Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

432 St. Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Confessor
In the first phrase, g has a predominating influence; in the second, / is
effective in relation to bV, in the third, b is stressed while c g e are the
most conspicuous notes. Although every phrase of the text terminates
with a dactyl, the melody nevertheless gives neums to the second last
syllable of each. Cornu sets in a fourth higher than the close of its preceding
phrase. There can be no thought of word-painting, however,
since we find the same figure over (magnifi)-centia in the Introit of the
feast of St. Lawrence. DispSrsit is sung gca gcc; (paupe)-ri-(bus), on the
other hand, has three quiet groups of two notes.
GRADUAL (Ps. 111:9,2)
1. Dispersit, dedit pauperibus: 1. He hath distributed, he hath
2. justitia eius manet in saeculum given to the poor: 2. his justice resaeculi.
jr. Potens in terra 2. erit maineth forever and ever. %. 1.
semen eius: 3. generatio rectorum Mighty upon earth 2. shall be his
4. benedicetur. seed 3. the generation of the righteous
4. shall be blessed.
The corpus is identical with the first two phrases of the Introit.
The text of the verse has an especially bright ring. How mighty has the
child of St. Joachim become as the queen of heaven and mistress of earth,
the terror of evil spirits and the joy of the just. The very King of Kings
humbles Himself before her and becomes subject to her; generations will
ever sing her praise and never cease to cry: "Blessed art thou among
women and blessed (Benedicetur) is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus."
The melody is of the type explained on the first Sunday of Lent.
Both text and melody are taken from the vigil of St. Lawrence.
ALLELUIA VERSE
1. O Joachim sancte, coniux 1. O holy Joachim, spouse of
Annae, pater almae Virginis, 2. hie Anne, father of the glorious Virgin,
famulis ferto salutis opem. 2. assist now thy servants unto salvation.
In the eleventh century this melody was sung to the text 0 quam
metuendus est (Dedication of a Church). The beginning of the verse repeats
the motive over -le. This same motive with its torculus is repeated
a fifth higher over coniux, and with a slight variation over almae. The
first member of the jubilus is echoed over sanctae.
The Vatican Gradual, both textually and melodically (typical
figure dc fga), combines sancte with Joachim; according to the Missal,
however, it belongs to Annae (sanctae).