Chant School

Link to the music: https://tinyurl.com/conditoralme

This is one of the most ancient hymns we've sung so far, dating back to the 7th century! It was revised over 1000 years later because it didn't follow the rules for Latin poetry, and to remove a single Greek word: hagie (holy).

Although the translation is usually rendered: Creator of the stars of night, siderum is not precisely the same as the more common stella. Siderum includes the notion of sun, moon, planets, and all the constellations of stars. In other words, this is a hymn to the Loving Creator of the Universe (see verse 2).

It also evokes the season of Advent in the sense that we have been living it since the Ascension 2000 years ago: awaiting the second coming of Christ at the end of time. A beautiful hymn to sing this Advent as we await His coming at Christmas!

Latin:

1 Cónditor alme síderum,

aetérna lux credéntium,

Christe, redémptor ómnium,

exáudi preces súpplicum.

2 Qui cóndolens intéritu

mortis períre saeculum,

salvásti mundum lánguidum,

donans reis remédium:

3 Vergénte mundi véspere,

uti sponsus de thálamo,

egréssus honestíssima

Vírginis matris cláusula:

4 Cuius forti poténtiæ

genu curvántur ómnia,

Caeléstia, terréstria,

mutu faténtur súbdita.

5 Te déprécamur agie,

ventúre judex saéculi,

consérva nos in témpore

hostis a telo pérfidi.

6 Laus, honor, virtus, glória

Deo Patri, et Filío,

sancto Simul Paráclito

in saeculórum saécula. Amen.

1. Creator of the stars of night,

thy people’s everlasting light,

Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,

and hear Thy servants when they call.

2. Thou, grieving that the ancient curse

should doom to death a universe,

hast found the medicine, full of grace,

to save and heal a ruined race.

3. Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,

as drew the world to evening-tide;

proceeding from a virgin shrine,

the spotless victim all divine.

4. At whose dread name, majestic now,

all knees must bend, all hearts must bow;

and things celestial Thee shall own,

and things terrestrial, Lord alone.

5. O Thou whose coming is with dread

to judge and doom the quick and dead,

preserve us, while we dwell below,

from every insult of the foe.

6. To God the Father, God the Son,

and God the Spirit, Three in One,

laud, honor, might, and glory be

from age to age eternally.

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 the propers for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Click below for PDF's of the chants:

Introit (1:15): https://tinyurl.com/gaudensgaudebo

Gradual (9;40): https://tinyurl.com/benedictaestuvirgo

Alleluia: (18:15) https://tinyurl.com/totapulchraes

Offertory: (24:25) https://tinyurl.com/avemariagratiaplena

Communion: (29:00) https://tinyurl.com/gloriosadictasunt

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 each 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/populussion

Gradual: 10:10 https://tinyurl.com/exsionspecies

Alleluia: 22:00 https://tinyurl.com/laetatussum

Offertory: 30:05 https://tinyurl.com/deustuconvertens

Communion: 35:10 https://tinyurl.com/jerusalemsurge

Link to sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/adorote

St. Thomas Aquinas was a theologian, a philosopher, and one of the greatest intellects of all time. He is known as the Angelic Doctor of the Church. But did you know he is also regarded as one of the greatest Catholic poets of all time? And he only wrote 5 poems – 38 stanzas of poetry.

In 1264, Pope Urban IV established the Solemnity of The Body of Christ, and asked St. Thomas Aquinas to write the texts for the Mass and the Divine Office for this new feast. Although St. Thomas was known for his scholarly – not poetical – work, he produced five of the best, known, best loved hymns in history:

1. Adoro Te Devote

2. Sacris Solemniis (Known for the final two verses: “Panis angelicus…”)

3. Verbum Supernum Prodiens (Known for the final two verses: “O salutaris hostia…”)

4. Pange Lingua (Known for the final two verses: “Tantum ergo…”)

5. Lauda Sion (Known for its final verses: “Ecce panis angelorum…”)

“Eucharist” is Greek for “Thanksgiving”. I think it’s fair to say that the original Thanksgiving Day was night of the Last Supper. And the ultimate Thanksgiving feast will be the Wedding Banquet in Heaven! In the meantime, we’re going to enjoy some Turkey and stuffing…

LATIN:

ADORO te devote, latens Deitas, quae sub his figuris vere latitas: tibi se cor meum totum subiicit, quia te contemplans totum deficit.

