4th Sunday of Lent 2025
Processional hymn: O Kind Creator, Bow Thine Ear, 832
Recessional hymn: Praise to the Holiest in the Height, 922
Kyriale: Mass XVII, 762; Credo VI, 788
Marian Antiphon: Ave Regina Coelorum, Antonio Lotti (1667–1740)
Communion Antiphon: Jerusalem, Quæ Ædificatur, Heinrich Isaac
The communion antiphon is another set by Heinrich Isaac from his Choralis Constantinus. The antiphon’s text is from Ps 121(122):3-4: “Jerusalem, built as a city, with compact unity: to it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to give thanks to Your Name, O Lord.”
There are three striking uses of text painting in this composition: After the Gregorian incipit the voices are literally built…in unity as each voice enters on the same note. Then the voices move in a compact unity as Isaac uses the technique of fauxbourdon where they move in strict parallel motion close together. This is followed by each voice singing from low to high for the tribes go up.
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.