Sarum variant of Pange Lingua /Tantum Ergo
  • liampmcdonough
    Posts: 297
    The melody of Pange Lingua in my Hymnal 1940 and 1982 is different than the "standard" version heard everywhere, and lists "Sarum plainsong" as the source material.

    I have looked in many places, but could only find one place (Hymn-melodies for the Whole Year: From the Sarum Service-books and Other Ancient English Sources) with the source melody. Of course, I trust the 1940's editorial staff more than myself!

    Because of the source of this melody, we have retained it in usage at our parish as part of the patrimony. Can anyone confirm the source of this melody? Other ordinariate musicians, is this the oral tradition at your church, or do you do the "standard" version?

    I have attached the latin hymn to the sarum melody below. I could not find an edition in Latin, so I learned how to use the Source and Summit editor today! If anyone has editorial comments, that is also helpful as this is my first time using this tool.
    Tantum Ergo Sarum.pdf
    17K
    Thanked by 2Chris Garton-Zavesky M. Jackson Osborn
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    I was told that the Italian version here, https://gregobase.selapa.net/chant.php?id=3994 was originally from England. It is an interesting variation to the version commonly sung.
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    @tomjaw, the Mode I version you cite is also in the Liber Usualis. It has a different "feel" than the Mode III versions (at least to me). In fact, this is the melody employed for my own setting (attached).
    Giffen-Pange Lingua Gloriosi.pdf
    100K
    Giffen-Pange Lingua Gloriosi-160kbps.mp3
    6M
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,467
    Plainsong for Schools gives three tunes for Pange lingua/Tantum ergo and vol 2 gives four more, all with the approbation of Solesmes/Quarr. (And 3+6 for O Salutaris.) As a child I found Benediction unsettling because of this superabundance.
  • renwick
    Posts: 27
    The Sarum form appears here, in my scholarly edition:
    https://macsphere.mcmaster.ca/bitstream/11375/15874/190/B-27 Dom passion.pdf page 1072
    hope that helps
    Thanked by 2IanW M. Jackson Osborn
  • liampmcdonough
    Posts: 297
    Thank you!
  • madorganist
    Posts: 906
    As a child I found Benediction unsettling because of this superabundance.
    I must say, this is one of the more amusing remarks I've read on this forum. Silly the things we get weirded-out by as children! We have Benediction once a month; if we had it weekly, I'm sure I would crave more than two congregational settings of the Tantum ergo.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
Add a Comment