• 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
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

“No hymn deserves more to be reintroduced in our catholic tradition.” —Dom Ermin Vitry

Jeff Ostrowski · May 3, 2021

HICH VERNACULAR HYMN is the most ancient? Like so many liturgical items, the answer is complicated. Father Robert Skeris said Christ ist erstanden—a Leise from the 12th century—is “the oldest preserved Easter hymn in the vernacular.” A 14th century version (in campo aperto) can be found on folio 83v in the KLOSTERNEUBURG MS #1213. Yes, that means ancient Latin manuscripts suddenly break into German (“Christ ist erstanden”) for this little tune—and I realize some will find that remarkable. In 1943, Dom Hügle attempted to match a Latin text with the famous tune, but it has several awkward moments. The Brébeuf hymnal (Sophia Institute Press, 2018) uses the text of the Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic hymn, which fits like a glove. The Brébeuf hymnal also provides an English version, translated by Fr. Adrian Fortescue. Unlike other translations—such as the one by Dr. John M. Neale—Fortescue’s translation matches the original meter.

We had a new group of singers yesterday and needed a nice little hymn. Here’s our live recording:

*  YouTube • VERSION IN LATIN
—Number 465 from the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal.

*  YouTube • VERSION IN ENGLISH
—Number 464 from the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal.

*  PDF Download • Original Text (7th Century)
—Hat tip to Steven Van Roode and the Library of Milan.

Of course Father Fortescue was not the only person to translate this hymn into English. For example, a Roman Catholic poet named Denis Florence MacCarthy also produced a very fine English translation, but unlike the version in the Brébeuf hymnal, MacCarthy’s doesn’t match the original meter:

Many composers set Christ ist erstanden. For example, the Flemish composer Jacob Regnart (d. 1599) created an entire Mass based upon it. Each movement (KYRIE, GLORIA, CREDO, SANCTUS, BENEDICTUS, AGNUS) quotes the famous melody:

*  PDF Download • KYRIE
—Jakob Regnardt (d. 1599) Missa super “Christ ist erstanden”

The complete Mass is quite beautiful, and we are considering singing it at our FSSP parish. I often tell my choir members how the best composers tended to die around 1599AD—it’s quite remarkable! Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (d. 1594); Orlande de Lassus (d. 1594); Annibale Zoilo (d. 1592); Jacob Regnart (d. 1599); Luca Marenzio (d. 1599); Father Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599); and so forth.

At the height of the Second World War, Dom Ermin Vitry wrote about Christ ist erstanden as follows: “There is no motet or hymn which deserves more to be reintroduced in our catholic tradition. The proof of its musical superiority is proven by the fact that J. Sebastian Bach composed on its design more than seven figured chorals.” He is correct—for example, search YouTube for the Bach Cantata with “Christ lag in Todesbanden.”

How Old Is This?

The melody in the Brébeuf hymnal is from approximate 1150AD.

The text in the Brébeuf hymnal is from approximately 625AD.

The harmonies in the Brébeuf hymnal are from 2018.

Remember that texts are always going to be “older” than melodies, because humanity didn’t figure out how to write down melodies until about 950AD, thanks especially to a Benedictine monk named Guido d’Arezzo. For more information about the Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic hymn, please see:

*  Collected Articles • “The Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn”

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

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn, Sancti Venite Eucharistic Last Updated: May 3, 2021

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“If a pope were only ever applauded, he would have to ask himself whether or not he was doing things right.”

— Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (2016)

Recent Posts

  • Three (3) Cheerful Items • “Sacred Music Revolution”
  • Who Should Sing the Passion? What about Tracts?
  • “Seventy-Three (73) Changes” • Which Pope Pius XII Made to Holy Week
  • Three (3) Tricks Every Choir Director Should Learn
  • Question: “How Do You Read The Official Edition?”

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 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.