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

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “O Sacred Head Surrounded” … placed into Gregorian Chant!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 17, 2021

HE GREAT Fulton J. Sheen gave excellent advice to teachers: “tear up your notes at the end of each semester.” That is: never stop learning. When I served as a member of the committee producing the Brébeuf hymnal, we learned something incredible: nobody has ever taken the trouble to name the Gregorian hymn melodies! (Somebody should write a dissertation addressing this problem.) We have spoken quite a bit about a certain ancient hymn which has no name. It could legitimately be called:

(1) Jam Christus Astra Ascenderat;
(2) Aurora Lucis Rutilat;
(3) Ad Coenam Agni Providi;
(4) Lucis Creator Optime;
(5) Vexilla Regis Inclyta;
(6) Te Lucis Ante Terminum;
(7) Te Saeculorum Principem;
(8) Sermone Blando Angelus;

…And so forth 1 and so on.

Whatever you call it, the melody for this Lenten hymn is quite ancient:

*  PDF Download • ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT
—This organ accompaniment was written by Jeff Ostrowski.

*  PDF Download • SINGER’S SCORE
—“Jam Christe Sol Justitiæ” (changed in 1631AD to “O Sol Salutis Intimis”).

O Sacred Head Surrounded

So “Jam Christe Sol Justitiæ” is an ancient Catholic hymn, and (above) it has been set to an ancient Catholic hymn melody which has no name. However, “O Sacred Head Surrounded”—O Caput Cruentatum—is a much more recent Catholic hymn. The history is rather complicated, so if you’re interested please consult the Brébeuf hymnal. The melody was originally a secular Waltz tune in 3/4 until it was adopted for Christian services. A Benedictine monk named Father Beatus Reiser published a plainsong arrangement in his 1940 publication: Laudes festivae: Lectionarium et Cantarium pro diversitate temporum et festorum. We will be singing this during Lent without accompaniment:

*  PDF Download • O SACRED HEAD SURROUNDED (Latin)
—Edition: Father Beatus Reiser, Benedictine College of Sant’Anselmo (Rome).

*  Mp3 Download • * Live Recording
—Recorded live at Saint Vitus Church (FSSP) in Los Angeles.

*  Mp3 Download • Version with Females
—Recorded live at Saint Vitus Church (FSSP) in Los Angeles.

1. O Caput cruentátum, Spinárum ácie
Conspútum, verberátum, Orbátum spécie:
Fac meam serta spissa Cervícem quátiant,
Ut húmiles de missa Jam sensus nútriant.

2. O caro trita nodis Immánis mílitis:
Ignára licet fraudis Pungéndi fómitis:
Fac mea, labe tersa, Quæ sordent fúgiat,
Ac sánguine conspérsa Quæ nitent sápiat.

3. O pulchræ clavis palmæ Præfíxæ stípiti,
Dispensatríces almæ Amóris ínclyti:
Confígite me cruci Ut mihi móriar
Et mundo vivens luci Supérna lárgiar.

4. O Pedes perforáti Furóre nímio,
Per vias fatigáti In pacis núntio,
Fons scatens nostros pedes Ad opus fóveat,
Labórum tot hærédes Nos zelus úrgeat.

5. O cor transverberátum Longíni cúspide,
Quin flammæ conquassátum Ardóre válidæ,
In te da penetráre Cor meum pénitus
Tuósque respiráre Per sacros hálitus.

Father Beatus Reiser famously wrote to Pope Pius XI asking about instruments in Church, and he got an answer from the pontiff.

If you desire more Lenten hymns, please check out my 2018 article:

*  2018 • Rare Lenten Hymns You’ve Not Sung


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   The special booklet given to the participants of the 2019 Sacred Music Symposium contained many pages explaining all those different hymn tune names, plus many more!

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

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Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Ad Coenam Agni Providi, Aurora Lucis Rutilat, Jam Christe Sol Justitiae, Jam Christus Astra Ascenderat, Lucis Creator Optime, O Sol Salutis Intimis, Sacred Head Surrounded, Salve caput cruentatum, Te Lucis Ante Terminum, Te Saeculorum Principem, Vexilla Regis Inclyta Last Updated: June 6, 2021

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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).

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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

It is clear the Church is facing a grave crisis. Under the name of “the new Church” and “the post-conciliar Church,” a different Church from that of Jesus Christ is now trying to establish itself: an anthropocentric society threatened with imminent apostasy which is allowing itself to be swept along in a movement of general abdication under the pretext of renewal, ecumenicism, or adaptation.

— Cardinal Henri de Lubac (29 August 1967)

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