The "O" Antiphons: 23 December -- O Emmanuel (plainchant / Hallock)

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, expectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver, the desire of all nations and their salvation: come and save us, O Lord our God. Latin: plainchant English: Peter Hallock, 1986

The "O" Antiphons: 22 December -- O Rex Gentium / O King of Nations (plainchant / Hallock)

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. O King of Nations, and their desire, you are the cornerstone that binds two into one: Come and save the creature, whom you have fashioned from clay. Latin: plainchant English: Peter Hallock, 1986

The "O" Antiphons: 21 December -- O Oriens / O Rising Dawn (plainchant / Hallock)

O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Rising Dawn, brightness of the light eternal, sun of righteousness: come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Latin: plainchant English: Peter Hallock, 1986

The "O" Antiphons: 20 December -- O Clavis David/O Key of David (plainchant / Hallock)

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.

O Key of David, and sceptre of the house of Israel;
you open and no one closes;
you close and no one opens:
come and deliver us from the chains of prison,
we who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Latin: plainchant
English: Peter Hallock, 1986

The "O" Antiphons: 19 December -- O Radix Jesse/O Root of Jesse (plainchant / Hallock)

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, you stand as an ensign to the people;
before you kings shall keep silence,
all nations bow in worship:
come and save us, and do not delay.

Latin: plainchant
English: Peter Hallock (1986)

The "O" Antiphons: 18 December -- "O Adonai" (plainchant / Hallock)

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.

O Adonai, ruler of the House of Israel,
you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush:
on Mount Sinai you gave him your law:
with outsretched arm, come and redeem us.

Latin: plainchant
English: Peter Hallock, 1986

Angelus ad virginem

1. Angelus ad virginem
Subintrans in conclave.
Virginis formidinum
Demulcens inquit "Ave."
Ave regina virginum,
Coeliteraeque dominum
Concipies
Et paries
Intacta,
Salutem hominum.
Tu porta coeli facta
Medella criminum.

2. Quomodo conciperem,
quae virum non cognovi?
Qualiter infringerem,
quae firma mente vovi?
'Spiritus sancti gratia
Perficiet haec omnia;
Ne timaes,
sed gaudeas,
secura,
quod castimonia
Manebit in te pura
Dei potentia.'

3. Ad haec virgo nobilis
Respondens inquit ei;
Ancilla sum humilis
Omnipotentis Dei.
Tibi coelesti nuntio,
Tanta secreti conscio,
Consentiens
Et cupiens
Videre
factum quod audio,
Parata sum parere
Dei consilio.

4. Angelus disparuit
Etstatim puellaris
Uterus intumuit
Vi partus salutaris.
Qui, circumdatus utero
Novem mensium numero,
Hinc Exiit
Et iniit
Conflictum,
Affigens humero
Crucem, qua dedit ictum
Hosti mortifero.

5. Eia Mater Domini,
Quae pacem reddidisti
Angelis et homini,
Cum Christum genuisti;
Tuem exora filium
Ut se nobis propitium
Exhibeat,
Et deleat
Peccata;
Praestans auxilium
Vita frui beta
Post hoc exsilium.

Text: Mediaeval 13th century Latin carol

The "O" Antiphons: 17 December -- O Sapientia (plainchant) / O Wisdom (Hallock)

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High,
and reach from one end of the earth to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
come and teach us the way of prudence.

Latin: plainchant
English: Peter Hallock (1986)

Conditor alme siderum

See also the English translation: Creator of the Stars of Night

Conditor alme siderum
aetérna lux credéntium
Christe redémptor
ómnium exáudi preces súpplicum

Qui cóndolens intéritu
mortis perire saeculum
salvásti mundum languidum
donnas reis remedium.

Vergénte mundi véspere
uti sponsus de thálamo
egréssus honestissima
Virginis matris cláusula.

Cuius forti ponténtiae
genu curvántur ómnia
caeléstia, terréstia
nutu faténtur súbdita.

Te, Sancte fide quáesumus,
venture iudex sáeculi,
consérva nos in témpore
hostis a telo perfidi.

Sit, Christe rex piissime
tibi Patríque glória
cum Spíritu Paráclito
in sempitérna sáecula.
Amen.

