Text and Translation
In addition to the unique text underlay––two different texts written under the same musical staff––what makes the Francis/Clare chants extraordinary is the abundance of text parallelism. Take, for example, the antiphon “Laudans laudare monuit” for the feast of Saint Francis and the antiphon “Laudans laudare studeat” for the feast of Saint Clare. Not only do both antiphons have the same words under the same musical phrases such as “laudans,” “laudare,” “salvatoris,” and “conditoris,” but different words often contain the same vowels in the same positions, creating an effect of rhyming: note the pair of “Sanctias” and “bestias,” and that of “civitas” and “alias.” Far from being coincidental, the scribe deliberately constructed such text parallelism through either choosing an existing Clarissan chant that resembles the Franciscan one as is the case with the two antiphons, or creating a new chant for the feast of Saint Clare based on the Franciscan model, as is the case with the Magnificat antiphon “"O decus virgineum.” Like the two antiphons, the two Magnificat antiphons share certain words and pay particular attention to vowel positions. The textual resemblance of the Franciscan and Clarissan chants illustrates perhaps the closeness of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, and also that of the two religious orders. As the nuns celebrated the feast of Saint Clare, their memory of Saint Francis and the Franciscan chants, being vividly reinforced, intertwined with the present singing of praise to Saint Clare.
1. Magnificat Antiphon "O stupor et gaudium" for the feast of Saint Francis
[Translation by Susan Boynton]
O stupor et gaudium, O judex homo mentium, Tu nostrae militiae Currus et auriga; Ignea praesentibus Transfiguratum fratribus transformed, In solari facie Vexit te quadriga; In te signis radians, In te ventura nuntians Requievit spiritus Duplex prophetarum; Tuis adsta posteris, Pater Francisce, miseris, Nam increscunt gemitus. Ovium tuarum.
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O wonder and joy, O man [who is] judge of spirits You are the chariot and charioteer of our army; the fiery chariot drew you in the shape of the sun, with the brothers present; in you, radiating with signs in you, announcing things to come, has reposed the double spirit of prophecies; assist your wretched followers, Father Francis, for the groans of your sheep increase
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2. Magnificat Antiphon "O decus virgineum" for the feast of Saint Clare
[Translation by Susan Boynton]
O decus virgineum O iubar vite flammeum Tu sacre mundicie Doctrix et doctrina Ignea feruoribus Quos candidatis mentibus De fornace gratie Virtus dat diuina In te signis radiat Per que saluator nunciat announces quanta sis in gloria secum constituta Clara sponso supplices Tuos ut salute supplices
Nam incumbunt agmina Hostium tuarum. |
O virginal beauty, O flaming splendor of life, you, instructress and teacher of holy purity, fiery with fervors of which to purified minds he gives strength from the furnace of grace. In you he radiates with signs through which the savior, in what great glory, you, radiant, are established with him as your bridegroom. May you come to the assistance of your [followers] for salvation of the one supplicating you for the phalanges of Your enemies approach. |
Magnificat
[Translation taken from John Harper, The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy from the Tenth to the Eighteenth Century: A Historical Introduction and Guide for Students and Musicians (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991), 273.]
Magnificat anima mea Dominum Et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo Quia respexit humilitatem ancille sue ecce enim ex hox beatam me dicent omnes generationes Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est et sanctum nomen ejus Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum Fecit potentiam in brachio suo dispersit superbos mente cordis sui Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles Esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes Suscepit Israel puerum suum recordatus misericordie sue. Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros Abraham et semini ejus in secula Gloria Patri, et Filio, er Spiritui Sancto sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et in secula secularum. Amen.
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My soul doth magnify the Lord And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden, for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his Name And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations He hath shewed strength with his arm, he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers Abraham and his seed for ever Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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3. Responsory "Amicum querit pristinum" for the feast of Saint Francis
[Translation by Susan Boynton]
Amicum querit pristinum qui spretum in cenobio tunicula contexit contemptu gaudet hominum Leprosis fit obsequio quos antea despexit Sub typo trium ordinum tres nutu dei previo ecclesias erexit
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He seeks the former friend whom he had spurned in the monastery; He weaves shirts and rejoices in the contempt of men; He ministers to lepers, whom earlier he had despised. In the image of the three orders, he built three churches at God’s command. |
4. Responsory "Amica crucis" for the feast of Saint Clare
[Translation by Susan Boynton]
Amica crucis plangere crucifixum novitias docet quam ipsa plangit. Crux ei digno pondere Maiores dat delicias. Quo maior dolor angit Hec Christi sui munere morbos atque molestias fugat dum cruce tangit.
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The friend of the Cross teaches the novices to lament the crucified one whom she herself laments. The Cross gives greater delights to one who is worthy of its weight. To the one whom greater grief troubles, This one with her gift of Christ avoids affliction and troubles while she touches the Cross.
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5. Responsory "Audit in evangelio" for the feast of Saint Francis
[Translation by Susan Boynton]
Audit in evangelio que suis Christus loquitur ad predicandum missis hoc inquit est quod cupio Letanter his innititur memorie commissis Non utens virga calcio nec pera Fune cingitur duplicibus dimissis.
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He hears in the Gospel those things which Christ says preaching to his followers; this, he says, is what I desire. He supports himself happily with these things, having committed them to memory. Using neither stick nor shoe nor wallet, he girds himself with rope, having abandoned stronger materials. |
6. Responsory "Vivens in mundo labili" for the feast of Saint Clare
[Translation by Susan Boynton]
Vivens in mundo labili sponso coniuncta nobili sursum deliciatur clausoque carne fragili tanquam in vase fictili Thesauro gloriatur Sit in rota versatuli fulta virtute stabili cum Christo delectatur. |
Living in a fleeting world, Having been married to a noble husband, She delights from on high and with her fragile flesh closed in an earthen vessel, she glories in the treasure. Let her be placed on a moveable wheel; supported by stable virtue she delights with Christ.
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7. Antiphon "Laudans laudare monuit" for the feast of Saint Francis
[Translation by Susan Boynton]
Laudans laudare monuit laus illi semper adfuit laus inquam salvatoris invitat aves bestias et creaturas alias ad laudem conditoris.
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Praising, he taught [us] to praise; He was always praising; Praise, I say, of the savior; He invites birds, beasts, And other creatures to praise the Creator. |
8. Antiphon "Laudans laudare studeat" for the feast of Saint Clare
[Translation by Susan Boynton]
Laudans laudare studeat in laude semper prodeat plebs ista salvatoris quam tanta ditat sanctitas non cessat ipsa civitas a laude conditoris
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One praising must always strive in praise to praise; Let that people of the savior proceed, whom such holiness enriches; That city must not desist From praise of the creator. |