Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

St. Mark, Evangelist—SS. Philip and James the Younger 381
ST. MARK, EVANGELIST
(April 25)
The Introit opens with the word Protexisti. In it the Evangelist
gives expression to his gratitude to God for the protection which he has
been given against his enemies and persecutors (particularly at his
martyrdom). The melody repeats identical and similar forms and requires
lively rendition. The tonic of the seventh mode is found only at
the beginning and at the end of the antiphon.
The first ALLELUIA VERSE and the OFFERTORY are the
same as those on the feast of the Apostles Philip and James (May 1).
The second ALLELUIA VERSE Posuisti describes in a beautiful
and tuneful melody how God has placed on the head of the saint a crown
of precious stones. The verse repeats the motives of Alleluia and its
jubilus: abed. Posuisti corresponds to a, Domine to b c and the first
part of a; ejus is an extended form of c, a free repetition of which is given
over coronam; de lapide pretioso repeats the entire melody of alleluia and
the jubilus.
The melody dates back to the twelfth century.
The COMMUNION Laetdbitur Justus belongs to the most effective
and worth-while chants of the Graduale. It rouses to the height of enthusiasm.
The introductory motive / gga gf becomes fa ag cc a eg over
in Do-(mino), and fac e 1 d 1 c 1 over et sperdbit. Such is the song of a faith
that knows neither enemy nor difficulty. After a quiet, contrasting melodic
descent, the jubilant Alleluia with its fac 1 dVVcVdV brings the
piece to a close. Even as the beginning of the members of each phrase
depict exuberant joy, so the final groups with their rhymes -mino, corde,
-luia and the sequences recti and -Mia with cab\>cb\> ga b\?a g fg dgf
breathe the peace of a soul united to God.
Revue, 20, 138.
SS. PHILIP AND JAMES THE YOUNGER,
APOSTLES
(May 1)
It was on this day during the pontificate of John III (661-674)
that the Church of the Twelve Apostles at Rome, which possessed relics
of the two Apostles Philip and James, was dedicated. The same date
commemorated the deliverance of Rome by Narses from the Gothic