Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

358 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The first sentence begins softly and tenderly on the half step e-f
and the minor third, whence the intervals are extended to the dominant
c. Domine is full of joyful movement, designating as it does the source
from which all this happiness emanates. Summarizing it all in a word,
we might exclaim: Joy in the Lord! The second half of the first phrase
reflects the parallelism of the text (gaudebo—exsultdbit) in the melody,
which becomes more fervent over the words Deo meo. Here the soul
fuses, as it were, with its God. And well may Mary sing in this singular
strain, for the angel will shortly say unto her: "The Lord is with thee!"
Like the various members of the first phrase, so the second phrase
and the first half of the third phrase form parallel verses. The initial
motive is similar to that at the beginning of the Introit. In a word, with
the argument which it introduces, a more definite sounding double /
replaces the corresponding tender e f. The interval of the fourth a-d
leading over to the dominant creates a bold transition. In the first phrase
this transition is soon abandoned, while here it is made the continual
support of a new movement, which has a tense preparation over vestimentis,
reaches its climax on the torculus c e d, and then closes with undiminished
power. These phrases are an outcry of ecstatic jubilation
over the salvation that has come to the Blessed Virgin. She is indeed
the first and most beautiful fruit of salvation; Christ has clothed her
with the mantle of justice. In the first phrase the closing cadences over
Domino and meo were on e, over salutis and me they are on g.
The melody of quasi sponsam offers a new thought. The Blessed
Virgin is represented as "a bride adorned with her jewels." These words
are sung on the descending melody with such charming humility as only
the ancilla Domini, the handmaid of the Lord could sing them. And notwithstanding
the miracles of grace which had been wrought upon her,
she ever remained the humble handmaid of the Lord. Unceasing gratitude,
however, urges her on, and once more she receives the great graces
of which she has been made the recipient, once more she gives vent to
her feelings of amazement, joy, and gratitude.
In the psalm-verse the Blessed Virgin addresses her God directly:
"I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast not made my enemies to rejoice
over me." Reference is here made to the hereditary foe of the human
race, the devil, who in hellish glee mars newly created souls with
the stain of sin. Today, however, his song of triumph is silenced, for,
with his head crushed, he lies powerless under the foot of the Virgin.
The repetition of the Introit fittingly projects the image of the Mother
of God into the background of this picture and completes it in every detail.