GREGORY AND THE DOVE -
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,424
    Singable Translation Sought -
    Several months ago someone put one of those beautiful old engravings, this one of Gregory being tutored by the Holy Dove and dictating to a scribe. This was flanked by an old chant about Gregory's supposed composition of the chant repertory.
    A few days later a usable square-note version of this chant appeared, which I have reproduced.
    My question: can someone provide or (Kathy?) compose an English version of the text Which Can Be Sung to the Gregorian melody to which it is set? What I am asking for, I suppose, is a Palmer-Burgess version of this chant.
    Tudorbethan English acceptable.

    Here is the text:
    Sanctissimus namque Gregorius | cum preces effunderet ad Dominum |
    ut musicum donum ei desuper in carminibus dedisset, | tunc descendit Spiritus Sanctus super eum |
    in specie columbae, | et illustravit cor ejus, | et sic demum exortus est canere, ita dicendo. || Ad te levavi. ||
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,515
    He's inspired to sing the introit for the first Sunday of Advent!
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,223
    Well, first, not a translation, but a metered adaptation:

    When Gregory poured out his heart
    in prayer before the Lord,
    and asked to make a gift of song
    that God may be adored,
    the Spirit came to rest on him,
    a Dove taught him the word:
    Ad te levavi...


    OK, now a translation:

    When holy Gregory poured out his prayer before the Lord,
    that he might make a gift of music in his songs,
    the Holy Spirit then descended unto him,
    alighting in the form of a dove,
    illumining his heart,
    and thereon he began to sing,
    in these words:

    ad te levavi.
    Thanked by 4M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen Kathy Felicity
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,515
    When holy Gregory outpoured
    His fervent prayer unto the Lord
    that from above he might be giv'n
    the gift of song that comes from heav'n
    there came to him from skies above
    the Spirit coming like a dove
    and thus his heart illumining (thank you, Chonak)
    St Gregory began to sing
    Thanked by 4chonak M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen Felicity
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,424
    Many thanks to you both!
Add a Comment