Gregorian Chants
Offertories, Alleluias, Graduals, Hymns, Antiphons, Introits, Communions & Sequences
for the Christmas Season & Easter
Choralschola der Wiener Hofburgkapelle

choralschola.at
muziekweb.nl

1963
Vox Box SVBX 5206 (3 LP)

1991
Vox Box CDX 5010 (2 CD)
Vox Box 1154852 (2 CD)

10-14. November, 1961
Wiener Konzerthaus - Studio

Gregorianik aus der Liturgie des Kirchenjahres




LP 1


A

1 - Introit (Mode 8): Ad te levavi   [3:53]
Advent: 1st Sunday
2 - Introit (Mode 4): Rorate caeli desuper   [3:19]
Advent: 4th Sunday
3 - Communion (Mode 7): Dicite – Pusillanimes   [1:12]
Advent: 3rd Sunday
4 - Introit (Mode 1): Gaudete in Domini   [4:37]
Advent: 3rd Sunday
5 - Offertory (Mode 8): Ave Maria, gratia plena   [2:36]
Advent: 4th Sunday
6 - Hymn (Mode 1): Jesu Redemptor omnium   [2:29]
Christmas: Vespers


B

7 - Introit (Mode 7): Puer natus est nobis   [3:32]
Christmas: 3rd Mass
8 - Alleluia (Mode 2): Alleluia. Dies sanctificatus   [3:02]
Christmas: 3rd Mass
9 - Communion (Mode 8): Video caelos apertos   [1:18]
Feast of St. Stephen (26 December)
10 - Gradual (Mode 2): Justus et palma florebit   [3:41]
Feast of the Holy Confessor (1st Mass of a Confessor not a Bishop)
11 - Offertory (Mode 1): Jubilate Deo universa terra   [4:01]
After Epiphany: 2nd Sunday
12 - Communion (Mode 6): Dicit Dominus   [1:52]
After Epiphany: 2nd Sunday




LP 2


A

1 - Introit (Mode 1): Exurge   [3:41]
Sexagesima Sunday
2 - Tract (Mode 8): Commovisti Domine   [4:40]
Sexagesima Sunday
3 - Communion (Mode 5): Intellige clamorem meum   [1:19]
Lent: 2nd Sunday
4 - Offertory (Mode 8): Improperium exspectavit   [3:27]
Palm Sunday
5 - Gradual (Mode 5): Christus factus est   [3:01]
Maundy Thursday
6 - Offertory (Mode 2): Dextera Domini   [1:34]
Maundy Thursday


B

7 - Introit (Mode 4): Resurrexi   [4:20]
Easter Sunday
8 - Gradual (Mode 2): Haec dies   [3:35]
Easter Sunday
9 - Alleluia (Mode 7): Pascha nostrum   [2:25]
Easter Sunday
10 - Sequence (Mode 1): Victimae Paschali laudes   [2:02]
Easter Sunday
11 - Offertory (Mode 4): Terra termuit   [1:33]
Easter Sunday
12 - Communion (Mode 6): Pascha nostrum   [1:39]
Easter Sunday
13 - Antiphon (Mode 6): Regina caeli laetare   [0:56]
Easter Sunday, in praise of Mary




LP 3


A

1 - Introit (Mode 7): Viri Galilaei   [3:26]
Ascension
2 - Offertory (Mode 1): Ascendit Deus   [1:58]
Ascension
3 - Introit (Mode 8): Spiritus Domini   [3:29]
Pentecost Sunday
4 - Sequence (Mode 1): Veni Sancti Spiritus   [2:58]
Pentecost Sunday
5 - Communion (Mode 7): Quotiescumque manducabitis   [1:19]
Corpus Christi Day
6 - Introit (Mode 3): Gaudens gaudebo   [4:24]
Feast of Immaculate Conception


B

7 - Introit (Mode 3): Dignus est   [3:59]
Feast of Christ the King
8 - Communion (Mode 6): Sedebit Dominus   [0:52]
Feast of Christ the King
9 - Introit (Mode 1): Gaudeamus omnes   [3:30]
All Saints Day
10 - Offertory (Mode 1): Justorum animae   [3:00]
All Saints Day
11 - Offertory (Mode 1): Beati mundo corde   [1:42]
All Saints Day
12 - Introit (Mode 6): Requiem aeternam   [2:13]
All Souls Day
13 - Antiphon (Mode 7): In paradisum   [1:15]
Burial Service






