Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost 343
fervent thanks; it comes to full bloom in the more florid melismas over
the word Deus. Only with God can we find such judgment and forgiveness.
The final groups of neums are frequently seen at the close of the
Introits of the third mode (cf. the Introit for the fifth Sunday after
Easter and that for the tenth after Pentecost). The last two groups of
neums represent a rhythmically united and inseparable whole; they
always occur over the two final syllables. That explains the peculiar
treatment accorded Israel. All in all, this Introit well agrees with the
spirit of All Souls' Day and is very fitting at the end of the liturgical year.
With the same confidence with which we sing the Introit we are
also to sing the psalm-verse. And though I should be sunk in the abyss
of utter need and utter helplessness, still shall I cry to Thee, 0 God,
and Thou wilt not despise my humble supplication.
The Introit also teaches us to look with humble confidence to that
great day, mentioned twice in today's Epistle, when Christ Jesus will
reappear on earth.
GRADUAL (Ps. 132: 1, 2)
1. Ecce quam bonum, et quam 1. Behold how good and how
jucundum habitare fratres in unum! pleasant it is for brethren to dwell
$. 1. Sicut unguentum in capite, together in unity. $ T . 1. It is like
2. quod descendit in barbam, 3. the precious ointment of the head,
barbam Aaron. 2. that ran down the beard, 3. the
beard of Aaron.
The Epistle shows with what "tender love" the Apostle regarded
the community at Philippi, what heartfelt wishes for this community
inspired him—an ideal picture of shepherd and flock. Would that it
were so everywhere! Would that all who congregate in the churches on
Sundays were bound together spiritually in an enduring bond! This is
the happy condition which the Gradual tries to portray.
Ecce at the beginning of the piece is full of meaning; the melody
has something important to tell us. Habitare with its quint is just as
pregnant. In this phrase, a is a sort of tonic supporting the ascending
melody. Unum receives prominence from its pressus; the two subsequent
notes, a g, are to be sung broadly according to the annotated
manuscripts. The closing melisma with the rhythm efdfagagefg
is an abbreviation of the ornate formula which ends the first part of
the Gradual on the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. This first part
has also been adopted as the Gradual for the vigil of the feast of the
Immaculate Conception.
Florid melismas and a rising melodic line characterize the verse.
On All Saints' Day we meet the neums which occur here over (unguent)-