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

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Catholic Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

“Stella Caeli Exstirpavit” • Gregorian Chant During Times Of Pestilence

Jeff Ostrowski · July 31, 2020

ERONICA BRANDT recently alerted to me to a piece I’d never heard of: Stella Caeli Exstirpavit—“plainsong during time of plague.” I see that young ladies from the fabulous new Brébeuf Virtual Choir have recorded this piece, and I have no idea how they were able to accomplish this virtually. I understand how metrical (“rhythmic”) pieces are recorded virtually, but pieces in free rhythm are impossible…at least that’s what I thought until I heard their gorgeous rendition:

*  PDF Download • Stella Caeli Exstirpavit
—Common melody • Gregorian Chant During Times Of Pestilence.

*  PDF Download • Alternate Melody
—Alternate melody • Gregorian Chant During Times Of Pestilence.

Watch Out For Typos!

Some differences don’t matter. For example, “exstirpavit” and “extirpavit” are both correct, just as “exsultet” and “exultet” are both correct. The same is true for “coeli” and “caeli”—these are orthographical changes of little consequence. One the other hand, certain versions have “plántavit”—a major error:

It should be “plantávit,” as you can see here:

Also, it is “dignétur” not “dignátur,” as you can see:

Latin With English Translation

Stella coeli exstirpávit,
quae lactávit Dóminum:
Star of Heaven,
who nourished the Lord

Mortis pestem quam plantávit
primus parens hóminum.
and rooted up the plague of death
which our first parents planted;

Ipsa stella nunc dignétur
sídera compéscere,
may that star now deign
to hold in check the constellations

quorum bella plebem coedunt
dirae mortis úlcere.
whose strife grants the people
the ulcers of a terrible death.

O piíssima stella maris,
a peste succúrre nobis,
O glorious star of the sea,
save us from the plague.

Audi nos, Dómina, nam Fílius tuus
nihil negans te honórat.
Hear us, O Lady, for thy Son,
denying nothing, honors thee.

Salva nos, Jesu, pro quibus
Virgo Mater te orat!
Save us, Jesus! For us,
the Virgin Mother entreats Thee.

Further Information • “Stella Coeli Extirpavit”

*  ARTICLE ON STELLA CAELI • Canticum Salomonis
—Contains interesting historical versions of “Stélla Cœ́li Extirpávit.”

*  ARTICLE ON STELLA CAELI • Christopher Macklin
—This is a PDF download from Cambridge University Press.

*  ARTICLE ON STELLA CAELI • Dr. Eleanor Parker
—Published on “A Clerk of Oxford,” which is an interesting blog.

*  ARTICLE ON STELLA CAELI • Dr. Aaron James
—Dr. James also reviewed the Brébeuf hymnal for the Antiphon Journal.

*  ARTICLE ON STELLA CAELI • Veronica Brandt
—Containing several versions of a “clean” score (Gregorio).

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

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Brébeuf Virtual Choir Last Updated: July 31, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

Jeff Ostrowski

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“It is very curious, rather barbarous, much too ornate, immeasurably less dignified than ours now, anything in the world rather than archaic or primitive.”

— Fr. Fortescue describing the “Sarum Use” in 1912

Recent Posts

  • Did Solesmes Abbey Drink The 1960s Kool-Aid?
  • Fr. Thomas Reese • “Young People Should Not Be Allowed To Attend” Latin Mass
  • 10 Examples • “Diversity of Musical Styles” (Latin Mass)
  • Can You Spare 33 Seconds?
  • “The Great Reset” • For Your Choir?

Copyright © 2021 Corpus Christi Watershed · Charles Garnier 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.