Choralschola der Wiener Hofburgkapelle
Josef Schabaßer

LP 1

Gregorian Chants for Christmas (LP), Turnabout Vox, 1967




LP 2: #1-13; LP 3: #1-5

Gregorian Chants for Lent and Easter (LP), Turnabout Vox, 1966

Gregorian Chants

LP 1


Introit (Mode 8): Ad te levavi
Advent: 1st Sunday

Amidst the perils of life, Man stands on the threshold of Advent. Yet he is not lost and forsaken. Full of the power of human trust, he lifts his eyes to God. Unshakable, almost triumphantly jubilant, he believes in God's faithfulness.


Introit (Mode 4): Rorate caeli desuper
Advent: 4th Sunday

Full of great urgency, Man calls out to God; almost violently commanding his Redeemer to descend. And yet there is a moving, childlike entreaty in the melody.


Communion (Mode 7): Dicite – Pusillanimes
Advent: 3rd Sunday

The hope in the coming of the Redeemer of the World grows stronger, the confidence in it more certain. All fear and sorrow is banished; in song we approach the Lord with almost ceremonious fervour.


Introit (Mode 1): Gaudete in Domini
Advent: 3rd Sunday

Now pre-Christrnas joy shines forth. The music sweeps in great curves; with childlike faith it lifts its hands in prayer.


Offertory (Mode 8): Ave Maria, gratia plena
Advent: 4th Sunday

At Advent, Mary appears before our eyes. In clear high tones of joy, and then full of awed astonishment at her election, the music praises the Mother of God in her, and our, Advent.


Hymn (Mode 1): Jesu Redemptor omnium
Christmas: Vespers

These hymns are the church-songs of the Gregorian Chant. The hymn sounds like the ringing-in of Christmas and prepares us for the feast of our redemption.


Introit (Mode 7): Puer natus est nobis
Christmas: 3rd Mass

Christmas, in the Liturgy and the Chant, is not a charming children's festival in 6/8 time and with pastoral songs. The splendour of the Lord's festival, which primarily concerns God the Father who sent His Son, flows from the text and the songs. Only our Introits attains mellower tones to bright joyous lively melodies it sings of the Child who was born to us and ponders on the greatness of His Dominion of the World, but in his spirit it already sees the Cross and celebrates, in majestic tones, the Child as Executor of the Heavenly plan of Redemption.


Alleluia (Mode 2): Alleluia. Dies sanctificatus
Christmas: 3rd Mass

In the Alleluia verse the festive light shines in full splendour. The exultant world walks up to the cradle to worship God in the Child – God who is the Light itself.


Communion (Mode 8): Video caelos apertos
Feast of St. Stephen (26 December)

The Christmas joy continues on Sundays and the Holy Feast Days which follow. Stephen gives his life for the Redeemer. With wonderfully dramatic expression he relates how he sees Him on God's right hand. While stones rain on his body he confides his soul to Jesus and, dying, begs forgiveness for his unknowing murders.


Gradual (Mode 2): Justus et palma florebit
Feast of the Holy Confessor (1st Mass of a Confessor not a Bishop)

The most beautiful flower blossoms in the warm light of Heavenly approval. Notice how our song lets it grow and become verdant till it adors God's House, nourished and tended by God's charity and faith.


Offertory (Mode 1): Jubilate Deo universa terra
After Epiphany: 2nd Sunday

This one of the most expressive of the Chants. The repetition of the text itself is a rarity in plain-song. The two appeals for rejoicing as conveyed in a melody which extends to the limits of the tonal range. Man calls forth all the strength and beauty of the song in praise of God. Especially beautiful is the way all lands are enjoined to offer praise; beautiful, too, the intensity of the 'venite et audite': The last sentence grows calmer, but there is still a tremour of excitement which dies out on the Alleluia.


Communion (Mode 6): Dicit Dominus
After Epiphany: 2nd Sunday





LP 3


Introit (Mode 7): Viri Galilaei
Ascension

The Apostles stand there, downcast; and, as so often happened, they still cannot understand what is happening. An ecstatic voice calls them and tells them that the Lord will come again. The three differently formed Alleluias make this chant highly expressive.


