Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

70 Sunday within the Octave of Christmas
tropha on c appears as victor. The first and second phrases exhibit a
textual parallelism, which is not observed by the melody. In its first
half, the second phrase recites on c, the third phrase on a. At this juncture
the recitation becomes still more sustained. With Domine the cadence
does not close as silentium in the first phrase with a clivis, but
changes to a podatus, exactly in the same manner and for the same reason
as the word sitis in the Introit Gaudete (q.v.). The large pause after
Domine may surprise some. But in this manner the powerful words can
fully exert their effect upon us: The almighty Word came down from
heaven. Similarly the low inception of de caelis seems to cry out to us:
Consider well what this means! We find the same quiet closing cadence
with other Introits of the same mode, for example, in the second Mass
of Christmas.
The Lord is King, even though He is lying in the manger. His robe
of glory is goodness and benevolence, and His strength is love, love even
unto death (Reck).
Very strikingly the psalmodic closing cadence does not set in on
the fifth last syllable, as is the rule, but on the sixth last.
GRADUAL (Ps. 44; 3, 2)
1. Speciosus forma prae filiis ho- 1. Thou art beautiful above the
minum: 2. diffusa est gratia in la- sons of men: 2. Grace is poured
biis tuis. %. 1. Eructavit cor meum abroad in thy lips. $". 1. My heart
verbum bonum: 2. dico ego opera hath uttered a good word: 2. /
mea Regi: 3. lingua mea calamus speak my works to the King: 3.
scribae velociter scribentis. my tongue is the pen of a scrivener
that writeth swiftly.
Now has appeared the most beautiful of the sons of men. Whoever
contemplates Him constantly discovers new attractions and has his
heart captivated. But however swiftly his pen may set down the movements
of his heart, still more beautiful and sublime things remain to be
said. None of the soul's faculties can gain an adequate comprehension
of Christ's life and still less how it conforms to His essence: Nee lauddre
stifficisl One thing, however, remains constantly before the singer's mind:
"I speak my works to the King."
For the first time in the new liturgical year we meet the third mode
in a Gradual-responsory. Of the various types employed, the one chosen
here is found on the Tuesday after the fourth Sunday of Lent, on the
feast of the most Precious Blood (July 1), and on the feast of the Crown
of Thorns (celebrated in some places on the Friday after Ash Wednesday).