Sleeve Notes & Track List

TRACK LIST

THROUGHOUT LENT
[1] Lent Prose – Attende Domine (CHB292);
PALM SUNDAY
[2] Antiphon:  Hosanna filio David with Psalm 118 (GR137/138);
[3] Hymn: Gloria, laus et honor (GR141/143);
[4] Gradual: Christus factus est (GR148);
HOLY THURSDAY: CHRISM MASS
[5] Hymn: O Redemptor (GR159/161);

HOLY THURSDAY: LORD'S SUPPER
[6] Introit: Nos autem (GR162/163);
[7] Antiphon: Mandatum novum (GR167);
[8] Antiphon: Maneant in vobis (GR167);
[9] Hymn: Ubi caritas (GR168/169);
[10] Hymn: Pange lingua (GR170/171);

GOOD FRIDAY
[11] Versicle/Response: Ecce lignum (GR174/175);
[12] Antiphon: Crucem tuam adoramus Domine (GR175);
[13] Improperia I (GR176/181);
[14] Improperia II;
[15] Hymn: Crux fidelis (GR182/184);

EASTER VIGIL
[16] Exsultet - Easter Proclamation (MR342/347);
[17] Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia/Confitemini (GR191/192);
[18] Litaniae sanctorum (GR192/194);
[19] Vidi aquam (GR708);
[20] Dismissal:  Ite missa est, alleluia, alleluia (GR195);

EASTER SUNDAY
[21] Introit: Resurrexi et adhuc (GR196);
[22] Sequence: Victimae paschali (GR198/199);
[23] Offertory: Terra tremuit (GR199);
[24] Communion: Pascha nostrum (GR199/200).

Abbreviations: CHB = Catholic Hymn Book, GR = Graduale Romanum, MR = Missale Romanum (Editio typica tertia)

Holy Week, culminating in the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday through to the Easter Vigil) is by far the Church's most intense period of religious devotion and indeed its most important as it is upon this period that the whole of the Christian faith depends.  Each year, Catholic Christians meditate on Christ's temptation in the wilderness through the penitential season of Lent and then in a most theatrical manner relive the intensity of the Passion itself - the triumphant Christ riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday: the inauguration of the Mass itself on Holy Thursday and then the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday when the innocent and blameless Christ is crucified.  And then back to the sheer joy of the Resurrection, brought to life at the Easter Vigil as the Church is reborn.

The traditional chants throughout this period are also very special and form an integral part of the Prayer of the Church at this both reflective and joyful time.  It is with this in mind, that we are delighted to produce this compact disc, in order to give help to priests, choirs and choral directors wishing to perform this music in its liturgical setting.  Of course, the CD may also be used by those simply wishing to listen to the beauty of the plainsong chant.

We start with the Lent Prose (Attende Domine).  This may be sung at any point during Lent and may be found in the Catholic Hymn Book (published by Gracewing).  Thereafter we have included the more accessible of chants, which may be found in the Graduale Romanum and Missale Romanum.

The page references for these chants are included on the track list on the back cover of the CD.

Each year, priests and deacons have to learn how to sing the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) and, although we have recorded this on separate CDs in the past, we here include it Latin.  Please take particular notice of the congregational responses contained therein.

"Christ redeemed us all and gave perfect glory to God principally through his paschal mystery: dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored our life. Therefore the Easter Triduum of the passion and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year." (General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 1969)

We hope you will enjoy this CD and that it may help you to glorify Almighty God with greater beauty than before.

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!

Jeremy de Satgé
January 2006

Schola Cantamus was founded in 1992 by Jeremy de Satgé as an occasional professional choir to sing at weddings, funerals and other church services as well as concerts.

Copyright The Music Makers, January 2006
Recorded in London, November/December 2005 by Schola Cantamus
Singers: Adam Tunnicliffe, Jeremy de Satgé & Julian Perkins
Directed and produced by Jeremy de Satgé
Recorded and mixed by Colour Blind
Cover image “Christus resurgens ex Mortuis” by Madeleine Beard (www.madeleinebeard.co.uk)