum,
et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.
Nondum erant abyssi, et ego iam concepta eram,
necdum fontes aquarum eruperant,
necdum montes gravi mole constiterant;
ante omnes colles ego parturiebar.
Adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina,
et cardines orbis terrae.
Quando preparabat caelos aderam,
quando certa lege et giro vallabat abissos,
quando etera firmabat sursum,
et librabat fontes aquarum,
quando circumdabat mari terminum suum
et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos,
quando appendebat fundamenta terrae:
cum eo eram, cuncta componens
et delectabor per singulos dies,
ludens coram eo omni tempore,
ludens in orbem terrarum,
et deliciae meae esse cum filiis hominum.
I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth,
when there were no fountains abounding with water,
before the mountains were settled;
before the hills was I brought forth.
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the rivers,
nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens I was there,
when he set a compass upon the face of the depth,
when he established the clouds above,
when he strengthened the fountains of the deep,
when he gave to the sea his decree
that the waters should not pass their boundaries,
when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
then I was by him, as one brought up with him
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always with him,
rejoicing in the habitable part of the earth,
and my delights were with the sons of men.
Proverbs 8: 23-31

[@TheOktavismChannel]

Wonderful agility and lows from this baritone, down to C#2/Db2!

[@thomaslehmanbaritone]

This is EXCEPTIONAL singing. This is a man with an easy high A singing an abundance of low C#'s. Bravo.

[@lukeroy5676]

How dare they call this man a baritone, he gets my full permission to join BASS GANG after this

[@vousatyr]

He's awesome...

[@AP-ic3un]

I am late commenting on this wonderful performance. I am truely captivated by all of the performances. however Jtw has a wonderful voice and presence and deserves praise...just look at the other virtuoso performers around him and see their smiles!!

[@OlmoHerediaBlanco]

Maravilloso... Una interpretación impecable.

[@leticianascimento9833]

Majestic!

[@UnathiGX]

I just cannot get over this splendid rendition!

[@davidstein5300]

Ward is a young man with an unbelievable range and talent. He will have a great future ahead of him. VoM is the place for him to start! I hope he returns to enchant us once again.

[@6463538]

Absolutely spectacular rendition. This ensemble (and composer) never cease to surprise delightfully.

[@clydesight]

Beautiful! John Ward is very expressive! Thank you for posting this.

[@thelightinlife]

exquisite!

[@krisburke4631]

What a superb singer!

[@c.g.marseille4510]

verbazing en bewondering en veel dank voor de bijgevoegde tekst met vertaling !

[@thyrn888]

Stunning performance. What a voice!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Agree!

[@MMotta-mk8uq]

Que voz linda!

[@palfab962ify]

wow....super sweet voice....good work.....

[@scherzimusicali]

great singing!

[@talvela100]

Sebbene le note gravi non vi siano tutte, questo ragazzo ha una voce molto interessante. BRAVO

[@bushkabear3]

grazie!

[@etienneleuridan3547]

Ce très beau chanteur n’est pas un baryton mais une vrai basse ! ! !

[@VoicesofMusic]

D'accord!

[@classiccandle27]

Do you happen to have the sheet music in this key of Db? There seems to be only in C, a half step lower 😮

[@VoicesofMusic]

No, sorry...we performed at old pitch.

[@classiccandle27]

@@VoicesofMusic In which key did you perform it then, in D? Because we hear ca. Db in today’s pitch

[@polloloco26]

@@classiccandle27 no, A tuned to ~ 465 hz. played in “c”. Sounds a half tone higher. Some organs and cornettos were supposedly at that pitch at the time of monteverdi making this a very possible pitch to perform at. Sorry for the butchering of history :)

[@paololucca1495]

baritone?

[@VoicesofMusic]

Can sing both high and low :)