Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

364 Purification of the Blessed Virgin or Candlemas
The first notes of this antiphon are well known to us from the Per
omnia saecula. Similar melodic treatment are accorded ddjuva nos and
the definitive libera nos: the e following the former acts as an impellent
for the latter. The present Exsurge is devoid of the stormy excitement
and the feeling of abandonment by God depicted in the Introit of Sexagesima.
True, today's chant is impressive—the repetition of the same
formula emphasizes this—but it is simpler, more ardent, more confident-
It is also sung on Rogation Days immediately before the procession.
Of the various antiphons sung during the procession, we take note
of the following one only.
ADORNA
In the first two phrases the second half repeats the melody of the
first half.
1. Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion O Daughter of Sion, adorn thy
et suscipe Regem Christum-. 2. bridal chamber, and welcome Christ
amplectere Mariam, quae est cae- the King: 2. greet Mary with loving*
lestis porta: 3. ipsa enim portat embrace, for she, who is the very
Regem gloriae novi luminis: sub- gate of heaven, 3. bringeth to thee
sistit Virgo, adducens manibus Fi- the glorious King of the new light.
Hum ante luciferum genitum: 4. Though in her arms she bears a Son
quern accipiens Simeon in ulnas begotten before the day star, yet ever
suas praedicavit populis Dominum she remaineth a pure virgin. 4.
eum esse vitae et mortis, et salva- Hers was the Child whom Simeon,
torem mundi. taking up into his arms, declared
unto all peoples to be the Lord of
life and death, the Saviour of the
world.
Sion, in the first verse, refers to the Church. In the second verse the
singer is inspired by the thought of the "King of the new light," and
thenceforward the melody becomes brighter.
Special emphasis is given the word eum, for He is the Lord. The
whole produces the effect of a royal hymn, a festive echo of Christmastide,
which delighted in singing of Christ the King. The identical form
of the motive over Sion recurs four times; that over gloriae three times;
that of novi luminis over (ad)-ducens manibus, and again with a slight
change over Dominum eum esse.
According to Wagner (I, 51, and 207) these chants are of Greek
origin. Rass. gr., is of a different opinion (8, 193, and 438 fiL; 9, 51 ff.).