Offertory (Mode 1): Ascendit Deus
Ascension

The chant shows the Lord ascending in majestic calm. The whole word rejoices in Him. The Alleluia carries on the rejoicing and provides a moving finale.


Introit (Mode 8): Spiritus Domini
Pentecost Sunday

The music begins with mysterious force, and continues to grow rapidly. In the second sentence the melody conveys the works of the Spirit of God. The three Alleuias express mankind's thanks for the words of the Holy Ghost. A song from a full heart, that touches the heart.


Sequence (Mode 1): Veni Sancti Spiritus
Pentecost Sunday

A song of prayer to the Holy Ghost borne out of deep understanding for the needs of living Mankind. In simple tones, the singer prays to the Holy Ghost for Light (1st and 2nd strophe); his song is raised in joyous hope (3rd and 4th strophe). He calls out in more and more powerful movements for the power of the Spirit to help man in his imperfection. In the 7th and 8th strophe our song sound calmer, but more intimate; it develops great intensity in the two final strophes. A song of remarkable beauty and impact, mainly because of its simplicity.


Communion (Mode 7): Quotiescumque manducabitis
Corpus Christi Day

An earnest text, which the melody stresses even more. In large intervals, it points out the mystery of the Eucharist, accentuates the important word 'Domini': and stretches in a broad arch to the strong, emphatic 'Idigne': The Alleluia provides a soft, relaxed finale.


Introit (Mode 3): Gaudens gaudebo
Feast of Immaculate Conception

Mary, who is honoured by the fullness of God's grace, sings her great song of Thanksgiving. Exultation flows from her, softly at first, and is only interrupted by a humble bow at 'Domine' and 'Deo'. The music reaches a high-point in the middle phrase. Then a more meditative passage follows again at 'quasi sponsam' and the song ends with a final exultation.


Introit (Mode 3): Dignus est
Feast of Christ the King

The words of the Feast of Christ the King, which were only introduced in 1925, have been adapted to old melodies. A certain earnestness overlies the Introitus perhaps coming from the thoughts of men who do not wish to detract from the Dominion of Christ the King. Yet the development of the text achieves expressiveness, and reaches an impressive climax at 'Ipsi gloria'!


Communion (Mode 6): Sedebit Dominus
Feast of Christ the King

God's majesty is well presented during the first part. But the Lord is a gracious ruler who grants us peace and blessing. Short as the melody is, it manages to give meaning to the words.


Introit (Mode 1): Gaudeamus omnes
All Saints Day

This is a hymn of bright, cheerful pageantry, at the same time simply constructed. A broad development, with an early climax at 'Domino': continues up to 'Sanctorum omnium': The second phrase leads in a broad curve to 'collaudant' and sweeps on to the end.


Offertory (Mode 1): Justorum animae
All Saints Day

A quiet confidence overlies our hymn. The gloom of human life contrasts with bright tones of pious hope. This is the song of men who have fought and won, and yet know that it is God who is their strength.


Offertory (Mode 1): Beati mundo corde
All Saints Day

The first glorification rings out clearly; the peacemaker's 'beati' breathes out a joyous calm. The singing of those who wish justice to follow them rises triumphantly. And with cheerful faith they all sing of the everlasting Kingdom which in theirs.


Introit (Mode 6): Requiem aeternam
All Souls Day

The Requiem aeternam shines forth like a warm friendly light. We feel nothing of mourning and pain, only the peace of Everlasting Life, and heartfelt entreaty. This is the church's way of comforting by its hymns; this is how it hopes to see the faithful man stand upright by the grave.


Antiphon (Mode 7): In paradisum
Burial Service

Brighter still, even joyous, is the hymn of the last funeral rites. Death is indeed not the end, it is perfection and entrance to Eternal Life.



Thus the Gregorian Chants reflect all that affects man. Through the wonderful power of their melodies, they express more than is possible by words alone. Here the ultimate meaning of words is conveyed in song. The music raises man up to this Creator.

Gregorian Chants for all Seasons (2 CD), Vox Box, 1991-92









Canto Gregoriano (4 CD), DSN, 1992