In Rama sonat gemitus (conductus)
From a concert composed of anonymous music centered about Thomas Becket, this conductus was sung as a processional for the entrance of Schola Antiqua's singers. The text conflates references to Israel's exile described by the prophet Jeremiah, the infant Jesus' flight into Egypt and the exile of Thomas Becket into France.
Text and English translation:
In Rama sonat gemitus In Rama a wail is sounding,
plorante Rachel Angliae, for Rachel of England mourns;
Herodis namque genitus the offspring of Herod
dat ipsam ignominiae. now shames her.
En eius primogenitus Lo, her first born —
et Ioseph Cantuariae the Joseph of Canterbury —
exulat si sit venditus is exiled, as though sold,
Egyptum colit Galliae. and is living in France as if in Egypt.