Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

Solemnity of St. Joseph 389
FIRST ALLELUIA VERSE
1. De quacumque tribulatione 1. In whatever tribulation they
clamaverint ad me, exaudiam eos, shall cry to me, I will hear them,
2. et ero protector eorum semper. 2. and be their protector always.
The melody makes frequent use of the intervals c-e-g with pauses
mostly on g and e. It might thus be assigned to the ancient C mode,
which, like the Pbpule meus, closes on d (cf. Jeannin, Melodies syriennes
et chaldeenes, Leroux, Paris, p. 124). As early as the eleventh century it
was sung in honor of the Cross, to the text beginning with Nos autem.
The three pressus serve as so many pillars for the buoyant melody of
the jubilus. The melody over De quacumque is repeated over clamdverint,
while that over exaudiam is similar to (pro)-tector eorum (Revue, 3, 163).
A peculiar joy should characterize our rendition of the two phrases in
which St. Joseph speaks to us in a reassuring manner and we, in turn,
gratefully acknowledge his loving protection.
SECOND ALLELUIA VERSE
1. Fac nos innocuam, Joseph, de- 1. Obtain for us, 0 Joseph, to
currere vitam: 2. sitque tuo semper lead an innocent life; 2. and may it
tuta patriocnio. ever be safe through thy patronage.
The text forms a distich. The melody, however, is not influenced by
its metrical form.
The original melody dates from the eleventh century. A feeling of
earnest entreaty and of lofty aspiration pervades the melody, depicting,
as it were, anticipation of an ascension to heaven. Well adapted to the
pleading character of the text is the soaring melody at the close.
Faultless and pure was the life of St. Joseph to whose care God entrusted
the Virgin of Virgins and the Christ Child, who was innocence
itself. The melodies over Fac nos and Joseph show similarity. The florid
melisma over tu-(ta) has the form a b c. Part a has rhymelike consonance
to which b with its descending line forms a contrast; c is made
up of semper tu-(ta) and vitam.
Being mindful of our own helplessness, we should sing this melody
with great fervor. When entreating St. Joseph to be our protector at all
times, let us not forget the great need we shall have of his protection in
the hour of death. An atmosphere of glad and trusting hope in the faithful,
and often proven, love of St. Joseph will then pervade our chant.
Revue, 9, 131 ff.