• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
    • “Let the Choir Have a Voice” (Essay)
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Easter Hymn: “O Filii et Filiæ” • Contemporary setting (SATB)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2017

IKE OTHER musicians—even Horowitz—I often view my earlier projects with disgust. The passage of time can reveal flaws in earlier works. But “for every rule there is an exception,” and I recently stumbled upon a 2001 edition I made of an Easter hymn (based on a work by Msgr. Jules Van Nuffel).

I think it holds up pretty well:

* *  PDF Download • “O FILII ET FILIAE” (SATB)

Pardon my squeaky Soprano notes, but I wanted to show how it sounds:

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice—along with PDF score—await you at #5909. If you like them, please consider donating $5.00 per month.

Sing along with the Tenor Rehearsal video—could anything be more fun?

MY EDITION is similar to the version found in the special “English translation edition” of the Solesmes Liber Usualis, which can be downloaded here. If you examine the setting of words like “Salóme” as printed in that 1957 book, you might almost be forgiven for thinking the accent is on the antepenult. On the other hand, similar techniques were used by Machaut and Dufay—and it certainly helps prevent the tonic accent from becoming heavy and predictable.

O fílii et fíliae,
Rex caeléstis, Rex glóriae,
Mórte surréxit hódie.

O sons and daughters,
The King celestial, the King of glory,
From death arose to-day.

Et María Magdaléne,
Et Jacóbi, et Salóme,
Venérunt córpus úngere.

And Mary Magdalene, Salome,
And also Mary of James
Came to anoint the body.

In álbis sédens, ángelus
Praedíxit muliéribus:
In Galilaéa est Dóminus.

In white robes sitting the Angel
Foretold to the women:
In Galilee is the Lord.

Discípulis adstántibus,
In médio stétit Chrístus,
Dícens: Pax vóbis ómnibus.

The disciples standing by,
In the midst stood Christ,
Saying: Peace be to you all.

Víde, Thóma, víde látus,
Víde pédes, víde mánus,
Nóli ésse incrédulus.

See, Thomas, see my side,
See my feet, see my hands,
Do not be unbelieving.

Quándo Thómas Chrísti látus,
Pédes vídit átque mánus,
Díxit: Tu es Déus méus.

When Thomas saw Christ’s side,
When the feet he saw and the hands,
He said: Thou art my God.

Beáti qui non vidérunt,
Et fírmiter credidérunt,
Vítam aetérnam habébunt.

Blessèd they who have not seen,
Yet have firmly believed,
Life eternal shall they have.

In hoc fésto sanctíssimo
Sit laus et jubilátio,
Benedicámus Dómino.

On this feast most holy
Be there praise and jubilation,
Let us bless the Lord.

Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel’s school certainly loved pedal tones in middle voices—as you know if you purchased Volume 5 of the NOH hardcopy, which explains their compositional principles—and the Alto is chock-full of them in the above arrangement.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: Harmonized Gregorian Chant, O Filii Et Filiae Last Updated: March 7, 2023

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (4th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 4th Sunday of Lent (15 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has sublime propers. It is most often referred to as “Lætare Sunday” owing to its INTROIT. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)
    The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, which is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A), is particularly beautiful. There’s something irresistible about this tone; it’s neither happy nor sad. As always, I encourage readers to visit the flourishing feasts website, where the complete Propria Missae may be downloaded free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Flowers
    Good Friday has a series of prayers for various parties: the pope, catechumens, pagans, heretics, schismatics, and so forth. In the old liturgical books, there was no official ‘name’ for these prayers. (This wasn’t unusual as ‘headers’ and ‘titles’ for each section is a rather modern idea.) The Missal simply instructed the priest to go to the Epistle side and begin. In the SHERBORNE MISSAL, each prayer begins with a different—utterly spectacular—flower. This PDF file shows the first few prayers. Has anyone counted the ‘initial’ drop-cap flowers in the SHERBORNE MISSAL? Surely there are more than 1,000.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)
    Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Our Christian people regard with great joy everything that contributes to the splendor of the ceremonies. Jesus—who was poor in His private life—received ointment on His feet. See Thomas Aquinas (Prima Secundae, q. 102, art. 5, ad 10) and the holy Curé of Ars. The Church has always loved beautiful churches, and so forth. We must preserve our sacred patrimony and make sure sacred objects do not become secular possessions.”

— Abbot & Council Father denouncing “noble simplicity” during Vatican II

Recent Posts

  • Ending Good Friday on “Mi” … ?
  • “Innsbruck Hymn” • Bach Saint Matthew Passion
  • Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)
  • Dr. Tappan • Answers + Analysis: My “Inquiry” For Music Directors (3,087 words)
  • Eucharistic Hymns for Your Choir

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2026 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.