Judith (2026)
for double SATB choir |
by Melissa Dunphy | text by Anonymous
About
For the Corvallis Repertory Singers on their 25th Season.
Pronunciation guide for Old English text is included with the score.
Composer's Notes
For over a decade, I have wanted to write a musical work inspired by the Renaissance concept of Weibermacht ("Power of Women") after I became fascinated by the works of Italian Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi. Gentileschi processed the trauma of her sexual assault and subsequent inhumane legal proceedings through her art, which depicts biblical stories of women defeating men, positioning herself as the victor over her abusers. Naturally, I was thrilled when approached by the Corvallis Repertory Singers and Oregon State University to compose a work centered upon the Anglo-Saxon poem Judith, a story which inspired several of Gentileschi's best-known paintings. The resulting song, Judith, sets the Old English speech Judith gives to her people after beheading Holofernes, celebrating her triumph and calling them to action against the invading forces.
Just as the biblical narrative was repurposed a thousand years ago as literary resistance against violent attacks on England by Vikings, and served to empower Gentileschi in the 17th century, the story of one woman’s bravery remains inspiringly hopeful as a condemnation of contemporary injustice and tyranny.
Lyrics
Judith
Old English text excerpted from Judith (Nowell Codex, c. 975-1025), lines 177-198
Gloria in aeternum!
"Her ge magon sweotole, sige-rofe hæleð,
leoda ræswan, on ðæs laðestan
hæðenes heaðo-rinces heafod starian,
Holofernus unlyfigendes,
þe us monna mæst morðra gefremede
sarra sorga, ond þæt swyðor gyt
ycan wolde; ac him ne uðe God
lengran līfes, þæt he mid læððum us
eglan moste; ic him ealdor oðþrong
þurh godes fultum. Nu ic gumena gehwæne
þyssa burg-leoda biddan wylle,
rand-wiggendra, þæt ge recene eow
fysan to gefeohte, syððan frymða god,
arfæst cyning, eastan sende
leohtne leoman. Berað linde forð,
bord for breostum ond byrn-homas,
scire helmas in sceaðena gemong,
fyllað folc-togan fagum sweordum,
fæge frum-garas. Fynd syndon eowere
gedemed to deaðe, ond ge dom agon,
tir æt tohtan, swa eow getacnod hafað
mihtig dryhten þurh mine hand."
Translation:
“Here you can clearly, victorious heroes,
leaders of the people, gaze at the most hateful
head of the heathen warlord,
Holofernes the unliving,
who, among men, committed the most murders,
grievous sorrows, and would still more
have increased them, but God did not grant him
a longer life, that he might afflict us
with evils. I forced out his life
through God’s help. Now to each man
of this citizenry, I want to ask,
shield-bearers, that you prepare yourselves
with haste to fight, after the God of creation,
merciful king, sends from the east
his radiant light. Bear your linden shields forth,
boards before breasts and mail-shirts,
shining helmets, into the enemy throng,
fell their generals with decorated swords,
the doomed captains. You enemies
are condemned to death, and you shall have glory,
honor in battle, as shown to you
by the mighty Lord through my hand.”
Performances
- 3 May, 2026: Corvallis Repertory Singers at Detrick Concert Hall, Corvallis, OR