Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Palm Sunday 151
sponsories are inserted, either of which may be sung. In the present
instance both of them strike us as strange. One of them leads us to the
meeting of the Sanhedrin, which determined upon the death of Jesus.
Its melody reveals a powerful, even passionate dramatic force. The rendition
is not easy.
THE SECOND RESPONSORY (Matt. 26: 39, 41)
A. 1. In monte Oliveti oravit ad A.I. On Mount Olivet he -prayed
Patrem: 2. Pater, si fieri potest to his Father: 2. Father, if it be potranseat
a me calix iste. 3. * Spi- sible, let this chalice pass from me
ritus quidem promptus est, caro 3. * The spirit indeed is willing,
autem infirma: 4. fiat voluntas tua. but the flesh is weak: 4. thy will be
B. f. I. Vigilate et orate, II. ut done. B. f. I. Watch and pray, II.
non intretis in tentationem. A. 3. that ye enter not into temptation.
* Spiritus A. 3. * The spirit
The procession began from Mount Olivet. This responsory speeds
ahead of the incidents in the order of their occurrence and transports us
to the scene of Christ's agony on the same Mount of Olives, thus setting
up a rather somber background to this joyful celebration.
The melody has the form ABA, like the responsory Emendemus
on Ash Wednesday. In A the first half of the first phrase ascends to the
dominant; in the form of a sequence the second half comes to the tonic.
The second and third phrases begin on the dominant. The third closes
with a modulation to the full tone below the tonic. Iste sets the formula
over (Oli)-veti a full tone lower.
B, the verse, has an entirely typical melody. Both of its two phrases
have an introductory formula; then in I the wonted recitation on c
follows which is very brief here on account of the brevity of the text,
together with a frequent five-syllable middle adence; in II recitation
5 4 32 1
on g, and always a five-syllable closing cadence, here from tentationem
on.
Wagner, III, 197 and 343; Johner, Der greg. Choral, 96 and 102.
At the distribution of the blessed palms the antiphons Pueri Hebraeorum
are sung.
Pueri Hebraeorum, portantes ra- The Hebrew children carrying
mos olivarum, obviaverunt Domino, olive branches, met our Lord, crying
clamantes, et dicentes: Hosanna in out, and saying: Hosanna in the
excelsis. highest.