See also the English translation: Creator of the Stars of Night

Text: 7th century Advent Vespers hymn
Tune: Plainchant, Mode IV

Salva Nos, Stella Maris

Salva nos, stella maris
Et regina caelorum
Salva nos, stella maris
Et regina caelorum

Que pura deum paris
Salva nos, stella maris
Et per rubum signaris
Nesciens viri thorum
Salva nos, stella maris
Et regina caelorum

O virgo specialis
Salva nos, stella maris
Sis nobis salutaris
Imperatrix caelorum
Salva nos, stella maris
Et regina caelorum

Tu mater expers paris
Salva nos, stella maris
Manna celeste paris
Et panem angelorum
Salva nos, stella maris
Et regina celorum

O parens expers maris
Salva nos, stella maris
Partu non violaris
Paris sanctum sanctorum
Salva nos, stella maris
Et regina celorum

Celeste manna paris
Salva nos, stella maris
Lux cecis, dux ignaris
Solamen angelorum
Salva nos, stella maris
Et regina caelorum

Salva nos, stella maris
Et regina caelorum

I am risen and behold (Michael Barger)

Antiphon:

I am risen and behold and am with you, Alleluia!
You have placed you hand on me, Alleluia!
O God, how wonderf'lly you know me, Alleluia!

1. O Lord, you search me and you know me.
You know when I sit down and rise up again, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

2. Behold, Lord, you know all things both ancient and new.
You have conceived me, and laid your hand upon me, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

3. Glory be to the Father of Love,
And to the Son, who is risen from the dead,
And to the Spirit giving us new life,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and every shall be, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

Composer: Michael Barger 

Michael Barger grew up in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His work is highly influenced by Islamic and Byzantine Arabic chant and especially by the Lebanese Byzantine chanter, Sister Marie Keyrouz

Composer's Notes:

The text of I Am Risen is that of the Introit (Entrance chant) of the Roman rite celebration of the Eucharist on Easter day, Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum, which serves as the antiphon for the chanting of Psalm 139. The composition was inspired by the recording of Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum on Ensemble Organum's recording,  Chants of the Church of Roman - Byzantine Period. It is devoted to chants of the Church of Rome when most of the popes came from the churches of the Byzantine Empire ( 590-752), coinciding with the rise of the Prophet Muhammad (550-632) and the Umayyad Caliphate (660-750). Liturgies were celebrated with chants in both Greek and Latin. Musically the hymn is in the Mixolydian mode and marked by chords of the ninth.

Quem Pastores Laudavere

1. Quem pastores laudavere,
quibus angeli dixere,
absit vobis jam timere,
natus est rex gloriæ.

2. Ad quem reges ambulabant,
aurum, thus, myrrham portabant,
immolabant hæc sincere
Leoni victoriæ.

3. Exultemus cum Maria
In cœlesti heirarchia
Natum promat voce pia
Laus honor et gloria.

4. Christo regi, Deo nato,
per Mariam nobis dato,
merito resonet vere
Dulci cum melodia.

Historical Information

Words: 14th century, Hoenforth MS
Music: German, Breslau, 1555

Videntes Stellam

Videntes stellam
magi gavisi sunt gaudio magno:
et intrantes domum obtulerunt
Domino aurum
thus et myrrham.

Music: Francis Poulenc

Ave Maria (Ellen M. Keating)

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Composer: Ellen M. Keating (b. 1954)

Ave Maria (Franz Liszt)

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.


Composer: Franz Liszt

Nunc Dimittis (Taizé)

See also the English version: Let your servant now go in peace (Taizé)

Music: Jacques Berthier (English bio) (French bio)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

In Paradisum (Fauré)

In memory of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, 15 April 2013















In paradisum deducant te Angeli;
in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres,
et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem.
Chorus angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

May angels lead you into paradise;
upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you 
and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. 
May the ranks of angels receive you, 
and with Lazarus, once the poor man, may you have eternal rest.

Historical Information: In Paradisum

Music: from the Requiem, by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Pie Jesu (Duruflé)

In memory of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, 15 April 2013 

Background information on Pie Jesu

Composer: Maurice Duruflé (1947)

Pie Jesu (Ricky Manalo)

In memory of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, 15 April 2013 







Background information on Pie Jesu

Composer: Ricky Manalo (1990)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

A Prayer of King Henry VI (Henry Ley)

Domine, Jesu Christe,
qui me creasti,
redemisti, et preordinasti
ad hoc quod sum,
tu scis quid de me facere vis;
fac de me secundum
voluntatem tuam
cum misericordia.
Amen.

Score (PDF/ChoralWiki)

Composer: Henry G. Ley (1887-1962)