The Hei/heu mihi, Domine is a plainchant from the Responsorium de Officium Defunctorum ad Matutinum, the Office of the Dead. This Respond from Matins of the Dead is set by Baldassare Donato for five voices (CATTB). The Responsorium Heu/Hei mihi, Domine is still published in the old Liber Usualis page 1791/92 and is sung after Lectio V in the second nocturne.
The Hei mihi, Domine is written by Baldassare Donato in a modest more conservative polyphonic counterpoint, using flats and sharps, and the chosen mode d-minor to express his feelings and to underline the wording of this Respond. In this case Donato didn’t use the belonging Verse “Anima mea turbata est valde sed tu Domine succurre ei: miserere mei dum veneris in novissimo die.” For good understanding we have placed the not used text compared to the Liber Usualis between brackets, see below. Ad the end Donato uses the wording “et salva me”.
In this motet Donato uses a new polyphonic style starting with Tenor and Bassus followed by Quintus, Cantus and Altus. Donato didn’t use the strict imitative style of the Netherlandish in the Venetian school, but a more Palestrinian style.
In bar 19, 20 and 21 Donato underlines the wording “Ubi fugiam” in using a strict homophonic style and an imitated Venetian polychoral/cori spezzati way, which is repeated in bars 26, up to bar 30. This total motet consists out of 36 bars.
The Respond Hei mihi, Domini has been published in: Il 1° libro de motetti a 5-6 et 8 voci in Venetia, A. Gardano, 1599, in Venice.
♫ Heu mihi Domine
© Gloriae Dei Cantores GDCD 014
Text:
R. Heu mihi Domine quia peccavi nimis, in vita mea:
quid faciam miser?
ubi fugiam nisi ad te Deus meus?
Miserere mei et salva me.
[dum veneris in novissimo die.]
[V. Anima mea turbata est valde sed tu Domine succurre ei:]
[R. miserere mei dum veneris in novissimo die.]
Translation:
R. Woe is me, Lord, for I have sinned greatly in my life.
What shall become of me, wretch that I am;
where shall I flee, except to Thee, O Lord.
Have mercy on me and bless me.
[when Thou shalt come on the last day.]
[V. My soul is greatly troubled but Thou, O Lord, sustainest me:
[R. have mercy on me when Thou shalt come on the last day.]