Sarum Chant Propers for Christmas Midnight Mass 'Missa in Gallicantu' | Neume Scores

Sung by The Tallis Scholars. This recording presents the Gregorian propers for the First Mass of Christmas according to the Latin Use of Salisbury, or Sarum. This Mass would have been celebrated shortly after midnight on Christmas Eve and is designated in the Sarum Missal as the Missa in gallicantu (“Mass at cockcrow”). The Mass opens with the Officium (more commonly known as the Introit), Dominus dixit ad me, followed immediately by a troped Kyrie. Tropes were additional textual interpolations inserted into the original ninefold Kyrie eleison. In medieval England, the widespread use of troping rendered the Kyrie effectively part of the Proper. The Gloria is intoned by the celebrant at the altar. Like the Kyrie, it is highly syllabic and confined to a relatively narrow melodic range. The Collect would normally follow (though it is omitted in this recording), succeeded by a lesson from the Book of Isaiah. In the Sarum Use, this lesson appears in a troped form known as Laudes Deo. It is performed by two clerks: one chants the biblical text, while the other inserts the troped material; both join together for the final sentence. The Epistle—also omitted here—would then have been read by the subdeacon. The Gradual, Tecum principium, is intoned by three clerks and represents the most elaborate chant heard thus far. Several words are embellished with extended melismas, and the melodic range is wide, spanning a tenth. Equally ornate is the Alleluia that follows, whose verse, Dominus dixit, repeats the text of the Introit antiphon. The Sequence Nato canunt omnia introduces a markedly different musical style. Sequences originated from the practice of greatly extending the final syllable of the Alleluia, and, like many such compositions, this sequence is structured in a hymn-like form. It is sung antiphonally, with the ringing of bells underscoring its festive character. Following the Gospel—which would normally have been proclaimed by the deacon but is omitted here—the Credo is sung. Unlike the Roman Rite, which employs several melodies for the Creed, the Sarum Rite uses only a single setting. After the Credo, the Offertory accompanies the presentation of the bread and wine. Originally a lengthy antiphonal psalm, the Offertory was later shortened as the practice of omitting verses became customary. The Proper Preface of Christmas leads into the Sanctus, which is intoned by the rulers of the choir and continued by the full ensemble. The celebrant then proceeds with the Canon, or Eucharistic Prayer. This is followed by the Pater noster, the Fraction, and the Pax, or Kiss of Peace. The Agnus Dei concludes the Ordinary of the Mass. The Communion chant, In splendoribus sanctorum, is a brief piece sung during the reception of Communion. Afterward, the celebrant recites the Post-Communion prayer, and the Mass concludes with the dismissal and the response of thanksgiving. 00:00 Officium: Dominus dixit ad me 02:53 Troped Kyrie: Deus Creator omnium 05:41 Gloria, Mode 4 09:29 Troped Lesson: Laudes Deo 17:06 Gradual: Tecum principium 20:32 Alleluia: Dominus dixit 22:37 Sequence: Nato canunt omnia 25:32 Credo I 30:18 Offertory: Letentur celi 32:00 Proper Preface of Christmas 34:22 Sanctus, Mode 1 36:10 Agnus Dei, Mode 2 37:38 Communio: In splendoribus sanctorum 38:20 Ite missa est, mode 8