Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 359
GRADUAL (Jud. 13:23)
l.Benedicta estu, Virgo Maria, a 1. Blessed art thou, 0 Virgin
Domino Deo excelso, 2. prae omni- Mary, by the Lord the most high
bus mulieribus super terram. $F. 1. God, 2. above all women upon the
Tu gloria Jerusalem, 2. tu laetitia earth. %. 1. Thou art the glory of
Israel, 3. tu honorificentia populi Jerusalem, 2. thou art the joy of
nostri. Israel, 3. thou art the honor of our
people.
The text of the Gradual is intimately connected with the high
honor paid to Judith after her victory over Holofernes. In like manner
Mary is presented to us in the role of victor over sin. She is the solitary
boast of our tainted nature, the blessed among women. Hence, millions
salute her today in terms of highest reverence and glowing love:
Thou art our pride, our joy, our crown of honor.
In the Introit Mary was the person speaking; in the Gradual she is
the person spoken to.
The present melody was composed for the text Constitues of the
feast of SS. Peter and Paul. The adaptation could not have been more
happy. The text of the day imparts to the melody fresh energy, a fullness
of joy and enthusiasm. How full of reverence the words Benedicta es
tu, how ardent and lovely the Marial The extended development due to
the word-painting over omnem terram in the original fits perfectly to the
word excelso. Gloria Jerusalem revels in astonishment, admiration, and
delight.
ALLELUIA VERSE (Cant. 4: 7)
1. Tola pulchra es, Maria: 2. et 1. Thou art all fair, O Mary: 2.
macula originalis non est in te. and there is in thee no stain of
original sin.
In relation to the preceding Gradual, it is rather difficult to assign
a definite position and sentiment to the present chant and to characterize
it properly. It must be sung neither heavily nor slowly, but rather
with a spirit of naive joy and admiration. The melody is not original to
this text, but was sung in the 12th century on the feasts of the
Assumption and St. Agnes.
If we combine alleluia and jubilus into one in accordance with the
pauses, there will be four members. Alleluia is amplified in the second
member and repeated at the end of the third and fourth members as a
soft refrain. The -luia is characterized by a contrary ascending movement,
being somewhat extended at the beginning of the third member