OJN Seasonal Hymnal

A new addition to the "iPublications– Liturgical Aids" page at the website of the (Episcopal) Order of Julian of Norwich: a downloadable PDF file of the OJN Seasonal Hymnal (Advent-Lent): Mostly Gregorian plainchant.

Very exciting! This 9MB file contains texts and chant scores for all these hymns. There are many other PDFs of interest on that page as well, including the entire Daily Office Chantbook and the pointed Psalter.

A great Google Books hymn find

Take a look: Hymn Melodies for the Whole Year from the Sarum Service Books. I haven't figured out how to read it yet - to put the hundreds of chant melodies in the back together with the texts in the front, I mean - but this looks to be a truly great find.

EDIT: Actually, after giving this a pretty quick glance, it really seems that it could not be easier to read and to match the tunes to the words. Simply go to page 27, where the list of appointed hymns begins, sorted by Season and then by Saints' and other Holy Days (and even the Little Hours are in there, last). Then, read the number on the right on the same line as the hymn; that's the chant score number for that hymn. The chant scores begin on page 43 and are numbered from 1 through 77. Just match the two numbers, and there you are! It's great - and there are even some Sequence hymn scores in the back of the book. AND the book is complete and downloadable as a PDF. Wonderful!

Note the souce, too: it's the "Plainsong & Medieval Music Society." Which could definitely be the same organization I've posted on before.

Thanks Fr. Chris. (He also links to this item at Google Books: The Hymner: Containing Translations of the Hymns from the Sarum Breviary, "for those who don't have access to the texts of the Sarum hymns anywhere else." Thanks again!)

An mp3 of Compline Sung in Latin

Here's an mp3 of a complete service of Compline sung in Latin by the Compline Choir of the Saint Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Theological College in Berkeley, CA. It's about 20 minutes long, if I remember correctly; it's a very large file - about 20 MB. It, and a few other sound files, can be found on this page.

I haven't checked carefully, but I believe you can follow along with Latin (and an English translation alongside) here, at Breviary.net. There's a commentary about Compline here; the home page is here.

I've linked to this one before, but not for a long time; I thought somebody might be interested.

Epiphany Lauds

This hymn is in the Cyberhymnal, here. Here's the description there:

Un­known au­thor, writ­ten be­tween the 10th and 13th Cen­tu­ries (A Pa­tre Un­i­gen­i­tus); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, St. Mar­ga­ret’s Hymn­al, 1875, alt.

The tune they link on that page, De­us Tu­or­um Mil­i­tum, from the Gre­no­ble An­ti­phon­er, 1753, is one of my favorites; it's the same hymn tune used for "O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High."

But it's not the tune given above; I don't know where it came from, or even what it sounds like. Will continue to look for it on the web.

Three Phos Hilarons

Phos 1:





Phos 2:





Phos 3:

First Vespers of the Epiphany

Here is an mp3 of the hymn, Hostis Herodes impie, sung by a choir in Latin. Here is the TPL listing, which provides both the Latin and the English words (although not the words in the .jpg above). Don't forget, this is the same tune as that for the Latin hymn A solis ortus cardine, sung in English on this mp3 by the LLPB cantor. This is the one that was a long alphabetic hymn, and got broken up in various pieces and used during the Christmastide/Epiphany season.

So now you have the chant score, too, if that's something you're interested in. The Psalms are numbers 110, [two others I can't remember here], 130, 132. The Phos Hilaron is the one for Class I feasts:

An Office Hymn Tune Compendium, Part VI

[EDIT:   This article is from 2008, and was part of my first foray into posting about music for the Offices.  But I've posted quite a bit about Office hymns and other music since then.  You can find posts about the Offices themselves at the Divine Office page, or on the Resources page (where there are many links to other chant hymnody resources).]

I'm a little late (I was busy posting the Great "O" Antiphons, and being sick), but here's a listing of Office hymns for Christmastide.

1. Here is an mp3 of Christe, Redemptor omnium, the Vespers hymn for Christmas; the words are here at TPL, which has this to say:
   

   This 6th century hymn is the traditional hymn for Vespers during the Christmas season. In Pope Urban VIII's 1629 revision of the Breviary hymns to make them fit classical forms, the hymn was altered and known as Iesu, Redemptor Omnium. The original text of the hymn has been restored in the current liturgy and appears below.

   
   There are other mp3s of this one out there, too: here's one from the Monks of Brazil; here's the one, in English, at the LLPB. The LLPB page says that this one is used for First Vespers; it lists two others for Christmas Day, below.


2. The first hymn listed by LLPB for Christmas Day is Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth, sung here in English; this hymn is listed at TPL as Veni, redemptor gentium, English translation by J.M. Neale. That page says this:
   

   Veni, redemptor gentium was composed by St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397). The current form of the hymn actually begins with Ambrose' second stanza. The original opening verse was "Intende, qui regis Israel".
   
