Marian Hymnology: Antiphons, Canticles…

The following is a collection of various posts on the Virgin Mary.  The music Mary has inspired is varied and a delight to music lovers.  So are paintings of Mary who is called Theotokos in the Eastern Church.

In French, Antiphons are called antiennes and the “t” is pronounced as if it were a “c”.  However, books containing antiennes are called Antiphonaires.  There are no Marian anthems.  An Anthemn is a different musical form.  In fact, anthems resemble Catholic motets.

The four Marian Antiphons are sung during a certain period of the liturgical year.  The Antiphon used at this particularly moment is the Alma Mater Redemptoris. On February 2, it will be the Ave Regina Cælorum. However, Marian liturgy is further divided into eight periods and 32 feast days.

• first, of Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Pre-Lent, Lent, Easter Triduum, Eastertide, Ascensiontide
• second, of some 32 feast days

I am not an expert on Mariology, but I have studied and still study liturgy as a musical form.

The Four Antiphons

During Canonical Hours, the Antiphon is a liturgical chant that precedes and follows a Psalm or a Canticle.  In a Mass, it is also a chant to which a choir or the congregation respond with a refrain.   It is therefore a call and response chant.

• Alma Redemptoris Mater (Advent through February 2)
• Ave Regina Cælorum (Presentation of the Lord through Good Friday)
• Regina Cœli (Easter season)
• Salve Regina (from first Vespers of Trinity Sunday until None of the Saturday before Advent)

The Four Canticles

Canticles are hymns sung during the Canonical Hours.  Seven find their origin in the Old Testament and are sung at Lauds. Three, however, are contained in the Gospel according to Luke.

• Hail Mary (Ave Maria)
• Angelus
• Magnificat
• Ave Maris Stella or Sissel‘s Ave Maris Stella

The Four Marian Feasts

• the Annunciation (March 25)
• the Nativity (December 25)
• the Purification (December 8) (Presentation of Jesus at the Temple),
• the Assumption (August 15)

Posts on Marian Hymnology

• Epiphany: Balthasar, Melchior & Gaspar (6 January 2013)
• A Christmas Offering (cont’d): Hymns to Mary (26 December 2012)
• From the Magnificat to the Stabat Mater (6 April 2012)
• Raphael and Marian Liturgy at NDP (4 April 2012)
• Fra Angelico & the Annunciation (3 April 2012)
• On Calendars & Feast Days (2 April 2012)
• Nunc Dimittis, Simeon’s Song of Praise (2 February 2012)
• A Christmas Offering: Hymns to Mary (25 December 2011)
• The Blessed Virgin: Mariology (24 December 2011)
• A Portrait of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (20 December 2011)
• Canonical Hours and the Divine Office (19 November 2011) ←

composer: Wolgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791)

piece: “Laudate Dominum,” Vesperae solennes de confessore, KV 339

performers: Anja Harteros, soprano
Chor der Sächsischen Staatsoper Dresden

conductor: Christoph Eschenbach

 

© Micheline Walker
7 January 2013
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