Visus, tactus, gustus in te fallitur, sed auditu solo tuto creditur; credo quidquid dixit Dei Filius: nil hoc verbo Veritatis verius.

In cruce latebat sola Deitas, at hic latet simul et humanitas; ambo tamen credens atque confitens, peto quod petivit latro paenitens.

Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intueor; Deum tamen meum te confiteor; fac me tibi semper magis credere, in te spem habere, te diligere.

O memoriale mortis Domini! panis vivus, vitam praestans homini! praesta meae menti de te vivere et te illi semper dulce sapere.

Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine, me immundum munda tuo sanguine; cuius una stilla salvum facere totum mundum quit ab omni scelere.

Iesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio, oro fiat illud quod tam sitio; ut te revelata cernens facie, visu sim beatus tuae gloriae. Amen.

ENGLISH:

Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore, Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, See, Lord, at Thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.

Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived: How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed; What God’s Son has told me, take for truth I do; Truth Himself speaks truly or there’s nothing true.

On the cross Thy godhead made no sign to men, Here Thy very manhood steals from human ken: Both are my confession, both are my belief, And I pray the prayer of the dying thief.

I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see, But can plainly call thee Lord and God as he; Let me to a deeper faith daily nearer move, Daily make me harder hope and dearer love.

O thou our reminder of Christ crucified, Living Bread, the life of us for whom he died, Lend this life to me then: feed and feast my mind, There be thou the sweetness man was meant to find.

Bring the tender tale true of the Pelican; Bathe me, Jesu Lord, in what Thy bosom ran Blood whereof a single drop has power to win All the world forgiveness of its world of sin.

Jesu, whom I look at shrouded here below, I beseech thee send me what I thirst for so, Some day to gaze on thee face to face in light And be blest for ever with Thy glory’s sight. Amen.

Link to sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/almaredemptorissolemn

As promised, here is a bonus episode for the adventurous who want to learn the solemn tone of the Alma Redemptoris Mater. As you'll see, it is much more difficult to sing than the simple tone, but it is proportionally more fulfilling to sing and to hear! In fact, this may very well be the most beautiful chant ever written....enjoy!

LATIN:

ALMA Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti, Surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti, Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

ENGLISH:

Kind mother of the Redeemer, who remain the open gate of heaven and the star of the sea: help your falling people who want to rise, you who bore your holy Creator, while nature marveled: a Virgin before and after, receiving that Ave from Gabriel's mouth, have mercy on us sinners.

Link to the sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/almaredemptorismater

Happy New Year and welcome to one of our favorite musical Liturgical Seasons – ADVENT. It’s not just because Christmas is around the corner and we’re brushing up on our favorite Christmas chants and carols: there is beautiful music for Advent as well, full of yearning for the Incarnation and rejoicing in the “Yes” of our Blessed Mother.

When the calendar turns from Ordinary Time to Advent, the Marian Antiphon traditionally sung at compline changes from the Salve Regina to today’s chant: Alma Redemptoris Mater. Although it was originally sung as an “antiphon” that is: sung once, followed by a psalm set to a simple tone, and then sung again, it is now a sort of standalone piece: sung as the hymn at the end of Night Prayer during Advent. We urge you to sing this every day during Advent and Christmas!

As with the other Marian Antiphons, there is a simple tone, and a solemn tone. We’ll be teaching you the simple tone in this episode, but we’ll also release a separate episode where you can learn the solemn tone…it’s not too hard!

LATIN:

ALMA Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti, Surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti, Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

ENGLISH:

Kind mother of the Redeemer, who remain the open gate of heaven and the star of the sea: help your falling people who want to rise, you who bore your holy Creator, while nature marveled: a Virgin before and after, receiving that Ave from Gabriel's mouth, have mercy on us sinners.

