Teresa Murphy, ’19
“¡Proclama mi alma!” is a setting of the Magnificat text, which in English begins,“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!” With these words, Mary tells her cousin Elizabeth how joyful and honored she is to carry in her womb God made flesh. This prayer has been recited and sung throughout the Christian tradition, usually as a celebration of Mary’s complete submission to the will of God. I chose this text, however, not because of its submission but rather its subversion. In choosing to follow God’s plan, Mary agrees to help bring about an overturning of the powers of this world. She now works in cahoots with a God who “scatters the proud,” “casts down the mighty,” and “sends the rich away empty!” In the Magnificat, Mary signs onto no less than an overturning of the systems of the world! What kind of a rebellion is this? One that begins on a tritone. The tritone is known as the most dissonant interval, which is used throughout this piece to represent the clash between the corrupt systems of our world, and the loving justice of God. The dissonance is propelled forward with a salsa rhythm, which I learned in Venezuela. Amid systems of economic, social, and political corruption, the Venezuelan people today struggle for justice, equality, and dignity, which I see as analogous to the revolution outlined in the Magnificat. In singing this piece, we stand in solidarity with all who suffer and strive for a world that resembles the Kingdom of Heaven.
¡Proclama mi alma la grandeza del Señor!
Se alegra mi espíritu en Dios mi salvador,
porque ha mirado la humillación
de su esclava.
Él hace proezas con su brazo.
dispersa a los soberbios de corazón,
derriba del trono los poderosos,
y enaltece a los humildes.
A los hambrientos los colma de bienes,
y a los ricos despide vacíos.
Auxilia a su siervo Israel,
acordándose de su santa alianza
Según lo prometió a nuestros padres.
Se alegra mi espíritu en Dios mi salvador,
porque ha mirado la humillación
de su esclava.
Él hace proezas con su brazo.
dispersa a los soberbios de corazón,
derriba del trono los poderosos,
y enaltece a los humildes.
A los hambrientos los colma de bienes,
y a los ricos despide vacíos.
Auxilia a su siervo Israel,
acordándose de su santa alianza
Según lo prometió a nuestros padres.
My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord!
My spirit rejoices in God my savior,
for he has looked upon the lowliness
of his servant.
He does great things with his arm,
he scatters the proud of heart,
he casts down the mighty from their thrones,
and lifts up the lowly.
He fills the hungry with good things,
and the rich he sends away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
as he promised to our fathers.
My spirit rejoices in God my savior,
for he has looked upon the lowliness
of his servant.
He does great things with his arm,
he scatters the proud of heart,
he casts down the mighty from their thrones,
and lifts up the lowly.
He fills the hungry with good things,
and the rich he sends away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
as he promised to our fathers.