   The evidence in favor of St. Ambrose' authorship is, in part, due to a passing mention of it by St. Augustine. St. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose and was a good friend of his. St. Augustine both specifically mentions and quotes three of St. Ambrose' canonical hymns: "Aeterne rerum Conditor", "Deus Creator omnium", and "Iam surgit hora tertia". St. Augustine then goes on to mention "Veni, redemptor gentium" indirectly. Instead of giving the full title, he only gives a brief quote from the middle of the hymn, which matches that of the Veni, redemptor gentium. The hymn is also mentioned by other authors of the period as being by St. Ambrose. Pope Celestine mentions it in a sermon against the Nestorians, which he preached before a synod at Rome in 430. The Pope attributes it to St. Ambrose. Likewise Bishop Faustus of Riez (A. D. 455) and Cassiodorus (died 575) also quote it and attribute it to St. Ambrose.
   
   The hymn is not used in the Breviarium Romanum, but does appear in the Liturgia Horarum. It is used as the Advent hymn for the Office of the Readings for the octave before Christmas.

   
   Obviously there are different uses for this hymn; I do believe I have sung this at Christmas Vespers, though.


3. The second hymn for Christmas Day as listed at LLPB is, in the English version, sung as From East to West, From Shore to Shore, which is, according to Derek, the Latin hymn A solis ortus cardine, which is also used at Lauds throughout the season. And what a beautiful song it is! Here's the writeup from the linked page:
   

   Written by Coelius Sedulius (d c 450) in iambic dimeter. This hymn, which is used for Lauds during the Christmas season, is the first seven verses of a much longer alphabetic hymn. Four other verses form a second hymn, Hostis Herodes impie which is used for Epiphany.

   
   Here are the words sung here, from the Lutheran Hymnal.


4. There is a hymn, too, for Holy Innocents on December 28th; the version sung on this mp3, in English, is Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band. This translation, by Henry W. Baker, comes from the Lutheran Hymnal; the Latin version, Salvete, flores martyrum, along with a J.M. Neale translation into English, can be found at TPL, along with the hymn "Audit tyrannus anxius." The blurb from that page says this:
   

   This hymn has seen several different forms, all ultimately deriving from the Hymn for the Epiphany from Prudentius' (384-413) Cathemerinon, which is 52 stanzas long. In 1568, four short hymns were assembled from selected stanzas from Prudentius' hymn and introduced into the Breviary by Pope Pius V. Two of these hymns, Audit tyrannus anxius and Salvete, flores Martyrum, were assigned for the feast of the Holy Innocents (Dec 28) for Matins and Laudes respectively. With the subsequent revision of the Liturgy of the Hours, these later two hymns were fused into the hymn below which is used at Laudes for the aforementioned feast.

Return to An Office Hymn Tune Compendium, Part V.

Jesu, Dulcis Memoria

Today is the Feast of the Holy Name, so I offer another office hymn from my growing compendium: Jesu, Dulcis Memoria, "Ascribed to St.Bernard of Clairvaux, d.1153. / Mode 1." A "Vespers Hymn of the Holy Name."



Here are the Latin words - along with Edward Caswall's 19th Century English translation - for Jesu, dulcis memoria (also the Matins hymn for the historical August 7 Feast of the Most Sweet Name of Jesus):

Jesu, dulcis memoria,dans vera cordis gaudia:
sed super mel et omnia
ejus dulcis praesentia.

Nil canitur suavius,
nil auditur jucundius,
nil cogitatur dulcius,
quam Jesus Dei Filius.

Jesu, spes paenitentibus,
quam pius es petentibus!
quam bonus te quaerentibus!
sed quid invenientibus?

Nec lingua valet dicere,
nec littera exprimere:
expertus potest credere,
quid sit Jesum diligere.

Sis, Jesu, nostrum gaudium,
qui es futurum praemium:
sit nostra in te gloria,
per cuncta semper saecula.
Amen.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
O Savior of mankind!

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.


(More English verses:

O Jesus, King most wonderful
Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou sweetness most ineffable
In Whom all joys are found!

When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.

O Jesus, light of all below,
Thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire.

Jesus, may all confess Thy Name,
Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame
To seek Thee more and more.

Thee, Jesus, may our voices bless,
Thee may we love alone,
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own.

O Jesus, Thou the beauty art
Of angel worlds above;
Thy Name is music to the heart,
Inflaming it with love.

Celestial Sweetness unalloyed,
Who eat Thee hunger still;
Who drink of Thee still feel a void
Which only Thou canst fill.

O most sweet Jesus, hear the sighs
Which unto Thee we send;
To Thee our inmost spirit cries;
To Thee our prayers ascend.

Abide with us, and let Thy light
Shine, Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night;
And joy to all impart.

