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Views from the Choir Loft

Guinea Pigs and the Old Sequence for All Souls Day

Veronica Brandt · October 31, 2015

snowball the guinea pig WROTE ABOUT Dies Irae last year. Next time someone asks me why I attend a Vetus Ordo Mass I’ll give Dies Irae as the reason. The current plan splits up the hymn across Matins, Lauds and Vespers – like they do with Jesu Rex Admirabilis and Jesu Dulcis Memoria for the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. If you are eager to read more on their history and place in the Mass
Fr Friel has written a mini history of the Sequences.

But back to the guinea pigs.

A couple of years ago my sons bought a pair of guinea pigs at a homeschool market day. We had lots of exciting times, like when they hid under the shed and wouldn’t come back until after dark. We had random squares of neatly trimmed grass around our yard where their pen would stay for a few days at a time.

But then after a particularly hot day, the boys went to bring the guinea pigs in and found them both dead.

One was stiff already. The other was going that way. To be sure that they weren’t about to revive we kept them in shoeboxes overnight – something like having an open coffin. The passing of time eased the heartache a little.

The next day we dug a hole under a persimmon tree near where their pen was. The usual question about whether animals go to heaven was discussed. We didn’t want to be praying for the repose of their souls, but something to show our trust in God and express the unsettling awareness of the transience of all material things – including fuzzy pets. Queue Dies Irae.

Many are daunted by the length – 20 verses depending how you count them – but it is fairly easy. There are three main tunes. Let’s call them A, B and C.

The pattern is : A A B B C C A A B B C C A A B B C C then the closing tune for Lacrimosa through to the end. All the Sequences have that echo effect which can be very handy for a choir to sing antiphonally with the more experienced singers leading.

Back in our backyard, I pulled out some copies of A New Book of Old Hymns. We sang it through and it seemed so right. Our littlest piped up at the end to say it was all finished.

    * *  Dies Irae – pp 52-55 of A New Book of Old Hymns

I didn’t make a recording that day, but there are many recordings. Giovanni Vianini’s renditions are always great. There are also many, many, many translations and paraphrases.

Maybe you can take this hymn along to your local cemetery for the plenary indulgence Nov 1-8. Have a blessed November.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The liturgical reform bears absolutely no relation to what is called “desacralization” and in no way intends to lend support to the phenomenon of “secularizing the world.” Accordingly the rites must retain their dignity, spirit of reverence, and sacred character.

— Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (5 September 1970)

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