Pange Lingua (2014)
for SSAATTBB choir, a cappella
Text: Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) and Latin Vulgate
Duration: 10 minutes
Difficulty: 4/4
First performed by Pro Coro Canada (Michael Zaugg, dir.) in February 2016.
Pange Lingua is a choral meditation on the events of Maundy Thursday from Jesus’ Last Supper to His betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane. The core framework of the piece comes from the eponymous hymn by Thomas Aquinas; the first four stanzas of text are each treated as distinct musical episodes, exploring varied textures with dense and uncompromising harmonies. Punctuating each stanza is a chanted verse from Psalm 118; while the piece is still ostensibly ‘about’ Maundy Thursday, this diversion also serves to reflect more deeply on Christian identity on the eve of Jesus’ passion. At the central divide of Pange Lingua, a male trio ecstatically chants a verse from the Gospel of John, as if a single, richly-harmonic voice declaiming from heaven. This direct quote from the moment of Jesus’ Last Supper, in tandem with constant references to Psalm 118 (itself a much older work), creates a strong temporal contrast against Aquinas’ text, which dates from the thirteenth century. In the latter half of Pange Lingua, the original hymn tune by Aquinas is solemnly stated by the Altos, surrounded by an unceasing flurry of activity in the rest of the choir, culminating in a climactic and almost desperate declaration of faith. However, after a staggeringly powerful ‘final’ chord, the piece instead ends with a harmonized chant, setting an entirely different text by Aquinas: “O Sacrum Convivium”. Although this expression of unity and grace should come as a relief following such chaos, it is instead harmonically distraught, closing with an anguished and broken “Amen” – in the moments leading to Good Friday, we know how the story must continue.
Click here to see the complete score.
The audio below is from the first performance by Pro Coro Canada in February 2016.
Full Text
Main Text
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Tell, tongue, the mystery
of the glorious Body
and of the precious Blood,
which, for the price of the world,
the fruit of a noble Womb,
the King of the Nations poured forth.
Given to us, born for us,
from the untouched Virgin,
and dwelt in the world
after the seed of the Word had been scattered.
His inhabiting ended the delays
with wonderful order.
On the night of the Last Supper,
reclining with His brethren,
once the Law had been fully observed
with the prescribed foods,
as food to the crowd of Twelve
He gives Himself with His hands.
The Word as Flesh makes true bread
into flesh by a word
and the wine becomes the Blood of Christ.
And if sense is deficient
to strengthen a sincere heart
Faith alone suffices.
Therefore, the great Sacrament
let us reverence, prostrate:
and let the old Covenant
give way to a new rite.
Let faith stand forth as substitute
for defect of the senses.
To the Begetter and the Begotten
be praise and jubilation,
greeting, honour, strength also
and blessing.
To the One who proceeds from Both
be equal praise.
Pange, lingua, gloriosi
corporis mysterium,
sanguinisque pretiosi,
quem in mundi pretium
fructus ventris generosi
rex effudit gentium.
Nobis datus, nobis natus
ex intacta Virgine,
et in mundo conversatus,
sparso verbi semine,
sui moras incolatus
miro clausit ordine.
In supremae nocte coenae
recumbens cum fratribus,
observata lege plene
cibis in legalibus,
cibum turbae duodenae
se dat suis manibus.
Verbum caro panem verum
verbo carnem efficit,
fitque sanguis Christi merum;
et si sensus deficit,
ad firmandum cor sincerum
sola fides sufficit.
Tantum ergo sacramentum
veneremur cernui,
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui,
praestet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.
Genitori Genitoque,
laus et iubilatio,
salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedictio.
Procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio.
The Four Interjections
Psalm 118:26-29
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light:
bind the sacrifice with cords,
even unto the horns of the altar.
Thou art my God, and I will praise thee:
thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini:
benediximus vobis de domo Domini.
Deus Dominus, et apparuit nobis:
frequentate sollemnitatem in frondosis,
usque ad cornua altaris.
Deus meus es tu, et confitebor tibi:
Deus meus es tu et exaltabo te.
Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus:
quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
Transition
John 6:54
Whoso eateth my flesh,
and drinketh my blood,
hath eternal life;
and I will raise him up
at the last day.
Qui manducat meam carnem,
et bibit meum sanguinem,
habet vitam aeternam:
et ego resuscitabo eum
in novissimo die.
Ending
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
O sacred banquet!
in which Christ is received,
the memory of his Passion is renewed,
the mind is filled with grace,
and a pledge of future glory to us is given.
Alleluia. Amen.
O sacrum convivium!
in quo Christus sumitur:
recolitur memoria passionis eius:
mens impletur gratia:
et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur.
Alleluia. Amen.