Tony M Dec 3, 2012:

Agree with Helen Yes, in a way, 'fauxbourdon' isn't really a style as such, just a certain musical technique. And I think it was probably much more throw-away in the original than it appears in EN, so probably wisest not to give it undue prominence.

Helen Shiner Dec 3, 2012:

Ok But I wouldn't for 'in the f-b style' any more than I would say 'in a plainsong style'. It is 'in plainsong' and thus 'in faux-bourdon' to my mind. I'm not really persuaded that the 'stipend' bit is necessary either, but if you think it adds clarity... Remember though any additions, including my 'singing' should really be entered in brackets as explanatory additions by the translator.

Tony M Dec 3, 2012:

Great! I would just like to suggest, though, keeping the 'a' as in the original; there is not only one 'Libera me', but loads of them, in particular, this one in this particular style.

davdand (asker) Dec 3, 2012:

Based on your very helpful input and other online info I have accessed I am adopting the following translation:

"where he founded a stipend in perpetuity for the singing of Libera Me in the fauxbourdon style"

Thanks for all your help.

davdand (asker) Dec 3, 2012:

THANKS Thank you all for a very helpful and interesting discussion.

Helen Shiner Dec 3, 2012:

Chantry Chantry is the English term for a fund established to pay for a priest to celebrate sung Masses for a specified purpose, generally for the soul of the deceased donor. Chantries were endowed with lands given by donors, the income from which maintained the chantry priest. A chantry chapel is a building on private land or a dedicated area within a greater church, set aside or built especially for and dedicated to the performance of the chantry duties by the priest. A chantry may have only an altar, rather than a chapel, within a larger church, generally dedicated to the donor's favourite saint. Many altars became richly endowed, often with gold furnishings and valuable vestments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chantry
See also rest of page.

Helen Shiner Dec 3, 2012:

@davdand Ah, you found the same explanation for the Libera Me as I did! It does, though, seem to be what the FR is saying.

davdand (asker) Dec 3, 2012:

"Libera me" are the first two words of a Roman Catholic responsory that is sung in the Office of the Dead and at the absolution of the dead, a service of prayers for the dead said by the coffin immediately after the Requiem Mass and before burial. The full verse is Libera me, Domine, de morte ætérna, in die illa treménda (Deliver me O Lord from eternal death on that fearful day). (Wikipedia). As a Roman Catholic myself I know that RC's often leave money in their will for masses to be said on their death anniversary, but I never heard of anyone leaving money for singing, though this may be an old practice which has since died out.

Helen Shiner Dec 3, 2012:

@Tony Definitely worth checking if people founded anything other than masses.

Tony M Dec 3, 2012:

@ Helen Great, that's very much along the lines of what I was thinking; when I can get hold of my sister, who's something of a theological expert, I'll ask her if 'libera' means anything to her in that sort of context.

Helen Shiner Dec 3, 2012:

To found a mass http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=WI2gC7lFmC4C&pg=PA223&lpg...

And here in conjunction with the word 'perpetually':
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7BJPAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA280&lpg...

Helen Shiner Dec 3, 2012:

Two possibilities spring to my mind. One is that one can say "he founded a mass" meaning he provided funds for a mass to be sung ... in perpetuity in the faux-bourdon style?
The other, I think, less likely option, is that 'fondé' is being used here in the sense of 'based on'; however, I don't see quite how that would fit with 'in perpetuity'.

FoundInTrans Dec 3, 2012:

@cc Since we can't access the author, if everyone proposes something researched or at least agrees or disagrees then surely the weight of the ProZ community will be the jury right ? That is how I operate anyway.

cc in nyc Dec 3, 2012:

@ davdand First I was convinced by Wortschmidt, then by Tony, and now I'm convinced by you. Best not to post any more "agrees."

davdand (asker) Dec 3, 2012:

Could it mean that he founded a perpetual legacy so that the libera would be sung on the anniversary of his death?

Tony M Dec 3, 2012:

@ Asker Yes, I thought that too; but then why use the odd term 'fondé' for a musical composition (as far as I know, it would have been an odd term even back then!) — and how can you found a musical work in perpetuity?

I think there is more to this than meets the eye, and I would urge caution (and above all, further research!)

I suspect 'libera' (even if it does stem from the Latin words 'libera me') may have some other meaning, probably to do with ecclestiastical organization — like founding a chair at a University, etc.

cc in nyc Dec 3, 2012:

@ davdand OK, now it makes sense. Thanks.

davdand (asker) Dec 3, 2012:

I've found out( and thanks to Wortshcmidt) that "faux Bourdon" or "fauxbourdon" (Eng. false bass) is a musical term related to liturgical compositions; the "libera" therefore is a musical composition (as in the Libera me of Requiems)

Tony M Dec 3, 2012:

Great! That's a real help!

Do note it is 'à perpetuité' (I think it is safe to assume that the accents have simply been omitted from 'où' and 'à')

I agree with your deciphering of 'faux'.

davdand (asker) Dec 3, 2012:

Here is a link to the original manuscript document:

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b52501137f/f8.image.r=c...

Tony M Dec 3, 2012:

Context... Yes, and if possible, please, also post a link to a hi-res image of the original manuscript, so we can check the exact way it is written.

cc in nyc Dec 3, 2012:

More context? Please give us at least the complete French sentence. ;-)