Domine, secundum actum meum is a plainchant from the Responsorium de Officium Defunctorum Ad Matutinum and as a motet set by Giovanni Maria de Rossi for five voices (CATTB). The Domine, secundum actum meum is an old Responsorium,/Respond defunctorum and still published in the old Liber Usualis (edition 1936) page 1798 and is sung after Lectio VIII Ad Matutinem. The Domine secundum actum is Respond no. 8.
This Domine, secundum actum meum is written in a very modest imitative polyphonic way and the piece consists out of 81 bars. This motet has a low texture. The Altus starts in the second bar with a descending fifth e-a, followed by Bassus and Cantus now with a descending fifth a-e. Quintus (TI) and Tenor (TII) follow in their second bar with a descending fifth e-a. This motet becomes a true counter-point piece. All the parts follows in an imitative style. De Rossi uses in a minor way some flats and sharps. Only in “Ideo deprecor” (bars 44-52) De Rossi sets homophonic even low passages. It is a very important - full of sadness - part of this motet. As from “Majestatem” (bar 53) all is set again in imitative style, but with some word-painting in the mentioned “Majestatem” in bar 53 and bar 56. The first “Majestatem tuam” starts with c (bar 53) followed some further in bar 56 with a major third an e! Also here De Rossi builds up on this important word from a to c and starts finally on ‘e’.
This motet is written in the Netherlandish polyphonic style and ends hopeful in A-major, Aeolian.
De Rossi uses only the first two lines of the Respond see the text below in omitting the belonging Versicle, which is not published here.
This motet is for the first time published in Motetti a cinque voci libro primo, Claudio da Correggio, Venice 1567.
Responsorium Text:
R. Domine, secundum actum meum noli me iudicare:
nihil dignum in consepctu tuo egi.
Ideo deprecor maiestatem tuam, ut tu,
Deus, deleas iniquitatem meam.
Translation:
R. Lord, judge me not according to my deeds:
for I have done nothing worthy in thy sight.
Therefore I entreat thy majesty, that thou,
O God, would blot out mine iniquity.