Victoria: Vidi speciosam - Plus Ultra

Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1613): Vidi speciosam
Ensemble Plus Ultra
Michael Noone
Score: www.tomasluisdevictoria.org
Vidi speciosam sicut columbam ascendentem desuper rivos quarum:
Cuius inaestimabilis odor erat nimis in vestimentis eius.
Et sicut dies verni, flores rosarum circumdabant eam, et lilia convallium.
Quae est ista, quae ascendit per desertum sicut virgula fumi, ex aromatibus myrrhae et thuris?
Et sicut dies verni, flores rosarum circumdabant eam, et lilia convallium.
I saw the fair one rising like a dove above the streams of water:
whose priceless fragrance clung to her garments.
And as on a spring day, she was surrounded by roses and lily-of-the-valley.
Who is this who rises from the desert like a pillar of smoke from incense of myrrh and frankincense?
And as on a spring day, she was surrounded by roses and lily-of-the-valley.

[@Liamtyler43]

Absolutely beautiful 💖

[@marcvcivsnoveboracensis]

This is really the apogée of High Renaissance polyphony.

[@vwissler5470]

Here's an English translation. The Latin/English is in the link below. I saw her, beautiful, like a dove, rising over streams of water; her beguiling aroma was too much, and like a day in Spring she was surrounded by blossoms of roses and lily of the valley. Who is she who comes forth like the rising dawn, lovely as the moon, bright as the sun, frightening as an army camp's swords in a line?