I would be happy to hear from any contributors who have ideas about choral pieces for four voices (i.e. motets) that are appropriate for a solemn baptism in the new rite. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
How about Palestrina's "Sicut cervus"? First line, Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum... This text is used in the 1962 Missal Holy Saturday vigil for the procession to the baptismal font after the water is blessed.
The official rite recommends the following. I append the official English translation. I provided this list in Latin and English because I hope that others on this site will know of motets and anthems on these texts.
V. ACCLAMATIONES, HYMNI ET TROPARIA
Acclamationes e libris sacris desumptae
225. Quis símilis tui in fórtibus, Dómine? Quis símilis tui, magníficus in sanctitáte, terríbilis atque laudábilis, fáciens mirabília? (Ex 15, 11).
226. Deus lux est, et tenébræ in eo non sunt ullæ (1 Io 1 1, 5).
227. Deus cáritas est, et qui manet in caritáte in Deo manet (1 Io 4, 16).
228. Unus Deus et Pater ómnium, qui est super omnes et per ómnia et in ómnibus nobis (Eph 4, 6).
229. Respícite ad eum et illuminámini (Ps 33, 6).
230. Benedíctus Deus, qui elegit vos in Christo (cf. Eph 1, 3–4).
231. Dei factúra estis, creáti in Christo Iesu (Eph 2, 10).
232. Caríssimi, nunc fílii Dei estis, et nondum manifestátum est quid éritis (1 Io 3, 2).
233. Qualem caritatem dedit vobis Pater, ut filii Dei nominemini et sitis (1 Io 3, 1).
234. Beáti qui lavant stolas suas in sanguine Agni (Ap 22, 14).
235. Omnes vos unum estis in Christo Iesu (Gal 3, 28 ).
236. ·Estóte imitatóres Dei et ambuláte in dilectióne; sicut et Christus diléxit nos (Eph 5, 1–2).
Hymni in stylo Novi Testamenti
237. Benedíctus Deus et Pater Dómini nostri Iesu Christi, qui secúndum magnam misericórdiam suam regenerávit nos in spem vivam, per resurrectiónem Iesu Christi ex mórtuis, in hereditátem incorruptíbilem, conservátam in cælis propter vos in salútem témpore novíssimo revelándam (1 Pt 1, 3–5).
238. Magnum est pietátis sacraméntum, ante mundi constitutiónem præcógnitum, novíssimis tempóribus manifestátum: Christus Iesus, carne passus et mortificátus, spíritu vivificátus, géntibus prædic átus, in mundo créditus, in cælum proféctus, dona lárgiens homínibus, in glória super omnes cælos assúmptus, ut impléret omnia, allelúia (Cf. 1 Tim 3, 16).
Troparia ex antiquitate et litugiis selecta
239. In te crédimus, Christe: tuum córdibus lumen infúnde, ut lucis fílii efficiámur.
240. Ad te vénimus, Dómine: tuam ánimis vitam largíre, ut adoptiónis fílii in te evadámus.
241. E látere tuo, Christe, fons aquæ prorúpit, quo abluúntur mundi sordes et vita renovátur.
242. Super aquas Patris vox ádvocat, glória Fílii refúlget, et Spíritus sancti cáritas vivíficat.
243. Ecclésia sancta, manus exténde et natos illos súscipe, quos ex aquis regénerat Sanctus Dei Spíritus.
244. Gaudéte, baptizáti, elécta vasa Regni, in morte consepúlti, Christi fide renáti.
245. Fons hic est vitæ, qui totum déluit orbem, sumens de Christi vúlnere princ ípium. Cælórum Regnum speráte, hoc fonte renáti.
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ACCLAMATIONS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE
225. Exodus 15:11 Lord God, who is your equal? Strong, majestic, and holy! Worthy of praise, worker of wonders!
226. 1 John 1:5 God is light: in him there is no darkness.
227. 1 John 4:16 God is love: he who lives in love, lives in God.
228. Ephesians 4:6 There is one God, one Father of all: he is over all, and through all: he lives in all of us.
229. Psalm 34:6 Come to him and receive his light!
230. see Ephesians 1:4 Blessed be God who chose you in Christ.
231. Ephesians 2:10 You are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus.
232. 1 John 3:2 You are now God’s children, my dearest friends. What you shall be in his glory has not yet been revealed.
233. 1 John 3:1 Think of how God loves you! He calls you his own children, and that is what you are.
234. Revelation 22:14 Happy are those who have washed their robes clean: washed in the blood of the Lamb!
235. Galatians 3:28 All of you are one: united in Christ Jesus.
236. Ephesians 5:1–2 Imitate God, walk in his love, just as Christ loves us.
HYMNS IN THE STYLE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 237. 1 Peter 1:3–5 Praised be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: a God so merciful and kind! He has given us a new birth, a living hope, by raising Jesus his Son from death. Salvation is our undying inheritance, preserved for us in heaven, salvation at the end of time.
238. How great the sign of God’s love for us, Jesus Christ our Lord: promised before all time began, revealed in these last days. He lived and suffered and died for us, but the Spirit raised him to life. People everywhere have heard his message and placed their faith in him. What wonderful blessings he gives his people: living in the Father’s glory, he fills all creation and guides it to perfection.
SONGS FROM ANCIENT LITURGIES 239. We believe in you, Lord Jesus Christ. Fill our hearts with your radiance, and make us the children of light!
240. We come to you, Lord Jesus. Fill us with your life, make us children of the Father, and one in you.
241. Lord Jesus, from your wounded side flowed streams of cleansing water: the world was washed of all its sin, all life made new again!
242. The Father’s voice calls us above the waters, the glory of the Son shines on us, the love of the Spirit fills us with life.
243. Holy Church of God, stretch out your hand and welcome your children newborn of water and of the Spirit of God.
244. Rejoice, you newly baptized, chosen members of the kingdom. Buried with Christ in death, you are reborn in him by faith.
245. This is the fountain of life, water made holy by the suffering of Christ, washing all the world. You who are washed in this water have hope of heaven’s kingdom.
We just baptized our third son last week. We opened and closed with "Descend O Spirt Purging Flame" and "We Praise You Father." Both texts are copyright protected, so be sure to seek permission before using them. The former we set to Jesu Dulcis Memoria. The latter we set to "In Adventu," a tune by Theodore Marier (the copyright holder of that tune is always very gracious).
The responsorial psalm is Ps.27. The antiphon has a melody which I adapted in part from the Exultet. Feel free to use it. The cantor chanted the verses on a psalm tone -- a faux-bourdon would've been nice if I had the voices to pull it off.
I've composed a motet called "Spring of Water" -- congregational antiphon based in part on the VIdi Aquam chant, with four-part unaccompanied verses from Ps. 117. I didn't use it at the baptism, but I'd be happy to send you a pdf if you'd like to look it over. I don't have it here on this computer.
I was surprised too. This must be an example of the old rite not always being representative of tradition in its best form. I bet there was singing in the old baptisteries of Europe.
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