• 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

19 January 2021 • Confusion over feasts

For several months, we have discussed the complicated history of the various Christmas feasts: the Baptism of the Lord, the feast of the Holy Family, the Epiphany, and so forth. During a discussion, someone questioned my assertion that in some places Christmas had been part of the Epiphany. As time went on, of course, the Epiphany came to represent only three “manifestations” (Magi, Cana, Baptism), but this is not something rigid. For example, if you look at this “Capital E” from the feast of the Epiphany circa 1350AD, you can see it portrays not three mysteries but four—including PHAGIPHANIA when Our Lord fed the 5,000. In any event, anyone who wants proof the Epiphany used to include Christmas can read this passage from Dom Prosper Guéranger.

—Jeff Ostrowski
6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong

A book published by Anglicans in 1965 has this to say about Abbat Pothier’s Editio Vaticana, the musical edition reproduced by books such as the LIBER USUALIS (Solesmes Abbey): “No performing edition of the music of the Eucharistic Psalmody can afford to ignore the evidence of the current official edition of the Latin Graduale, which is no mere reproduction of a local or partial tradition, but a CENTO resulting from an extended study and comparison of a host of manuscripts gathered from many places. Thus the musical text of the Graduale possesses a measure of authority which cannot lightly be disregarded.” They are absolutely correct.

—Jeff Ostrowski
2 January 2021 • Temptation

When I see idiotic statements made on the internet, I go nuts. When I see heretics promoted by people who should know better, I get angry. Learning to ignore such items is difficult—very difficult. I try to remember the words of Fr. Valentine Young: “Do what God places in front of you each day.” When I am honest, I don’t believe God wants me to dwell on errors and idiocy; there’s nothing I can do about that. During 2021, I will strive to do a better job following the advice of Fr. Valentine.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“It is difficult to imagine a more unjust situation than abortion, and it is very difficult to speak of obsession in a matter such as this, where we are dealing with a fundamental imperative of every good conscience—the defense of the right to life of an innocent and defenseless human being.”

— Pope St. John Paul II

Recent Posts

  • 19 January 2021 • Confusion over feasts
  • PDF Download • “Mass Propers For Sundays And Holydays Set To Simple Melodies” (429 pages)
  • Hidden Gem: Salvum Fac Populum Tuum (Bruckner)
  • Landmark Documentary on the Renewal of Sacred Music
  • Thou Hast Saved the Good Wine until Now

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.