Thursday, August 9, 2012

Traditional Hymn for the Feast of the Dormition

A choral setting (SATB) of the well-known hymn, Rejoice, O Purest Mother (Veselisja Vo Čistot'i), is now posted to our Chant Repertoire resource page (choir members please take note!).

As mentioned in a prior post, this hymn is traditionally associated with the Feast of the Dormition.

The harmony of this arrangement was based on an original setting by +Professor John Kahanick completed in June 1978, prepared along with dozens of other scores in the months before taking the kliros at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Passaic, NJ in September 1979. This setting is very much in keeping with the traditional manner in which Carpatho-Rusyn plainchant has been naturally harmonized by the faithful over the years.

While +Professor Kahanick used his own translation of the Slavonic lyrics (and assigned the English title: Now, Rejoice in Your Pure Beauty), we have used the more commonly known translation (six complete verses, with refrain) as seen in the setting included in the Marian Hymnal (1984). The first two verses of this translation also appeared in the Marian Hymn section (as #14) at the back of the older pew book, The Divine Liturgy (1978), compiled by +Msgr. William G. Levkulic of blessed memory.

The link on the resource page provides access to a *.pdf file with the score, and audio files (in *.wav format) simulating the SATB performance, as well as each of the voice parts individually. The piece is relatively easy to learn, even for a less experienced group of chanters. We hope these resources provide encouragement to "give it a go" in your parish (and to sing along at the Church of the Resurrection)!

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