In nearly all medieval Uses of the Roman Divine Office, one of the responsories of Matins was sung between the chapter and hymn at first Vespers of major feasts, and on the Saturday before the major Sundays. On the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, the most common choice for this was the third responsory of Roman Matins, Missus est Gabriel Angelus, which is also sung daily in Advent Little Office of the Virgin, and on the feast of the Annunciation.
℟. Missus est Gabriel Angelus ad Maríam Vírginem desponsátam Joseph, nuntians ei verbum, et expavescit Virgo de lúmine: ne tímeas, María, invenisti gratiam apud Dóminum: * Ecce concipies et paries, et vocábitur Altíssimi Fílius. ℣. Dabit ei Dóminus Deus sedem David, patris ejus, et regnábit in domo Jacob in aeternum. Ecce concipies. Glória Patri. Ecce concipies.℟. The Angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a Virgin espoused to Joseph, announcing to Her the word, and the Virgin feared for the light. Fear not, Mary, thou hast found grace with the Lord. * Behold, thou shalt conceive and bear (a son), and He shall be called the Son of the Most High. ℣. The Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. Behold... Glory be... Behold...
A very splendid polyphonic setting (for use as a motet) by the Bavarian composer Peter Alamire.
The Vesper hymn hymn for Advent Conditor alme siderum, in the original version. (The original Latin text, the revised version of Urban VIII, and an English translation are all available on Wikipedia.)Palestrina’s polyphonic version.
The complete ceremony sung a few hours ago by our good friends of the Schola Sainte-Cecile in Paris; the Magnificat antiphon Ecce nomen Domini begins at 21:25.
Aña Ecce nomen Dómini venit de longinquo, et cláritas ejus replet orbem terrárum. (Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, and the glory thereof filleth the world.)
From Vespers of this evening until the second Vespers of the Purification, the major antiphon of the Virgin at the end of the hours is the Alma Redemptoris Mater.
The very nice polyphonic setting by the Franco-Flemish composer Joannes Ockeghem (1410 ca. - 1497).
