Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

98 Septuagesima Sunday
and Eve when they had to view that first corpse, their own beloved
child.
Perhaps there still is in these Sundays (Septuagesima, Sexagesima,
and Quinquagesima) a reminder of the final period of the Migration
of Nations (the end of the sixth century), when strange hordes brought
ruin and tears upon Rome and the surrounding territory. It seems that
it was precisely at this time that the pre-Lenten season was incorporated
into the liturgical year at Rome (cf. Grisar, Missale, 56).
The range of the three phrases is limited. The d reaching above the
dominant is merely an embellishing note, and is not emphasized. The
melody never descends below the tonic. Of the twice-sung drcumdederunt
me, one is at the beginning of the first phrase, and the other at
its end. The second one, with its wide sweep of notes, is not so much
tone-painting of circum as an indication of the great torment which
burdens the soul. The last three notes of this phrase are like the ending
found in many Graduals. Here, however, they have not that charming
effect so prominent in the Graduals, because they are introduced differently.
The second phrase begins almost exactly like the first one. In its
second part it becomes quite restless: thrice it leaps up, and thrice it
sinks back again, with intervals of a second, a fifth, and a fourth. But
this ending does not satisfy; it urges onward. And the expected continuity
comes in such a manner that one is reminded of the Psalmist's
words that before we call upon God He is already present to us. The
third phrase swings up immediately to the dominant in a bright and
cheerful manner. Exaudivit is admittedly much like dolores, and sancto
suo resembles -dederunt of the first phrase. Nevertheless, the text demands
a different rendition in each case. As in the first phrase, two drops of a
fourth occur here also, and then the whole flows calmly on to the conclusion.
Revue, 8, 89 ff.
GRADUAL (Ps. 9: 10, 11; 19, 20)
1. Adjutor in opportunitatibus 1. The helper in due time, in triin
tribulatione: 2. sperent in te, qui bulation: 2. let them trust in thee,
noverunt te; 3. quoniam non de- who know thee: 3. for thou dost not
relinquis quaerentes te, Domine. 111. forsake them that seek thee, O Lord.
1. Quoniam non in finem oblivio J". 1. For the poor man shall not be
erit pauperis: 2. patientia pau- forgotten to the end: 2. the patience
perum non peribit in aeternum: 3. of the poor shall not perish for ever
exsurge, Domine, non praevaleat 3. arise, O Lord, let not man be
homo. strengthened.