17th Sunday After Pentecost
Processional hymn: Love Divine All Loves Excelling, 943
Recessional hymn: Hail, Holy Queen, 908
Kyriale: Mass XI, 740; Credo III, 776
Hymn at the offertory: Salve Mater, Carmelite Chant, arr. Paul Thomas May
Hymn at communion: Ave Maris Stella - Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548–1611)
The hymn after the communion antiphon this week is another setting from Tomás Luis de Victoria. This famous text is from the Vespers hymn for feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As with the other settings, the plainchant is sung for the even verses and the odd are through composed. In this motet, Victoria paraphrases the Gregorian melody in the Soprano and Tenor voices during each polyphonic verse. The final verse of the hymn is a doxology, which is a prayer of praise that invokes the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Victoria changes the meter from four to three for this final verse which gives a feeling of forward motion to the end and makes reference to the Most Holy Trinity.
Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548–1611), along with Palestrina and de Lassus, is one of the greatest composers of the 16th C., famous for its ethereal polyphony. Ordained a priest at age 27, he lived in Rome for years, and assisted St. Philip Neri as chaplain of San Girolamo della Carità.