Assumpta Est

Looking back over my blog(s) through the past few years, I realize I've posted something about all the Chant Propers for Assumption (i.e. for Episcopalians, "The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary"), which is this Sunday, August 15.

The traditional Introit, Gaudeamus (replaced around 1950 by Pius VII by Signum Magnum); Audi Filia, the beautiful Gradual (also used as the Tract at Annunciation during Lent); and Beatam me dicent, the Communion hymn.

All of them, that is, except for Assumpta Est, the text used for both the Alleluia (mp3 here):

Alleluia, Alleluia. Mary has been taken up into heaven; the host of Angels rejoices. Alleluia.

and the Offertory (mp3 here):

Mary has been taken up into heaven; the Angels rejoice, praising the Lord together and blessing him, alleluia.

Those translations from the Latin are at JoguesChant, and so are the mp3s. (Chant score for the Alleluia is from the Benedictines of Brazil.)

Obviously, these are extra-Biblical texts; the Assumption is nowhere to be found in Scripture. I'm not sure if they come from a particular source, or whether they are just from someplace "in the air" around the idea of Assumption. They are short, so probably pretty hard to pin down to any one originator.

There are lots of polyphonic versions of the texts around, though, you can be sure! Here's Palestrina's version, a lovely, heavenly-sounding thing (with lots more extra-Biblical content!) Can't embed it, or I would; go listen, though - it's gorgeous.

Here's a version of the Offertory sung by "Sr. Marjo and company" and "Dedicated to all Assumptionists"; no idea where the music comes from, but I like it:



Here's another; not sure whose music this is, either, but beautiful. And what acoustics!



Palestrina and Charpentier both wrote Missa(e?) Assumpta Est Maria (and so probably did others!). Here's the Kyrie from Palestrina, and here's the one from Charpentier (wonderful period instruments, too), respectively:





There's lots more stuff out there, too.