Propers of the Year: A new 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 each chant slowly, highlights difficult sections, and sings through it slowly again. At the end of the episode, he sings through all the propers at normal speed.

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

Introit: 2:00 https://tinyurl.com/adtelavavidomine

Gradual: 11:10 https://tinyurl.com/universiquite

Alleluia: 19:00 https://tinyurl.com/alleluiaostende

Offertory: 28:45 https://tinyurl.com/adtedominelevavi

Communion: 35:40 https://tinyurl.com/dominusdabit

All chants, regular speed: 39:10:

Link to sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/tesaeculorum

Learn to sing Te Saeculorum Principem.

We’re coming up on the end of the liturgical year, and we want to teach you this lovely hymn for the Solemnity of Christ the King. Now this feast is only 100 years old, so this is not technically an ancient chant of the church, but its beautiful poetry and marvelous melody recommend it us. This chant is from Vespers for the feast of Christ the King, but since this is not usually sung anymore (SAD!) this would be a wonderful hymn to sing at Mass on the Solemnity.

The final two lines are just spectacular: “His empire shall be multiplied, and there will be no end of peace.” YES! Jesus is King!

It also has some stanzas (6 – 8) which may seem provocative in our time…

1. Te saeculorum Principem, Te, Christe, Regem Gentium, Te mentium,

Te cordium Unum fatemur arbitrum.

2. Scelesta turba clamitat: Regnare Christum nolumus: Te nos ovantes omnium

Regem supremum dicimus.

3. O Christe, Princeps Pacifer, Mentes rebelles subiice: Tuoque amore devios,

Ovile in unum congrega.

4. Ad hoc cruenta ab arbore, Pendes apertis brachiis: Diraque fossum cuspide Cor igne flagrans exhibes.

5. Ad hoc in aris abderis Vini dapisque imagine, Fundens salutem filiis Transverberato pectore.

6. Te nationum Praesides Honore tollant publico, Colant magistri, iudices,

Leges et artes exprimant.

7. Submissa regum fulgeant Tibi dicata insignia: Mitique sceptro patriam

Domosque subde civium.

8. Iesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui sceptra mundi temperas, cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

V. Multiplicabitur eius imperium.

R. Et pacis non erit finis.

1. Thou, Prince of all ages, Thou, O Christ, the King of the nations, we acknowledge Thee the one Judge of all hearts and minds.

2. The wicked mob screams out. "We don't want Christ as king," While we, with shouts of joy, hail Thee as the world's supreme King.

3. O Christ, peace-bringing Prince, subjugate the rebellious minds: And in Thy love, bring together in one flock those going astray.

4. For this, with arms outstretched, Thou hung, bleeding, on the Cross,

and the cruel spear that pierced Thee, showed man a Heart burning with love.

5. For this, Thou art hidden on our altars under the form of bread and wine,

and pour out on Thy children from Thy pierced side the grace of salvation.

6. May the rulers of the world publicly honor and extol Thee; May teachers and judges reverence Thee; May the laws express Thine order and the arts reflect Thy beauty.

7. May kings find renown in their submission and dedication to Thee. Bring under Thy gentle rule our country and our homes.

8. Glory be to Thee, O Jesus, supreme over all secular authorities; And glory be to the Father and the loving Spirit through endless ages. Amen.

V. His empire shall be multiplied.

R. And there shall be no end of peace.

Learn to sing Salve Regina. This beautiful Marian Antiphon is traditionally sung after the Rosary and after Night Prayer during Ordinary time. Mary has also revealed in visions that this is one of her favorites!

Link to sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/simpletonesalveregina

Lyrics and Translation

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos

misericordes oculos ad nos converte;

Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

----

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

Hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve;

to you we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn, then, most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us;

and after this, our exile,

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Learn to sing Jesu Dulcis Memoria (Chant link: https://tinyurl.com/jesudulcis). A hymn used in the liturgy of the hours on the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, with 53 verses! Thankfully the melody repeats...

Link to lyrics and translation: https://tinyurl.com/JesuDulcisLyrics