Noli me tangere

Liturgic cantata for soprano and organ
(2019)

Duration : ca. 26′

Commissioned by Association Jeuxd’Orgue41
With the support of Francis and Mica Salabert’s fondation

Text : St John Gospel, chapter 20

First performance on 17th november 2019 in St Louis de Blois’s Cathedral
Delphine Guévar, soprano – Vincent Grappy, organ

To get the score, send an email to the association Alcmène : Contact

Structur

I – Prolog (organ solo) : Mary Magdalene goes to the grave and realizes that the stone has been removed. She runs to find Simon-Peter and John who both run to the place and realize that the grave is empty. John receives the revelation. Then the disciples return home. (Summary of Verses 1-10)

II – Maria autem stabat : Maria autem stabat ad monumentum foris plorans. Dum ergo fleret, inclinavit se et prospexit in monumentum
Mary Magdalene stood by the tomb, outside, crying. And crying, she leaned to the tomb.

III – Et videt duos angelos : Et videt duos angelos in albis sedentes, unum ad caput et unum ad pedes, ubi positum fuerat corpus Iesu.
She saw two angels dressed in white, one seated at the head and the other at the feet, at the place where the body of Jesus had rested.

IV – « Mulier, quid ploras ? » : Dicunt ei illi: “ Mulier, quid ploras? ”. Dicit eis: “ Tulerunt Dominum meum, et nescio ubi posuerunt eum ”.
They ask her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She answers them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”

V – Et videt Jesum stantem : Haec cum dixisset, conversa est retrorsum et videt Iesum stantem ; et non sciebat quia Iesus est.
Having said this, she turned around; she saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.

VI – « Quem quaeris ? » : Dicit ei Iesus: “ Mulier, quid ploras? Quem quaeris? ”. Illa, existimans quia hortulanus esset, dicit ei: “ Domine, si tu sustulisti eum, dicito mihi ubi posuisti eum, et ego eum tollam”.
Jesus said to her: «Woman, why do you cry? Who are you looking for?» Taking him to the gardener, she says, “If you took him, tell me where you dropped him off, and I will take him.”

VII – « Rabbuni ! » : Dicit ei Iesus: “ Maria! ”. Conversa illa dicit ei Hebraice : “ Rabbuni! ” — quod dicitur Magister.
Jesus then said to him: «Mary!» Having turned around, she said to him in Hebrew: «Rabbouni!» that is, Master.

VIII – « Noli me tangere » : Dicit ei Iesus: “ Noli me tangere, nondum enim ascendi ad Patrem; vade autem ad fratres meos et dic eis: Ascendo ad Patrem meum et Patrem vestrum, et Deum meum et Deum vestrum ”.
Jesus repeats: Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go and find my brothers and tell them that I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

IX – Epilog (organ solo) : So Mary Magdalene will announce the good news to the disciples. And when evening came, Jesus came among them, and showed them his hands and his side. Thomas, who was absent that night, refuses to believe unless he touches the stigmata. Eight days later, Jesus comes to Thomas and asks him to touch him. Then he says to him: Because you saw me, you believe. Blessed are those who believe without seeing.» (Summary of Verses 18-31)

(Chapter 20 of St John Gospel)