Chant School

PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons

The LAST in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat.

Latin:

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,

exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:

veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

English:

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,

the hope of the nations and their Saviour:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons

The SIXTH in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat.

Latin:

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,

lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:

veni, et salva hominem,

quem de limo formasti.

English:

O King of the nations, and their desire,

the cornerstone making both one:

Come and save the human race,

which you fashioned from clay.

PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons

The FIFTH in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat.

Latin:

O Oriens,

splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:

veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:

O Morning Star,

splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons

The FOURTH in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat.

Latin:

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;

qui aperis, et nemo claudit;

claudis, et nemo aperit:

veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,

sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;

you open and no one can shut;

you shut and no one can open:

Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons

The THIRD in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat.

Latin:

O radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,

super quem continebunt reges os suum,

quem Gentes deprecabuntur:

veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

English:

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;

before you kings will shut their mouths,

to you the nations will make their prayer:

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons

The SECOND in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat.

Latin:

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,

qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,

et ei in Sina legem dedisti:

veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

English:

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,

who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush

and gave him the law on Sinai:

Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons

The first in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat.

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,

attingens a fine usque ad finem,

fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:

veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from one end to the other,

mightily and sweetly ordering all things:

Come and teach us the way of prudence.

Propers of the Year: A series of episodes in which we provide instruction and practice for more advanced chanters who are interested in preparing the Gregorian propers for each Sunday of the liturgical year. Please let us know what you think!

In this episode, Thomas teaches you the chants 4th Sunday of Advent (Rorate Sunday).

The time for each section is listed below, along with links to PDF's for each chant (courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed):

Introit: https://tinyurl.com/roratecaelidesuper

Gradual: https://tinyurl.com/propeest

Alleluia: https://tinyurl.com/venidomineetnoli

Offertory: https://tinyurl.com/avemariaoffertory

Communion: https://tinyurl.com/eccevirgo

Propers of the Year: A series of episodes in which we provide instruction and practice for more advanced chanters who are interested in preparing the Gregorian propers for each Sunday of the liturgical year. Please let us know what you think!

In this episode, Giorgio sings through the chants for Gaudete Sunday. He sings through chant slowly, highlights difficult sections, and sings through it slowly again.

The time for each section is listed below, along with links to PDF's for each chant (courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed):

Introit: 1:00: https://tinyurl.com/gaudeteindominosemper

Gradual: 6:15: https://tinyurl.com/Quisedesdomine

Alleluia: 12:50: https://tinyurl.com/exitadomine

Offertory: 16:45 https://tinyurl.com/benedixistidomine

Communion: 20:45 https://tinyurl.com/dicitepusillanimes

Link to music: https://tinyurl.com/nasceturprote

Although Veni, Veni, Emmanuel as a whole only dates back to the 17th century, its origins are much more ancient. This hymn, perhaps the best known Advent hymn of all time, is a combination of the O Antiphons which are at least 1200 years old. Based on prophecies about Jesus from Isaiah all the way through Zachariah, these antiphons were sung before the Magnificat during Vespers: one on each of the last seven days before Christmas:

17 December: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

18 December: O Adonai (O Lord)

19 December: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

20 December: O Clavis David (O Key of David)

21 December: O Oriens (O Dayspring)

22 December: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)

23 December: O Emmanuel (O God is With Us)

It didn't first appear as a hymn until the 18th century, and it wasn't until the 20th century that the origins of the melody were discovered: in an old manuscript of music for a French Requiem Mass. If you recall the readings for the first Sunday of Advent, and the apocalyptic, end-times imagery there, and Christ's exhortation to "stay awake and keep watch!" then perhaps the most popular Advent carol of all time having its melodic origins in a Requiem is rather appropriate.

In this episode, we’ll teach you both the traditional melody for the hymn, as well as the simple original harmony, and give you some ideas for varying the way you sing this to make it possible to sing the whole hymn at Mass!

LATIN

Veni, veni Emmanuel! Captivum solve Israel! Qui gemit in exilio, Privatus Dei Filio, Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel. Veni o Jesse virgula! Ex hostis tuos ungula, De specu tuos tartari Educ, et antro barathri. Gaude…

Veni, veni o oriens! Solare nos adveniens, Noctis depelle nebulas, Dirasque noctis tenebras. Gaude… Veni clavis Davidica! Regna reclude coelica, Fac iter Tutum superum, Et claude vias Inferum. Gaude… Veni, veni Adonai![b] Qui populo in Sinai Legem dedisti vertice, In maiestate gloriae. Gaude…

Veni, O Sapientia, Quae hic disponis omnia, Veni, viam prudentiae Ut doceas et gloriae.

Gaude… Veni, Veni, Rex Gentium, Veni, Redemptor omnium, Ut salves tuos famulos Peccati sibi conscios.

Gaude…

ENGLISH

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them victory o'er the grave. Rejoice!...

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice!...

O come, Thou Key of David, come And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice!...

O come, Adonai, Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times didst give the law In cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice!...

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, And order all things, far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show, And cause us in her ways to go. Rejoice!...

O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice!...