LISTEN to a Sublime "O Vos Omnes" the Soul Stirring Musical Motet for Lent Sung in an Empty Church

O vos omnes (by TL Victoria in 1585) O vos omnes is a responsory, originally sung as part of Roman Catholic liturgies for Holy Week, and now often sung as a motet. The text is adapted from the Latin Vulgate translation of Lamentations 1:12. It was often set, especially in the sixteenth century, as part of the Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Saturday. This version by Tomas Luis de Victoria is directed by Nigel Short. The archive footage was recorded in St Augustine, Kilburn by kind permission of the Vicar & Churchwardens. Lyrics found below the video.

 

Tomás Luis de Victoria (two settings for four voices: 1572 and 1585) 

Lyrics in Latin: O vos ómnes qui transítis per víam, atténdite et vidéte: Si est dólor símilis sícut dólor méus. V. Atténdite, univérsi pópuli, et vidéte dolórem méum. Si est dólor símilis sícut dólor méus. 

Translation O all you who walk by on the road, pay attention and see: if there be any sorrow like my sorrow. V. Pay attention, all people, and look at my sorrow: if there be any sorrow like my sorrow.