Gospel Canticles

[admin]

The Gospel Canticles are integral to the Liturgy of the Hours. The themes of the Magnificat and the Beatitudes are often echoed in the Sunday Lectionary. The Benedictus can be seen as a core text for the Season of Advent.

• Benedictus (Luke 1: 68-79)
  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
• Magnificat (Luke 1: 46-55)
  My soul glorifies the Lord
• Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29-32)
  At last, all-powerful Master
• Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1–12 & Luke 6: 20-26)
  How happy are the poor in spirit

Examples

Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55) My soul glorifies the Lord
Mary’s great hymn of praise is used everyday by the Church in Evening Prayer. It is the first and best Marian hymn — praise of God who raises the lowly, a theme echoed through the scriptures. More than any other core text there are a wide variety of settings from hymn paraphrases to responsorial settings; shouts of praise to quiet reflection. Care should be taken to chose a setting suitable to the occasion but above all this should be a familiar text on the lips and in the hearts of Catholics.

God fills me with joy — J P Lécot (Lourdes)
Holy is his name (anon)
Magnificat — Bernadette Farrell
Magnificat — Gelineau
Magnificat — Taizé
My soul rejoices — Owen Alstott
Tell out my soul — T Dudley Smith
The Almighty works marvels for me — Peter Jones

Beatitudes
The majority of settings of the Beatitudes are based on the version in Matthew’s Gospel (5: 3–12).

Amen, amen, is shall be so — Iona
As a tree planted — Marty Haugen
Beati in domo domini — Taizé
Blessed, blessed are the poor — Iona
Blest are they — David Haas
Happy are those — Russian arr. Stephen Dean
The Beatitudes — Peter Jones
The Kingdom — Mike Anderson

[VML]

Please does anyone know the paraphrase of the Magnificat that was set about 15 years ago to the tune of the Webbe 'Regina Coeli?' I have the music, but I cannot remember the exact words.

Thanks in advance.

[Martin Foster]

VML

was it Magnificat, magnificat sing the glory of our Saviour!
Webbe arranged Mayhew and word by Mayhew too.

It first appeared in 'Songs of New Life' and did appear in subsequent Mayhew books and I think as separate piece of sheet Music.

Martin

[VML]

Thanks, Martin.
Yes that is the one, but I can't remember the rest of the words he made fit the tune, and I remember thinking then how 'interesting'... it was that someone could copyright such a tune because they have paraphrased the words.

V

[gwyn]

VML

This also lives in Hymns Old and New.

Regards,
Gwyn.

[VML]

So it does, Gwyn.
Thanks for that. I had to acquire the extended copy to check it out, hence the delay.
V