Quæ Stella Sole Pulchrior
  • fvelasco
    Posts: 25
    Any information regarding this hymn would be appreciated.

    According to this blog, Quæ Stella Sole Pulchrior was used for Vespers I for Epiphany in the Paris Breviary (1736).
    https://tosingistopraytwice.wordpress.com/2017/07/26/quae-stella-sole-pulchrior/

    Here's a YouTube recording of a performance by the Netherlands Chamber Choir:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo4kuD4l9nQ

    From various resources, it seems that the original text of the Latin poem was composed by Charles Coffin, who was the rector of the University of Paris. Several of his works were transcribed into English and are well known (e.g., On Jordan's Bank). Quæ Stella Sole Pulchriorhas also been translated (What Star is This) and set to various hymn tunes. I'm unclear if Coffin also composed the music chanted in Latin in the recording.

    Attached is my attempt at transcribing the music as plainchant.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    The melody for the anonymous four-voice chorale Quae stella sole pulchrior in the recording is from a Parisian breviary of 1736. It is an evening hymn for Epiphany written in a somewhat naive style and based on a monophonic melody of medieval origin preserved in Directorium chori (1582).

    Edit: The melody is also found in the 1874 Directorium Chori, available from
    Corpus Christi Watershed. The melody begins at the bottom of p. 114, the Tone III (actually Mode 8) hymn at Vespers: Crudelis Herodes, Deum.

    Another edit: Lo! and behold, it is, in fact, in the Liber Usualis 1961, p. 464, as "Another Chant ad libitum" for Crudelis Herodes, Deum ... which goes a long way to explaining my feeling that the chant melody sounded familiar!!
    Thanked by 3tomjaw fvelasco M. Jackson Osborn
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    There is a setting (using this melody in alternatim with polyphony on the same tune) by Victoria, available at CPDL. (Hostis Herodes impie instead of Crudelis Herodes, Deum).
    Thanked by 2tomjaw fvelasco
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Hopefully, there aren't too many errors in this transcription:

    (Note, this is from the LU version of the melody, and "gratiae" is missing an "a")
    Quae Stella sole pulchrior.pdf
    33K
    Quae Stella sole pulchrior - gabc.txt
    2K
    Thanked by 3Incardination fvelasco M. Jackson Osborn
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Here is a transcription of the melody as given in the Netherlands Chamber Choir performance, as well as something closer to the version of the melody as given in the Directorium Chori 1736.
    \
    Quae Stella sole pulchrior NCC.pdf
    34K
    Quae Stella sole pulchrior NCC - gabc.txt
    2K
    Quae Stella sole pulchrior 1736.pdf
    35K
    Quae Stella sole pulchrior 1736 - gabc.txt
    2K
    Thanked by 2Incardination fvelasco
  • fvelasco
    Posts: 25
    Thank you for sharing these great insights!
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • fvelasco
    Posts: 25
    Charles, our pastor would like to know if it would be possible to locate the imprimatur for the original appearance of Quae stella sole pulchrior in the Parisian breviary of 1736. However, I'm unable find a reproduction of the latter online.

    I did find a related blog post in NLM: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/09/compendium-of-reforms-of-roman-breviary_29.html#.XhO7RXdFxaQ. There is an extensive discussion of the arrangement of the Psalter in the 1736 Parisian Breviary but no reference to the hymns.

    Any insights would be appreciated.
  • fvelasco
    Posts: 25
    I found the next installment in the NLM series and it does touch on the hymns in the Parisian Breviary of 1736: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/10/compendium-of-reforms-of-roman-breviary.html#.XhVUsHdFxaQ.

    In this blog post, Gregory DiPippo notes that Charles Coffin, who composed Quae stella sole pulchrior, was a prominent Jansenist.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    You want to consult the Pars Hiemalis of the Breviarium Parisiense 1736, which can be previewed in GoogleBooks at this link:

    https://books.google.com/books?id=ANoGAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

    It's there as the Hymnus in I Vesperas for Epiphany, p. 289. The imprimatur for the volume is near the beginning of the book. Indeed, you can download the entire book as a PDF.

    Thanked by 2fvelasco Incardination
  • fvelasco
    Posts: 25
    Thanks again. You are a wealth of knowledge!
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    You're welcome. Actually, in my ancient years, I'm getting better and better at spelunking with Google!
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