Prayer before the Close of Day (Te Lucis ante Terminum) – 2 euphoniums, 2 tubas

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Description

Written for Tubalaté (2 tubas and 2 euphoniums), who recorded it – as can be heard in the video here.
The underlying theme is the old Gregorian chant Te lucis ante terminum (To Thee before the close of day…).
Although this is a slow piece, I have rated it as “Advanced” because of the large amount of stamina and breath control required.
It featured in a tuba quartet workshop in Greensboro a few years ago, to great acclaim.

Te lucis ante terminum,
rerum Creator, poscimus,
ut solita clementia
sis præsul ad custodiam.

Procul recedant somnia
et noctium phantasmata;
hostemque nostrum comprime,
ne polluantur corpora.

Præsta, Pater omnípotens,
per Iesum Christum Dominum,
qui tecum in perpetuum
regnat cum Sancto Spíritu.
Amen.

To Thee before the close of day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That, with Thy wonted favour, Thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Withhold from us our ghostly foe,
That spot of sin we may not know.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.
Amen.

Video: