Nunc Dimittis, Simeon’s Song of Praise

02 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in Feasts, Hymnology, Liturgy

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Antiphon, Canticle, Feasts, Hymnology, in fine arts, in music, Nunc Dimittis, Simeon's Song of Praise

Nunc Dimittis, Simeon’s Song of Praise, by Aert de Gelder (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aert de Gelder (or Arent, 26 October 1645 – 27 August 1727) is one of Rembrandt’s last pupils while in Amsterdam (1661 to 1663) (Wikipedia). I discovered Christian liturgy, first, when taking courses in the Fine Arts and, second, as a student of musicology. Students of musicology must learn liturgy and the Nunc dimittis is a good example. There was a demand for liturgical music. As a result, the development of polyphony, the combination of voices, occurred from liturgical chant to liturgical chant and from madrigal to madrigal, its secular counterpart. Liturgy also constitutes one of the main subject matters of the visual arts.

In my family Candlemas was celebrated, but I was not told that the Nunc dimittis was Simeon’s Song of Praise, a canticle. In fact, although I attended a Catholic school, we were never told that Candlemas was a commemoration of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and of Mary’s Purification after Childbirth.

Nunc dimittis

February 2nd is “Nunc dimittis” day and “Nunc dimittis” is Simeon’s Song of Praise. In yesterday’s poat I inserted Palestrina’s “Nunc dimittis,” but today we will hear William Byrd‘s “Nunc dimittis.”

Here are the words of the “Nunc Dimittis:”

English (Book of Common Prayer, 1662)

Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace;

Because my eyes have seen Thy salvation,

Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

Latin (Vulgate)

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace:

Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum

Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:

Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

_________________________

Religious art

composer: William Byrd (1540 or late 1539 – 4 July 1623, by the Julian calendar, 14 July 1623, by the Gregorian calendar)

title: Nunc Dimittis

performers: Alexander Kamerkoor

Jesus (Egypte)

Candlemas: the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple & a Festival of Lights

02 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in Feasts, Hymnology, Liturgy

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festival of lights, Hypapante, nature's calendar, Nunc Dimittis, Pidyon haben, Presentation of Jesus in Temple, Simeon's Prophecy, Simeon's Song of Praise

Presentation of Jesus at the Temple by Rembrandt van Rijn (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rembrandt van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669)

262px-aert_de_gelder_-_het_loflied_van_simeon

Simeon’s Song of Praise by Aert de Gelder (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aert de Gelder (26 October 1645 – 27 August 1727)

Simeon the Righteous

Linked to the presentation of Jesus at the Temple is the touching story of Simeon the Elder, or Simeon Senex. “According to the Biblical account, Simeon had been visited by the Holy Spirit and told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. On taking Jesus into his arms he uttered the prayer Nunc dimittis” (Wikipedia), also called the Canticle of Simeon, found in St. Luke’s Gospel (2:29-32). The Nunc dimittis is still used liturgically in many Christian churches. Simeon also prophesied the crucifixion. He said to Mary:

Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Luke 2:34-35).

East and West

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Presentation is called Hypapante (Meeting), “in reference to Jesus’ meeting in the Temple with the aged Simeon” (Wikipedia). Moreover, in the Eastern Church, the Presentation is a celebration of Christ and it is one of The Twelve Feasts, four of which honour Mary. But in the Western Church, Candlemas is the fourth of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary (from rose, the flower) that commemorate Mary.

The Festival of Lights

Candlemas is also joyful because it is a festival of lights and has been so since the fifth century. Candlemas is the day that “all the Church’s candles for the year were blessed” (BBC). As a festival of lights, Candlemas is among the celebrations which, from time immemorial, have been associated with the degree of daylight.

Christianity shaped its liturgical calendar according to what could be called a pagan calendar but is in fact nature’s calendar: the two solstices (Christmas and St John’s Day) and the two equinoctial points (Easter and Michaelmas: end of September). Candlemas is celebrated between the winter solstice, Christmas, and the spring equinox, Easter.

Rome: Candles

According to Brewers’ Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, “the ancient Romans had a custom of burning candles to scare away evil spirits.”[1] Well, that practice was also long perpetuated, particularly in England, and might be revived.