Tenebrae factae sunt
I’ve been sick all week so I haven’t much commentary to offer for these holy days, just some musical suggestions. God love you!
Tenebrae Responsories- Chant (Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles); Polyphonic setting: Tomas Luis de Victoria (see embed)
These are polyphonic settings of all the responsories for Matins for the next three days, and are absolutely magnificent.
Allegri: Miserere
You all know this one already. It merits a longer examination at some point, but Psalm 50 must needs be on our lips these days.
Here are some specific suggestions for each day as well (all links are Spotify, no time to add Apple):
Maundy Thursday
Tenebrae: Incipit Lamentatio Jeremiae Prophetae- One of my favourite chants of the year, given the great sorrow of the text as well.
Mass of the Lord’s Supper:
Ubi caritas (Durufle)
Pange Lingua gloriosi (Chant)
Ave Verum Corpus (William Byrd)
O sacrum convivium- Palestrina; Tallis
Good Friday
Mass of the Presanctified:
Reproaches (see chant to the right): Really a text worth mediating on during Our Lord’s Passion. Polyphonic: Victoria Palestrina
Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Joannem: Chant, Polyphony (this setting is gorgeous)
Vexilla Regis Prodeunt: Chant, Palestrina
Crux Fidelis: Male Voices; Female Voices
Holy Saturday
Lamentations for Holy Saturday (Victoria)
Recessit pastor noster (Victoria)
Happy listening!
Sancta Caecilia, ora pro nobis!