I decided during Advent to drill into the hymns in the Liturgia Horarum.
We continue our drilling with the hymn for the Office of Lauds or "Morning Prayer" in the post-Conciliar Liturgia Horarum called Vox clara ecce intonat, with its unhappier variation from the 1632 reform which is used in the Breviarium Romanum, En clara vox.
I dissect this hymn, sing it in the Gregorian chant tone, and we hear different translations and many other musical versions.
Once again I ramble a great deal while digging into the meaning of the hymn.
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Along the way you might hear these versions of Vox clara:
- En Clara Vox – Christmas Voices and Bells – Vienna Boys Choir
- Vox Clara Ecce Intonat – Otfrid von Weißenburg: Liber Evengeliorum
- Vox Clara Ecce Intonat – Música en las Rutas del Císter: Aragón – Cataluña – Schola Domus Aurea
- Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme, BWV 645 (‘Sleepers, Awake’) – JS Bach – The World of Organ – Simon Preston
- Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers Awake), BWV 645 – Simply Baroque II ~ Bach & Boccherini – ABO, Koopman – Yo-Yo Ma –
We are available on iTunes:
- 076 08-12-07 An Advent hymn dissected "Verbum supernum prodiens", with digressions
- 075 08-12-04 An Advent hymn dissected "Conditor alme siderum"; Fr. Z digresses far afield
- 074 08-11-26 A hymn to Christ the King dissected – before and after Vatican II; a proclamation; "Sieze the Day" in Scots
- 073 08-11-16 Augustine on Ps. 95(96) and Fr. Z on how to avoid going to Hell
Vox clara ecce intonat, |
Hark! A clear voice is thundering,
|
Mens iam resurgat torpida |
Now the benumbed mind rises again
|
E sursum Agnus mittitur |
The Lamb is sent from on high |
Secundo ut cum fulserit |
So that at the Second Coming when He will shine and dread will gird the world, |
Summo Parenti gloria |
To the Father Most High let there be glory, |
http://www.wdtprs.com/podcazt/08_12_16.mp3
Yes, En Clara Vox is rather unhappier. Now, I have a copy of the 1911 Antiphonale Romanum, and it contains, in an appendix, all of the pre-Urban VIII hymns. This has lead me to wonder whether they could be used in the Office according to the Breviarium Romanum.
Here’s my favorite translation, found in the Adoremus Hymnal.
Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding.
“Christ is nigh,” it seems to say;
“Cast away the works of darkness,
O ye children of the day.”
Wakened by the solemn warning,
let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
shines upon the morning skies.
Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
comes with pardon down from heaven;
let us all, with tears of sorrow,
pray that we may be forgiven;
That when next he comes with glory,
and the world is wrapped in fear,
with his mercy he may shield us,
and with words of love draw near.
Honor, glory, might, and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
with the everlasting Spirit,
while eternal ages run.
(Translation by Edward Caswell, alt.)
Franzjosf: Perhaps you didn’t listen, but I covered that version at length.
My apologies, I didn’t listen because of a slow connection at the house I’m visiting. I’ll have to go to Starbucks or something, because I’m interested in what you have to say.
That was fascinating, Father. Thank you!
Franzjosf: You can download it, though it might take a while.
Fr. Z,
This site keeps getting better and better.
These Podcasts that you have done on the Advent hymns have been outstanding. The mix of listening to the hymn, the spoken Latin, and the literal translation, along with your elucidating commentary brings them to life for me more than I could have hoped.
Are you planning to continue through the liturgical year?
Thank you
Brian: I’ll watch the stats for these PODCAzTs and make a determination. The stats and feedback help me decide where to put my time and energy.
Father, On the “Conditor” Podcast I also enjoyed hearing your beautiful brief rendering of the chant.
Yes Fr Z, I enjoy them too. I have gone to Amazon and downloaded Verbum supernum prodiens and Creator of the Stars of Night as result of the podcast. I will have to get to this one tomorrow.
Father, thank you SO MUCH for identifying that piece of music by Bach, Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme. I have heard it many times (including used in an old Commodore 64 “Nightmare on Elm Street” game, believe it or not…), but I have never known the composer nor the title.
Enjoyed your presentation very much. Interesting about the 17th century change. Interesting how habit and memorization play into preference. Since I have the words posted above and MERTON memorized, I love that hymn; nevertheless I prefer Vox Clara in the Latin to the revision. (Interestingly, in the Antiphonale Monasticum, Vox Clara is one of the only chants in the book which does not list the mode, since the editors weren’t exactly sure which mode it is.)
Father: you mused in one of your podcasts about what people were thinking about them and whether you should do them.
The answer is YEs, YES, YES! They are fantastic: bringing the sermons of the father especially to those of us who don’t have access to them, explaning them with such loving care, in short giving long and meaty sermons that help us understand our faith and what Holy Church teaches. Not to mention the whimsical and informative and enjoyable diversions into Latin, church music, Roman cooking and semiotics. Please Please Please keep it up. These are so very much appreicated.
With every blessing and thanks for your good work
H