Jesus, our love and joy to Thee,
The virgin’s holy Son,
All might and praise and glory be,
While endless ages run.)

Here is TPL on Jesu, dulcis memoria:

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3. Similarly the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary was restored as an optional memorial on September 12 in the revised Missal.

There's much more here at Hymnary.org.

Here is an mp3 file of the chant as sung by the Monks of Brazil, and below is the chant score:





Here's an mp3 of another version of the English words for this hymn, from the Lutheran Liturgical Prayer Brotherhood's "Seasonal Propers Sung" page (listed under "Hymn at Vespers for the Circumcision and the name of Jesus.")  

An Office Hymn Tune Compendium, Part V

[EDIT:   This article is from 2008, and was part of my first foray into posting about music for the Offices.  But I've posted quite a bit about Office hymns and other music since then.  You can find posts about the Offices themselves at the Divine Office page, or on the Resources page (where there are many links to other chant hymnody resources).]

Well, I've been reading the Brevier-Himnoj lately, just for kicks. That's, as I'm sure you recall, the listing of Hymns from the Breviary in Esperanto. And of course, in trying to figure out what the crazy thing says, I've come across some further items of interest - and some more hymn tunes, for all of our listening and singing pleasure.

1. The Hymn for Sunday Lauds, for instance, Æterne rerum conditor ("Maker of all, eternal King"). Here's an mp3 of the hymn, sung in Latin; here are the words, at Thesaurus Precum Latinarum, which has this to say about it:
   

   This hymn (minus the final doxology) was written by St. Ambrose (340-397). The hymn is filled with Scriptural allusions and is one of the finest hymns in the Liturgy. Formerly it was used in the Roman Breviary at Sunday Lauds after Epiphany until Lent, and then again from September 28 until November 26. Today the hymn is used in the Liturgy of the Hours (less verses five and six) for Sunday Lauds on the first and third Sundays of the Psalter during Ordinary Time.

   
   
   The mp3 above comes from a page at the website of Projetto Raphael; alas, more translation issues! The URL of that site is Cantusfractus, which makes it obviously another chant site. Here's how Babelfish translates the intro page:
   

   The fratto song is a type of executed liturgico Christian song with values proporziona them: to the contrary of the so-called gregoriano the cantus fractus it often possesses a notation with mensurali elements, that it indicates with precision the value of notes.
   
   Draft of diffused in all Europe and a much testified repertorio from numerous liturgici books is manuscripts is to press, from the XIV to XX the century, that it regards three shapes of liturgico song above all: Credo, the hymns and the sequences. In the 1700's the phenomenon spreads and interests all the songs of the Ordinary of the Putting (Kyrie, Gloria, Creed, Sanctus and Agnus Of i).

   
   
   Of course. Google Translate, though, does a much better job:
   

   The hand fratto is a type of Christian liturgical song performed with proportional values: on the contrary, the so-called Gregorian cantus fractus have often with a notation elements mensurali, which indicates with precision the value of the notes.
   
   This is a repertoire widespread throughout Europe and witnessed by numerous liturgical books and manuscripts and printed from fourteenth to twentieth century, which covers mainly three forms of liturgical singing: I think, hymns and sequences. In the eighteenth century the phenomenon spreads and covers all the songs dell'Ordinario Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei).

   
   
   Bye-bye, Babelfish.
   
   That tune, BTW, matches up pretty well with the one used for Lauds hymns on all weekdays at the LLPB; they are variants of each other (there are a few notes that differ between them, and the rhythm is different in places as well), but it seems we have dependable musical information at this point. IOW, you could, if you so desired, use this tune to sing the hymn at Lauds every day, and you might not be far wrong, according to the tradition. I am more concerned, in any case, with giving examples of the actual music so that people can learn them, than I am in being precise with when, exactly, the hymns were used. That would differ from era to era and place to place anyway. More important is to hear and learn the tune itself, I think; that's what seems to be lacking at this point.



2. Here is the mp3 for Caeli Deus sanctissime ("O God, Whose Hand Hath Spread the Sky"), found at this page at TPL:
   

   Attributed to Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604). This hymn continues with the theme of Creation present in the Vespers Hymns for Monday and Tuesday. Here the work of the fourth day, the creation of the heavenly bodies in the firmament, is chronicled (Gen 1, 14-19). This hymn is traditionally sung at Wednesday Vespers and is used in the Liturgia Horarum at Vespers for Wednesdays of the first and third weeks of the Psalter during Ordinary Time. Likewise the hymn is also found in the Roman Breviary for Wednesday Vespers.




