Link met muziek prachtig gezongen door de Benedictinessen van de Abdij Jouques in het kader van het Neumz project gefaciliteerd door Odradek.
This Introit announces, with brilliance and with a melody that is among the most beautiful in the Gregorian repertoire, the great solemnity of the Ascension. The text, extracted from the Acts of the Apostles, is made up of the words of the angels to the Apostles on the Mount of Olives. Jesus ascended to heaven; Jesus must return one day.
This hymn presents us with a beautiful image. The Apostles look up to heaven, a gaze reflected by the Church. Ever since Christ ascended to heaven, the Church has kept looking to the sky in ardent expectation until He “returns” (Ita veniet). Jesus has gone for now, but he will return; the composer's intention, made explicit by the melodic treatment of this passage, was to highlight the second advent of Christ at the end of time, and thereby direct the gaze of the disciples of Christ to this ultimate coming of the Messiah that the Church awaits with all her love.
Our Introit, taken from the 7th mode, the angelic mode, is happy and enthusiastic, articulated using a powerful breath. It is a light piece, soaring even, and very flexible. It consists of three main melodic phrases: the first corresponding to the declaration of the angels; the second to their promise; and the third to the three alleluias that conclude this song of joy.
The melodic line unfolds with great rapidity, almost without any support, up to in cælum, an expression that punctuates the two sections and precedes the cadence, articulated here by the two words, ita veniet. Note the great contrast with what preceded: ita veniet is sung in a very broad, affirmative way, especially on the powerful held note at veniet, which requires a beautiful crescendo, just before the gentle conclusion of the cadence. The expansive length attached to veniet could well indicate, in the mind of the composer, the length of time spent waiting for the return of Christ.
Viri Galilaei,
quid admiramini aspicientes in caelum? Alleluia.
Quemadmodum vidistis eum ascendentem in caelum,
ita veniet,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Omnes gentes plaudite manibus :
jubilate Deo in voce exsultationis.
Men of Galilee,
why are you looking up at the sky with astonishment? Alleluia.
As you saw Jesus go up to heaven,
this is how he will return.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
All peoples, clap your hands:
rejoice to God in a joyful voice.
