The ”Libera me, Domine de morte” is in general a plainchant from the Exsequiarum Ordo (in Exsequiis) more specific a Responsorium sung during the final blessing of the coffin on its catafalque. This Libera me (there are four (4) plain-chant variations known) is an old Responsorium and sung in the part Absolutio super tulum and is published in the old Liber Usualis (edition 1936) pages 1767 – 1768. This Libera me is also used for the burial service which follows the Mass for the Dead, so a ceremony after the Mass for the Death.
Following the text Francisco de Layolle uses only a few part, the first two sentences of this Respond. See for the full text of the Respond libera me, Domine de morte, the Libera me in C-Major set by Felice Anerio (c.1560-1614) and published at this website.
This motet “Libera me, Domine de morte aeterna” is written by De Layolle in short polyphonic imitative style for five voices (DQATB). In stylistic form the belonging plainchant is quoted in long notes.
De Layolle sets in this motet a very special canon (a two parts canon) in the fifth below, which method is called ‘canon in subdiapente’. It’s very interesting to see and to hear the manner in which De Layolle waves this two part ‘canon in subdiapente’ into this motet.
Of course De Layolle in good tradition uses word-painting as often used by his colleagues in the South-Netherlands: Bar 32-33 in Bassus the wording ‘caeli movendi sunt’. De Layolle paints two ascending lines with six eights G-f on ‘caeli’ followed by three ascending eights d-f on’ movendi’. Sometimes De Layolle uses extra flats.
This short motet consists out of 66 bars and is set in G-Dorian mode.
This motet is published in Liber decem missarum (Jacques Moderne) a praeclaris musicis contectus in MDXXXII and in Liber decem missarum a praeclaris et maxima nominis musicis contextus MDXL.
Text:
R. Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna in die illa tremenda
quando coeli movendi sunt et terra dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.
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.