Monday, March 2, 2009

More on the Proper Chants of the First Sunday of Lent

The chants of the Proper of the first Sunday of Lent are all taken from Psalm 90 - above all, the day's great Tract uses all but three verses of it (why they're omitted, I'm unsure).  I mentioned in an earlier post that two supplements to the Proper are available for optional use: the Offertory Scapulis suis may have its ancient melismatic verses sung with it (the first of these for the first Sunday of Lent being Dicet Domino: susceptor meus es, non timebo a timore nocturno, a sagitta volante per diem. * Scuto..., where the last word indicates the last part of the Offertory antiphon which is thereupon to be repeated), while the Communion Scapulis suis may be repeated after every one or two verses from Psalm 90 (verses 1-3 and 11-16, to be precise).

However, there is another fine item worthy of chanting at Mass if time permit: the last Responsory of Matins, also taken from Psalm 90:

R/. Angelis suis Deus mandávit de te, ut custódiant te in ómnibus viis tuis: * In mánibus portábunt te, ne umquam offéndas ad lápidem pedem tuum.
V/. Super áspidem et basilíscum ambulábis, et conculcábis leónem et dracónem. * In mánibus portábunt te, ne umquam offéndas ad lápidem pedem tuum.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. * In mánibus portábunt te, ne umquam offéndas ad lápidem pedem tuum.

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