Of One Who is so Fair and Bright (2022) - chant
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    This ancient English macaronic text must have had its own melody - but since it's lost to time, I thought I'd write something new for it. Not particularly "historically informed" composition - just historically inspired.

    Feel free to use however you like. I might try to make a motet out of this.

    Also - I'm trying to determine the best way to define "dit" from the 5th verse, "that haves y-dit the foule pit Inferni". Any ideas?

    Thank you to Richard R. for some typesetting suggestions and corrections.
    Of one that is so fair - 5verses.pdf
    29K
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen Andrew_Malton M. Jackson Osborn
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    Here is the GABC for anyone who might like to typeset this in another way. (if you do, and you think it looks better...send it over!) Also please let me know if you spot any typos.

    If you happen to sing this and record it...please let me know! It might work well for an extra Christmastide chant or any feast of Our Lady.

    (c3)Of(e) one(e) that(e) is(d) so(e) fair(fe) and(d) bright,(b.) (,)
    Ve(d)lut(f) ma(hg)ris(f) stel(cd)la, (e.) (;)
    Bright(e)er(e) than(d) the(e) day(fe)es(d) light,(b.) (,)
    Pa(d)rens(f) et(hg) pu(f)el(cd)la,(e.) (:)
    I(e) cry(i) to(j) thee;(h) thou(i) see(kj) to(i) me!(h.) (,)
    Le(g)ve(h)dy,(i) pray(h) thy(g) Son(fe) for(f) me,(d.) (,)
    Tam(b) pi(de)a,(f.) (;)
    That(b) I(efe) might(de) come(fe) to(d) thee,(b.) (,)
    Ma(c)ri(dfhvGFEcd)a.(e.) (::)

    2. Le(e)ve(e)dy(e), flowr(d) of(e) al(fe)le(d) thing,(b.) (,)
    Ro(d)sa(f) si(hg)ne(f) spi(cd)na,(e.) (;)
    Thou(e) bere(e) Jhe(d)su,(e) He(f)ve(e)ne(d)-King,(b.) (,)
    Gra(d)ti(f)a(hg) di(f)vi(cd)na.(e.) (:)
    Of(e) al(ij)le(h) thou(i) bearst(kj) the(i) prize,(h.) (,)
    Le(g)ve(h)dy,(i) queen(h) of(g) Pa(fe)ra(f)dise(d.) (,)
    E(b)lec(de)ta.(f.) (;)
    Maide(efe) milde (de) mo(fe)der(d) es (b.) (,)
    Ef(c)fec(dfhvGFEcd)ta.(e.)     (::)

    3. Of(e) care(e_), coun(d)sel(e) thou(fe) art(d) best,(b.) (,)
    Fe(d)lix(f) fe(hg)cun(f)da(cd)ta;(e.) (;)
    Of(e) al(e)le(e) wear(d)y(e) thou(fe) art(d) rest, (b.) (,)
    Ma(d)ter(f) ho(hg)no(f)ra(cd)ta.(e.) (:)
    Be(e)seech(ij) Him(h) with(i) mild(kj)e(i) mood,(h.) (,)
    That(g) for(h) us(i) al(h)le(g) shed(fe) His(f) blood(d.) (,)
    In (b) cru(de)ce (f.) (;)
    That(b) we(efe) might(de) come(fe) to(d) Him (b.) (,)
    In(c) lu(dfhvGFEcd)ce.(e.) (::)

    4. All(e) this(e) world(de) was(fe) for(d)lorn (b.) (,)
    E(d)va(f) pec(hg)ca(f)tri(cd)ce,(e.) (;)
    Til(e) our(e) Lord(de) was(fe) y-(d)born(b.) (,)
    De(d) te(f) ge(hg)ne(f)tri(cd)ce.(e.) (:)
    With(e) av(ij)e(h) it(i) went(kj) a(i)way,(h.) (,)
    Dark(gh)est(i) night,(h) and(g) comth(fe) the(f) day(d.) (,)
    Sa(b)lu(de)tis; (f.) (;)
    The(b) well(efe) spring(d)eth(e) out(fe) of(d) thee(b.) (,)
    Vir(c)tu(dfhvGFEcd)tis.(e.) (::)

    5. Well (e)He(e) wot(d) He(e) is(fe) thy(d) Sone(b.)(,)
    Ven(d)tre(f) quem(hg) por(f)tas(cd)ti;(e.) (;)
    He(e) will(e) not(d) werne(e) thee(fe) thy(d) boon,(b.) (,)
    Par(d)vum(f) quem(hg) lac(f)tas(cd)ti.(e. ) (:)
    So (e)kind(ij) and(h) so(i) good (kj)He(i) is,(h.) (,)
    He(g) ha(h)veth(i) brought(hg) us(fe) to(f) blis(d.) (,)
    Su(b)per(de)ni,(f.) (;)
    That(b) haves(ef) y-(e)dit(d) the(e) foul(fe)e(d) pit(b.) (,)
    In(c)fer(dfhvGFEcd)ni.(e.) (::)
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,885
    Interestingly, I stumbled across a slightly different version of this text in an ancient book of English carols. I’ve set it as a carol, where it is sung in a lilting unison and breaks into SATB for each Latin appellation. It’s a fantastic text.
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    Two verses were sung today.
    2024-05-26 of one who is so fair.mp3
    2M
  • CGM
    Posts: 697
    FYI, Benjamin Britten set this text (verses 1, 4, & 2) in his spellbindingly beautiful "A Hymn to the Virgin".

    https://youtu.be/0ehnmnHCRXc?si=O31m5g3Avkqp-9h0
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Roborgelmeister
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