Notes About The Music

2nd Sunday after Epiphany 2025

Processional hymn: Praise to the Lord, 927
Recessional hymn: Come Down, O Love Divine, 887
Credo V, 784, Kyriale VIII, 727

Marian Antiphon: Alma Redemptoris Mater, Solemn Chant
Communion antiphon: Dicit Dominus, Heinrich Isaac

The communion antiphon for this Sunday’s Mass is set by Heinrich Isaac and is taken from the Gospel of John describing Our Lord’s first public miracle. Isaac has the soprano voice sing a stylized version of the Gregorian melody sometimes in canon with the tenor. He deviates from this structure during the passage where the chief steward proclaims they have kept the good wine until now; Isaac musically ornaments this in two voices with many moving notes.

Heinrich Isaac (c.1450–1517) was a Renaissance composer from the South Netherlandish region. His output was rivaled only by Orlandus Lassus in number and variety of composition. Most notable of his collections is Choralis Constantinus which contains nearly 400 Gregorian chant based motets of propers for the Mass.