• 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)

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Two Easy Advent Hymns”

Andrea Leal · November 27, 2021

F YOU’RE INTERESTED in adding a new hymn into your Advent repertoire, Ecce Clara Vox Intonat is one that can be learned without too much difficulty. A quick YouTube search will provide a plethora of recordings to help you learn it. You can access a poetic translation; I also provide a literal translation—see below—by Father Joesph Connelly, who served as professor of Gregorian Chant at Saint Mary’s Seminary (New Oscott, Birmingham) from 1934-1956.

*  PDF Download • Vox Clara Ecce Intonat
—Easy Gregorian Hymn for Advent.

Literal Translation:
1. The Baptist’s message of rebuke rings loud and clear through all the world of darkness: Away with dreams of darkness. Jesus, the light, is shining in the sky.
2. Let the slothful soul now arise and no longer lie earth-bound, for a new sun is now shining, Christ, Who will take away every sin.
3. Behold the Lamb is sent to us to pay freely the debt we owe. Therefore let all of us together, with tears of sorrow, ask for His pardon…
4. So that when He comes in glory at the end of time and causes fear in all hearts, He will not then punish us, as our sins deserve, but in His pity be our protector.

A Little History: Ecce Clara Vox Intonat seems to have originated in the 6th century, and is sometimes attributed to St. Ambrose. It has historically been used during the Office of Lauds during Advent, but when you read through the translation you might agree that it could certainly be sung during Sunday Masses in Advent, perhaps especially during the 3rd Sunday of Advent in the Extraordinary Form where the Gospel quotes John the Baptist saying, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord…” (John 1: 19-28)

REMINDER: If you want one more easy hymn to sing during Advent, why not try the Gaude, Dei Genitrix? It is also quite appropriate to the Advent season.

*  PDF Download • Gaude Dei Genitrix
—Easy Gregorian Hymn for Advent.

Rejoice, Mother of God, spotless Virgin;
rejoice, for thou hast received joy from the Angel;
rejoice, thou hast brought forth the splendor of eternal light; Mother, Rejoice;
rejoice, Virgin Mother of God;
thou only art Mother and Virgin;
all creation praises thee,
Mother of the Light;
be for us, we pray,
a perpetual intercessor.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ecce Clara Vox Intonat, Gaude Dei Genitrix, HYMN Gaude Dei Genetrix Last Updated: November 27, 2021

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

About Andrea Leal

Andrea Leal is a wife and homeschooling mother of 6 children. She serves as choir director for the Traditional Latin Mass in Las Vegas.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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

“There are no hymns, in this sense, till the fourth century; they were not admitted to the Roman office till the twelfth. No Eastern rite to this day knows this kind of hymn. Indeed, in our Roman rite we still have the archaic offices of the last days of Holy Week and of the Easter octave, which—just because they are archaic—have no hymns.”

— Adrian Fortescue (25 March 1916)

Recent Posts

  • “I Decided to Get a Plane Ticket and Fly 8,700 Miles From Singapore to Take Part.”
  • Alabama Assessment!
  • “How Has Nobody Done This Before?” • Vol. 1
  • “Exceeded Every Expectation!” • Mr. O’Brien’s Review
  • “81 Photos” • Sacred Music Symposium 2022

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant 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.