PBC Christus Vincit - source?
  • -b
    Posts: 55
    I would like to know what source was used for Christus Vincit as given in the Parish Book of Chant. I've seen a number of variations. I do love great hymn given in the PBC. Source??
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    We have a thread on this, but focusing mainly on the Worcester Antiphonal version and the different attempts to transcribe it into modern chant notation.

    https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/13249/christus-vincit-worcester/p1
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    That is the standard Vatican form of the Laudes Regia used at papal coronations. And at both the last two papal inaugurations (with modified text). http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2013/20130319_inizio-ministero-petrino.pdf I prefer the Norman/English tune.
    http://modernmedievalism.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-laudes-regiae-christ-conquers.html
    Christus vincit is an acclamation of a style that reaches back to ancient Rome. Praises of victory and honor were shouted or chanted to Roman generals, consuls, or emperors who entered the Eternal City in triumph after a great battle. Charlemagne, a barbarian king who fashioned himself a ruler in the tradition of the old Empire, adopted Roman traditions such as the acclamations for his own use. It's said that at his coronation as Emperor of the Romans in A.D. 800, he adopted Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat for his own personal motto. Those words formed a chant which was used in the coronations of the Holy Roman Emperors for centuries hence.
  • -b
    Posts: 55
    My thanks to everyone for these helpful posts. Hawkins, when you say the Norman/English tune do you mean the one sung on the first video from the modernmedievalism blogspot link that you posted? It's very close to the PBC. At our church last Sunday, they used the Montani setting created for the coronation of Pope Pius XII--quite different.
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    No, I meant the Worcester Antiphoner tune discussed in the thread https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/13249/christus-vincit-worcester/p1 or similar as seen below. [The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book. 1920. Singers' ed., Melody ed.‎#248]
    This one is what I remember from my childhood and is therefor my favourite.
    0450=450.jpg
    640 x 971 - 128K
    Thanked by 1Paul F. Ford
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    The German Wikipedia page on the Laudes Regiae says -
    Medieval forms have been handed down:
    30 French
    22 German
    10 Gallo-Franconian
    10 Franconian-Roman
    four English
    four dalmatian
    a Sicilian
    https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laudes_regiae
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    Anyone who has heard Vatican Radio knows the familiar theme that introduces the day's programming. It is a simple melody by Jan Kunc (1883-1976), a Czech composer, teacher and author. Kunc was also the director of the Brno Conservatory, established by Leos Janacek in 1919.
    His tune was found in the popular Saint Gregory Hymnal, harmonized by Rev. Nicola Montani.
    www.katholiek.org/christusvincit.htm Google translate :- (my emphasis)
    - GENERAL INFORMATION -
    Text
    - The lyricist of the hymn Christ Vincit is unknown.
    Music
    - The music for this hymn was composed in 1933 by the Czech composer Jan Kunc (1883-1976).
    Occasion
    - The Christus Vincit is played at festive and solemn occasions, such as after the Christmas and Easter masses celebrated by the Pope in St. Peter's Square, as well as at the solemn receptions of the Pope, cardinals or bishops and archbishops.
    - The chorus of Christ Vincit is also the recognition tune of Radio Vaticana and as such known among Catholics worldwide.
    History
    - It used to be thought to be the hymn Christ Vincit was a traditional song, the composer and lyricist of which were unknown. However, it was later revealed that this hymn was composed by the Czech composer Jan Kunc (1883-1976) on the occasion of the coronation of Pope Pius XII in 1933.
    Hmmm, what does that last bit tell us about attitudes to Tra le solicitudine 30 years after proclamamtion?
  • Arthur Connick
    Posts: 496
    The "GENERAL INFORMATION" quoted above is pretty inaccurate. See this older thread.
    https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/9822/christus-vincit-organ-score/p1
    Thanked by 1a_f_hawkins
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    Yes, I have seen it attributed to Aloys Kunc, and to Aymé Kunc, as well as to Jan Kunc. Aloys seems the better bet, he was safely dead before TLS and the change in musical fashion.
    I am always wary of "it used to be thought".
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