Night Prayer

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Night Prayer: Te Lucis Ante Terminum

Have a listen to these renditions of the old Latin hymn 'Te Lucis Ante terminum'/'To thee before the close of day', which is sung at the final church service of the day in the Christian church, known as 'compline'. 





Text:

Te lucis ante terminum,
Rerum Creator, poscimus,
Ut pro tua clementia,
Sis praesul et custodia.
Procul recedant somnia,
Et noctium phantasmata:
Hostemque nostrum comprime,
Ne polluantur corpora.
Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Regnans per omne saeculum.
Amen.


Text translation:
To Thee before the close of day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That, with Thy wonted favour, Thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Withhold from us our ghostly foe,
That spot of sin we may not know. 

O Father, that we ask be done, 
Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. 

Amen. 
Thomas Tallis, c. 1505 - 23 November 1585. One of the greatest English composers of choral music.


Vocal octet 'Voces8'

Christian Forshaw - saxophonist and composer


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