3. I posted, on January 1st, the Vespers hymn for the Feast of the Holy Name: Jesu Dulcis Memoria, "Ascribed to St.Bernard of Clairvaux, d.1153. / Mode 1." A "Vespers Hymn of the Holy Name." But I'll add it to this Compendium page, too; here is an mp3 file of the chant as sung by the Monks of Brazil, and here is the chant score:
   
   
   
   
   
   Here is the TPL description of the hymn:
   

   Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3. Similarly the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary was restored as an optional memorial on September 12 in the revised Missal.

   
   
   And here, from the same page, are the English words:
   

   JESU, the very thought of Thee,
   with sweetness fills my breast,
   but sweeter far Thy face to see,
   and in Thy presence rest.
   
   Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
   nor can the memory find
   a sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
   o Savior of mankind!.
   
   O hope of every contrite heart
   o joy of all the meek,
   to those who fall, how kind Thou art!
   how good to those who seek!
   
   But what to those who find? Ah this
   nor tongue nor pen can show:
   the love of Jesus, what it is
   none but His loved ones know.
   
   Jesu, our only joy be Thou,
   As Thou our prize wilt be:
   Jesu, be Thou our glory now,
   And through eternity.
   Amen.




4. While we're in the category of Major Feast Days, might as well go ahead and post the mp3 for the Granddaddy of Office Hymns, Veni, Creator Spiritus; here's the TPL page, and here's the description there:
   

   One of the most widely used hymns in the Church, Veni, Creator Spiritus, is attributed to Rabanus Maurus (776-856). It is used at Vespers, Pentecost, Dedication of a Church, Confirmation, and Holy Orders and whenever the Holy Spirit is solemnly invoked. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite it. A plenary indulgence is granted if it is recited on January 1st or on the feast of Pentecost.

   
   
   There's another, longer version of the hymn at the same Projetto Raphael page - and I notice, anyway, that there are some minor musical differences in the hymn as sung on these mp3s and the version I know It would be interesting to know what that's about.


5. Some very good news! The Lutheran Liturgical Prayer Brotherhood now has a "Sung Propers" section, which seems to be continuously updated, and in which is included:
   
   • Saints' Day Propers Sung
   
   
   • Seasonal Propers Sung
   
   
   • Weekday Propers Sung
   
   All of the music for all of the hymns will be right there for the listening; it's really a tremendous resource.
   
   For a quick example, here's an mp3 of another version of the English words for Jesu, Dulcis Memoria, from the Lutheran Liturgical Prayer Brotherhood's "Seasonal Propers Sung" page (listed under "Hymn at Vespers for the Circumcision and the name of Jesus.") Wow.


6. Since the Feast of Epiphany will be in just a few short days, I'll make immediate use of the LLPB listing for that day: this mp3 labeled "Hymn for the Epiphany of our Lord". And a very pretty, melismatic hymn it is, too; the words for this version are taken from the Lutheran Hymnal:
   

   1. The star proclaims the King is here;
   But, Herod, why this senseless fear?
   He takes no realms of earth away
   Who gives the realms of heavenly day.
   
   2. The wiser Magi see from far
   And follow on His guiding star;
   And led by light, to light they press
   And by their gifts their God confess.
   
   3. Within the Jordan's crystal flood
   In meekness stands the Lamb of God
   And, sinless, sanctifies the wave,
   Mankind from sin to cleanse and save.
   
   4. At Cana first His power is shown;
   His might the blushing waters own
   And, changing as He speaks the word,
   Flow wine, obedient to their Lord.
   
   5. All glory, Jesus, be to Thee
   For this Thy glad epiphany;
   Whom with the Father we adore
   And Holy Ghost forevermore.

   
   
   A note there indicates that the version is:
   

   Hymn #131
   Text: Matt. 2:9
   Author: Coelius Sedulius, c.450
   Translated by: John M. Neale, 1852, alt.
   Titled: "Hostis Herodes impie"
   Tune: "Wo Gott zum Haus"
   1st Published in: _Geistliche Lieder_
   Town: Wittenberg, 1535

   
   
   This matches up with what's found at TPL under the listing Hostis Herodes impie:
   

   Written by Caelius Sedulius (5th cent). This hymn is a continuation of the hymn A solis ortus cardine and is used for Vespers on Epiphany.

   
   
   Under that listing, you find this note:
   

   Written by Coelius Sedulius (d c 450) in iambic dimeter. This hymn, which is used for Lauds during the Christmas season, is the first seven verses of a much longer alphabetic hymn. Four other verses form a second hymn, Hostis Herodes impie which is used for Epiphany.

   
   
   The mp3 above seems to be mix-n-match from those two listings; I'm going to research the "longer alphabetic hymn" at some point.
   
   Simply for interest, I include a recording of a choir singing a song labeled Hostis Herodes impie; it is indeed the same tune as A solis ortus cardine.

That's enough for this edition, I think.

Move forward to An Office Hymn Tune Compendium, Part VI. Or, go back to An Office Hymn Compendium, Part IV.