“Missa in Gallicantu”.
Sarum Use Propers For
Christmas Midnight Mass.
The Tallis Scholars.
Director Of Music: Peter Phillips.
Available On YouTube
New Liturgical Movement has a most interesting Article
which develops further this particular Sarum Use Propers.
The Article, by Gregory Dipippo, can be read in full at
This recording presents the Gregorian Propers for
the First Mass of Christmas according to the Latin
Use of Salisbury, or Sarum Use.
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 Mediæval 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 Sub-Deacon.
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 Use 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 of The Host, 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.
Afterwards, the Celebrant recites the Post-Communion
Prayer, and The Mass concludes with the
Dismissal and the Response of Thanksgiving.
