Ut Queant Laxis
from Adoro Te: Gregorian chant hymns & Marian antiphons by Donna Stewart, Mignarda
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about
"Ut queant laxis" or "Hymnus in Ioannem" is a medieval Latin chant hymn in honor of John the Baptist, sung in the Divine Office on June 24, the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist.
The text is traditionally attributed to Paulus Diaconus, the eighth-century Lombard historian. The unattributed melody has been found in a tenth century French manuscript (H425, held in the Bibliothèque de l'école de Médecine, Montpellier), applied to the words of Horace's Ode to Phyllis, "Est mihi nonum superantis annum".
The hymn is also famous for its part in the history of musical notation, as the source for what we have come to know as the solfege syllables (Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La). A creative mnemonic device, the first syllable of each phrase begins on an intervallic step above the previous, creating six tones of a musical scale, and the basis for the hexachord.
The text is traditionally attributed to Paulus Diaconus, the eighth-century Lombard historian. The unattributed melody has been found in a tenth century French manuscript (H425, held in the Bibliothèque de l'école de Médecine, Montpellier), applied to the words of Horace's Ode to Phyllis, "Est mihi nonum superantis annum".
The hymn is also famous for its part in the history of musical notation, as the source for what we have come to know as the solfege syllables (Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La). A creative mnemonic device, the first syllable of each phrase begins on an intervallic step above the previous, creating six tones of a musical scale, and the basis for the hexachord.
lyrics
Ut queant laxis resonare fibris
Mira gestorum famuli tuorum,
Solve polluti labiis reatum,
Sancte Joannes.
Nuntius celso veniens Olympo,
te patri magnum fore nasciturum,
nomen, et vitae seriem gerendae,
ordine promit.
Ille promissi dubius superni
perdidit promptae modulos loquelae;
sed reformasti genitus peremptae
organa vocis.
Ventris obstruso recubans cubili,
senseras Regem thalamo manentem:
hinc parens nati, meritis uterque,
abdita pandit.
Sit decus Patri, genitaeque Proli
et tibi, compar utriusque virtus,
Spiritus semper, Deus unus,
omni temporis aevo. Amen
St. John, release the sins of our lips in order that your servants may be able to relate your wonderful deeds with full resound.
A lofty messenger comes from Olympus, revealing to your father your impending birth, your name, your conduct, and the sequence of your life.
That unbelievable heavenly promise set forth in a few words, when proven true by your birth, restored voice to the voiceless.
Lying darkly cradled in your mother's womb, you perceived the King abiding also in his chamber. Henceforth each set of parents, with hands outstretched, concealed their children's merits.
Glory be to the Father, and to the begotten Son and to you his comrade, of equal virtue. One God, for all times, all seasons, all generations.
Mira gestorum famuli tuorum,
Solve polluti labiis reatum,
Sancte Joannes.
Nuntius celso veniens Olympo,
te patri magnum fore nasciturum,
nomen, et vitae seriem gerendae,
ordine promit.
Ille promissi dubius superni
perdidit promptae modulos loquelae;
sed reformasti genitus peremptae
organa vocis.
Ventris obstruso recubans cubili,
senseras Regem thalamo manentem:
hinc parens nati, meritis uterque,
abdita pandit.
Sit decus Patri, genitaeque Proli
et tibi, compar utriusque virtus,
Spiritus semper, Deus unus,
omni temporis aevo. Amen
St. John, release the sins of our lips in order that your servants may be able to relate your wonderful deeds with full resound.
A lofty messenger comes from Olympus, revealing to your father your impending birth, your name, your conduct, and the sequence of your life.
That unbelievable heavenly promise set forth in a few words, when proven true by your birth, restored voice to the voiceless.
Lying darkly cradled in your mother's womb, you perceived the King abiding also in his chamber. Henceforth each set of parents, with hands outstretched, concealed their children's merits.
Glory be to the Father, and to the begotten Son and to you his comrade, of equal virtue. One God, for all times, all seasons, all generations.
credits
from Adoro Te: Gregorian chant hymns & Marian antiphons,
released April 21, 2014
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all rights reserved
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about
Mignarda Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Mignarda specializes in thoughtful programming illuminating the vibrant mingling of renaissance music & poetry. Noted for awakening modern audiences to an appreciation for historical music, their work encompasses concertizing, teaching & recording, with 17 critically-acclaimed CDs, a series of 16 music editions, scholarly articles, reviews and the internationally-popular blog, Unquiet Thoughts. ... more
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