| Description: | Today is Maundy Thursday - the day when the Church commemorates the Last Supper, and the institution of the Holy Eucharist.
Ubi caritas is a hymn of the Western Church, long used as one of the antiphons for the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday. The Gregorian melody was composed sometime between the fourth and tenth centuries, though some scholars believe the text dates from early Christian gatherings before the formalization of the Mass.
This mystical setting was composed by Dom Paul Benoit, O.S.B. (1893-1979), an organist, composer, and Roman Catholic priest, who lived as a member of the Benedictine community at the Abbey of St. Maurice et St. Maur, at Clervaux, in Luxembourg. Dom Paul Benoit's compositions never leave the realm of tonality, albeit often modal. His works frequently draw from the melodies of Gregorian chant, making them easily palatable by all ears. Dom Paul acknowledged the influence of the French impressionist works of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel upon his organ compositions.
I dedicate this upload to our member, giwro, who gave me this score sometime ago.
THANK YOU, Jonathan!
Pictures of Dom Benoit, as well as of the Abbey of St. Maurice et St. Maur, at Clervaux, in Luxembourg are attached below.
The text of the hymn is as follows:
Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ's love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ our God be in our midst.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
And may we with the saints also,
See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen. |
Sign up today to download piece.
See what Agnus_Dei used to make this recording