Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

184 Easter Monday
(f-c, f-b). But despite this modest means of expression the melody throbs
with the consciousness of fresh life.
It may seem strange that itaque carries so rich a melody, and stranger
still that the neums should fall to the syllable -ta-. This is due to the influence
of early colloquial Latin, which put the accent on the syllable
immediately preceding the enclitic ~que. It is quite logical that the word
should have such a rich melody, for it wishes to stress this thought with
special emphasis: Since Christ has offered Himself as your Pasch, therefore
we are able to celebrate the Paschal feast and unite ourselves with
Him in Holy Communion. We are, moreover, to celebrate it in sincerity
and truth. For after the Paschal lamb had been slaughtered in the
Temple, the Jews were no longer permitted to have any leaven in their
houses. In like manner, the old leaven of sin may no longer have any
place in the Christian's heart, now that Christ has offered Himself for
us. Consideration of the sacrificial death of Christ and of the ardent
love that prompted it ought to enkindle us and induce us to lead a pure
and holy life.
Christus is a graceful response to (Pas)-cha no-(strum). The twonote
group in the first alleluia, in the last five notes of (i)-taque and
(equ)-lemur, and the first four notes of d-(zymis) and veri-(tdtis) produce
a pleasing effect. The spirited ascent in the third phrase, which
reaches its summit in the third alleluia, is likewise highly effective.
Musica s., 52, 49 ff.
EASTER MONDAY
INTROIT (Ex. 13: 5, 9)
1. Introduxit vos Dominus in 1. The Lord hath brought you into
terram fluentem lac et mel, alleluia: a land flowing with milk and honey,
2. et ut lex Domini semper sit in alleluia: 2. and that the law of the
ore vestro, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. Lord may be ever in your mouth,
Confitemini Domino, et invocate alleluia, alleluia. Ps. Give glory to
nomen ejus: * annuntiate inter the Lord, and call upon his name:
gentes opera ejus. * declare his deeds among the gentiles.
Here the neophytes, who wore their white robes at all the divine
services of Paschal Week, are addressed. Baptism has led them into the
land flowing with milk and honey, into the Promised Land of holy
Church with its life-giving and invigorating sources of grace, with its
sweet consolation. Hence it was that at Baptism they actually were