The ”Libera me Domine de morte” is in general a plainchant from the Exsequiarum Ordo more specific a Responsorium sung during the final blessing of the coffin on its catafalque. Indeed this Respond is on the other hand sung at the beginning of the Absolutio pro defunctis, so after the Missa pro Defunctis, see the Liber Usualis page 1767 and is sung on the other hand in the Exsequiarum ordo - also before the Mass –. The whole Exsequarium ordo is published in the old Liber Usualis pages 1763 – 1771. The Libera Domine de Morte aeterna is a well known Respond. This Libera me (there are more (4) plain-chant variations known) is an old Responsorium out of the In Exsequiis part.
But following the text De la Torrre uses some variations in that early days on the later - in 1570 - confirmed Roman text version page 1767/68 of the old Liber Usualis. This very large motet Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna – in exsequiis – by De la Torre is written with some ornamented homophonic phrases for four voices (CATB) alternated with the prescribed plainchant.
This Libera me Domine de morte by the La Torre is set in an alternatim way as stated below.
Settings for CATB are the following beginning parts of sentences: Libera me Domine, Quando coeli, Dum veneris, Dies illa, Dies irae, Quando coeli, Tremens factus sum ego et timeo, Dum veneris, Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine, Dum veneris, Libera me Domine, Quando coeli, Dum veneris, Kyrie eleison and the last Kyrie eleison. The other sentences are plainchant.
This Respond is closed by the acclamations Kyrie, Christe, Kyrie, as a sign it is used in the Exquiis ordo the absolutio super tumulum.
This motet was found in Archivo de la Catedral de De Toledo, Codice 21.
Text Responsorium:
R. Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna in die illa tremenda.
Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra, dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.
V. Dies irae, dies illa, calamitatis et miseriae, dies magna et amara valde.
Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra.
V. Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo, dum discussio venerit, atque ventura ira.
Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.
V. Requiem aeternam, dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.
R. Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna in die illa tremenda.
R. Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra.
Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.
Pr. Kyrië eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrië eleison.
Translation:
R. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death, on that fearful day,
when the heavens and the earth are moved,
when you will come to judge the world through fire.
V. That day, the day of wrath, calamity, and misery, that terrible
and exceedingly bitter day.
When the heavens and the earth are moved,
V. I am made to tremble, and I fear, when the desolation shall come,
and also the coming wrath.
When you will come to judge the world through fire.
V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord
And let perpetual light shine upon them
When you will come to judge the world through fire.
R. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death, on that fearful day,
when the heavens and the earth are moved,
when you will come to judge the world through fire
Pr. Lord, have mercy on us, Christ, have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.