A Blessed Day Has Dawned

A Blessed Day Has Dawned

Sacred Choral Music

Palestrina, Laude, Gregorian Chant

The Saint Vincent Camerata Scholars

Fr. Stephen Concordia, O.S.B. Director

A Blessed Day Has Dawned is the inaugural recording by the Saint Vincent Camerata Scholars under the direction of Fr. Stephen Concordia, O.S.B. The musical program revolves around the Mass setting of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594) entitled “Missa: Dies Sanctificatus”, itself based on his Motet of the same name.

As an example of the popular Renaissance form of ‘imitation Mass’, the musical themes of the Motet are recycled throughout the various parts of the Mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, Agnus Dei. The artistic aims of unity and economy of musical means are thus put at the service of the liturgical prayer, creating a composition of great variety of musical forms all held together by the frequent allusions to the Motet themes throughout the Mass.

The Palestrina Mass is at the center of the CD, but other styles are also present. “We wanted to fill in the other Mass parts in Gregorian chant: the Introit (entrance), the Alleluia, the Gospel of the day, and the Communion antiphon. This evokes what a Renaissance Mass might have sounded like, with some parts sung in polyphony, and others chanted,” said Fr. Stephen Concordia.

1. O MARIA, DIANA STELLA

2. SOPRA IL FIENO COLCATO

3. LODATE DIO

4. INTROIT: PUER NATUS EST

5. MOTET: DIES SANCTIFICATUS

6. KYRIE

7. CHRISTE

8. KYRIE II

9. GLORIA

10. ALLELUIA: DIES SANCTIFICATUS

11. INITIUM SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM IOANNES

12. CREDO

13. SANCTUS/BENEDICTUS

14. AGNUS DEI I

15. AGNUS DEI II

16. COMMUNION: VIDERUNT OMNES

17. HYMN: CHRISTE REDEMPTOR OMNIUM

18. MOTET: ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER