Vexilla regis
Vexilla Regis prodeunt is a Latin hymn to the cross of Jesus Christ, to Venantius Fortunatus wrote (about 530-609 ). Text and melody are world famous; it is a great moment of Christian Latin hymnody.
- 4.1 The Gregorian setting
- 4.2 Polyphonic musical settings
Metrics
The text follows the rules of iambic versification of Latin metric. It is recited as an iambic poem.
Registered in the hymn Vexilla has every verse two Metra, is thus a Dimeter (pronounced Dimeter ). Each of the two Metra consists of two Versfüßen, in which case the first one either iambic ( υ -) or spondee (-), but the second one always iambic ( υ - ) is. As the verse consists of a total of four feet, he is also called Quaternarius.
Metrication and text of the hymn
In the following, the Latin text is presented. To be able to sing or recite it more easily, are vowels elide at word boundaries in accordance with the Elisionsregeln classical prosody when stringing meeting of two vowels, ie may not be pronounced, enclosed in square brackets.
The first word " pretium " in verse 2 of verse 6 should be the "i" speak consonant (pronounced " pret -yum "). However, it should also say "pre -ti -um " and therefore the verse with a anapest ( υ υ - ) can begin; also correspond to the rules of iambic versification.
Liturgical use
In the liturgy ( Liber Usualis, Graduale Romanum), there were changes, and deletions of some verses. There are liturgically added verses. It follows the metric correct version of the same:
The hymn Vexilla is registered sung during Vespers of Palm Sunday to Holy Wednesday. Likewise, he is taken on the Solemnity of the Exaltation. It is rarely used as a processional hymn, such as on Maundy Thursday, for the transmission of the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle to a side altar. In Catholic churches of southern Germany, however, it is common for the song " The King's Flag", which is derived from the hymn, during the Good Friday liturgy to sing. This usually happens during the cross worship. In several regional approach slopes of the praise of God there is the German transmission of Peter Soemer The king's banner Braving up (eg Aachen No. 862, Osnabrück No. 864).
In the current Graduale Romanum currently the hymn is no longer available.
Text analysis
A registered vexillum is a king banner; the symbol refers to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Historical Background
The hymn was first sung on 19 November 569 in Poitiers as a processional hymn. At that time, the relic cross the Byzantine emperor Justin II at the request of hl. Radegundis solemnly transferred to the monastery of Saint- Croix.
Musical settings
The Gregorian setting
The prevalent in the church setting is the Graduale Romanum and Liber Usualis in listed Gregorian. It is maintained by the Gregorian schools, such as the Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis in Milan. Also Maria Carta follows this tune, but she sings in the Sardinian language.
Polyphonic musical settings
Polyphonic musical settings exist by Guillaume You Fay ( for three voice choir ), Franz Liszt and Anton Bruckner ( for four-part mixed chorus, WAB 51).