Seasonal Marian antiphons in English?
  • ryandryand
    Posts: 1,640
    I'd like to begin using the seasonal Marian antiphons at my parish, but there is no way that the Latin chants are going to be accepted. Are there any English translations of these, in either chant or hymn style?
  • All four of the Marian votive antiphons may be found set to English beginning at p. 491 of St Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter, a book that every Catholic choirmaster should have. It may be had from the Lancelot Andrewes Press. This book contains the entire Miles Coverdale psalter, plus the New Testament Canticles pointed for the Gregorian psalm tones in square notes. It also has a table of all the eight tones with their various endings, plus a few tones peculiar to various English mediaeval uses such as Sarum and York, Hereford, Gloucester, etc.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • jpal
    Posts: 365
    Salve Regina and Regina Caeli from the Vatican II Hymnal.
  • Here, in foldable letterhalf format, are all four Marian antiphons in metrical English translation, paired to familiar (or easily learned) hymn tunes. SATB.

    These are sung after the Vicar General's monthly English-language chant Mass at the diocesan chancery chapel. After his monthly Latin OF Mass, we sing the simple-tone Gregorian versions. Both are included in the custom Latin–English Order of Sung Mass created for this purpose. (That edition pairs the English equivalent of Ave Regina Cælorum with the warhorse OLD HUNDREDTH.)

    [PDF]
    Four Marian Antiphons in Metrical English Translation.pdf
    323K
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Aristotle -
    These are really nice!
    I especially like the Gibbons setting. 'Wareham', too, is an excellent choice. 'Easter Hymn' is something of a surprise, but it really does work.
    'Gaudeamus pariter', though, is almost happy-clappy: one should perhaps sing it with a tad of Anglican restraint?
    Thanked by 1Aristotle Esguerra
  • MJO,

    Thanks for the kind words. Yes, the restraint would definitely be called for with 'Gaudeamus pariter' given the text. I did look up other familiar tunes that begin with a strong accent; this, for example, seemed quite a bit less appropriate. :¬)

    However, this could work well too.
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • You are right! Of the two, gaudeamus is better. Had you considered WEIMAR, as found at no. 37 in the 1940? This seems rather nice and reflective... not so jumpy.
  • Is it this one? It's new to me, but seems to be quite singable.
  • Yes, that's the one.
    Thanked by 1Aristotle Esguerra
  • ryandryand
    Posts: 1,640
    Anything for male voices only?
  • Male voices only? What could be better than the original plainsong melodies adapted to English... as mentioned above in St Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter.
  • Here's a version that uses WEIMAR (from the Hymnal 1940). Everything else is unchanged.
    Four Marian Antiphons in Metrical English Translation (Weimar).pdf
    320K
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Heath
    Posts: 966
    Same question as Ryan above, specifically for the Ave Regina Caelorum . . . I'd like to arrange a 2-pt setting of the chant with an English text.

    The Kelly adaptation is OK, but I'd like to retain the exact Latin melody, with a fluid singing translation in English.

    MJO, care to scan the St. Dunstan setting so I can get a gander at it?
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Heath -
    I would be glad to, but that is beyond my computer expertise. Perhaps someone else who has the book can do this. I heartily recommend you get the book from the Lancelot Andrewes Press. (They have lots of other good things, too.)
  • MHIMHI
    Posts: 324
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  • MHIMHI
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  • MHIMHI
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  • Heath
    Posts: 966
    Thanks, MHI!
  • MHIMHI
    Posts: 324
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