Vox clara ecce intonat

Vox clara ecce intonat is a Latin hymn used traditionally in the Liturgy of the Hours at Lauds during Advent.[1] An alternative version of the same hymn begins "En clara vox redarguit."[2]

History

The original version of the hymn dates from the 6th century.[3] Whilst it has been attributed to a number of different authors, including St Ambrose, it is generally recorded in modern books as "anonymous."[4] As a result of Pope Urban VIII's revision of the Breviary, the hymn was re-written in a more classical Latin style and published in 1632, with the opening line "En clara vox redarguit."[5]

Style

The hymn is written in iambic dimeter[6] and it is a retelling of the preaching of John the Baptist, announcing the coming of Christ in Luke's Gospel.

Latin versions of the Hymn

Vox clara ecce intonat

1 VOX clara ecce intonat,
   obscura quaeque increpat:
   procul fugentur somnia;
   ab aethere Christus promicat.

2 Mens iam resurgat torpida
   quae sorde exstat saucia;
   sidus refulget iam novum,
   ut tollat omne noxium.

3 E sursum Agnus mittitur
   laxare gratis debitum;
   omnes pro indulgentia
   vocem demus cum lacrimis,

4 Secundo ut cum fulserit
   mundumque horror cinxerit,
   non pro reatu puniat,
   sed nos pius tunc protegat.

5 Summo Parenti gloria
   Natoque sit victoria,
   et Flamini laus debita
   per saeculorum saecula. Amen.[7]

En clara vox redarguit

1 En clara vox redarguit
   Obscura quaeque personans:
   Procul fugentur somnia:
   Ab alto Jesus promicat.

2 Mens jam resurgat torpida,
   Non amplius jacens humi:
   Sidus refulget jam novum,
   Ut tollat omne noxium.

3 En Agnus ad nos mittitur
   Laxare gratis debitum:
   Omnes simul cum lacrimis
   Precemur indulgentiam:

4 Ut, cum secundo fulserit,
   Metuque mundum cinxerit,
   Non pro reatu puniat,
   Sed nos pius tunc protegat.

5 Virtus, honor, laus, gloria
   Deo Patri cum Filio,
   Sancto simul Paraclito,
   In sæculorum saecula.[8]

English Versions

It is estimated that there are at least 27 English translations of the hymn.[9] The following examples were widely used in the nineteenth and twentieth century.

John Henry Newman

1 Hark, a joyful voice is thrilling,
   And each dim and winding way
   Of the ancient temple filling ;
   Dreams depart, for it is day.

2 Christ is coming — from thy bed,
   Earth-bound soul, awake and spring —
   With the sun new-risen to shed
   Health on human suffering.

3 Lo, to grant a pardon free,
   Comes a willing Lamb from heaven ;
   Sad and tearful, hasten we,
   One and all, to be forgiven.

4 Once again he comes in light
   Girding earth with fear and woe ;
   Lord, be thou our loving might,
   From our guilt and ghostly foe.

5 To the Father and the Son
   And the Spirit, who in heaven
   Ever witness, Three and One,
   Praise on earth be ever given.

John Mason Neale

1 A THRILLING voice by Jordan rings,
   rebuking guilt and darksome things:
   vain dreams of sin and visions fly;
   Christ in His might shines forth on high.

2 Now let each torpid soul arise,
   that sunk in guilt and wounded lies;
   see! the new Star's refulgent ray
   shall chase disease and sin away.

3 The Lamb descends from heaven above
   to pardon sin with freest love:
   for such indulgent mercy shewn
   with tearful joy our thanks we own.

4 That when again He shines revealed,
   and trembling worlds to terror yield.
   He give not sin its just reward,
   but in His love protect and guard.

5 To the most high Parent glory be
   and to the Son be victory,
   and to the Spirit praise is owed
   from age to age eternally. Amen[10]

Edward Caswall

1 Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding:
   'Christ is nigh,' it seems to say;
   'Cast away the dreams of darkness,
   O ye children of the day!'

2 Wakened to the solemn warning,
   Let the earth-bound soul arise;
   Christ, her Sun, all ill dispelling,
   Shines upon the morning skies.

3 Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
   Comes with pardon down from heaven;
   Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
   One and all to be forgiven;

4 That when next he comes with glory,
   And the world is wrapped in fear,
   With his mercy he may shield us,
   And with words of love draw near.

5 Honour, glory, might, and blessing,
   To the Father and the Son,
   With the everlasting Spirit,
   While eternal ages run.[11]

The Caswell translation is often sung to the tune Merton (87.87) by William Henry Monk.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "En clara vox redarguit". Rome of the West. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Vox clara ecce intonat". Preces Latinae. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Vox Clara Ecce Intonat: Newman's 'Hark! a gladsome voice is thrilling'". A clerk of Oxford. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Vox clara ecce intonat". The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  5. ^ Adey, Lionel (August 1986). Chapter 6. UBC Press. ISBN 9780774802574. Retrieved 9 November 2018. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "En vox clara redarguit". Encyclopedia.Com. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  7. ^ "The Advent Office". Chant Blog. 29 November 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  8. ^ "En clara vox redarguit". Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  9. ^ "En clara vox redarguit". Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  10. ^ "The Advent Office". Chant Blog. 29 November 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Hark! A herald voice is calling". Hymnary.Org. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  12. ^ See "Together in Song: Australina Hymn Book II" (Harper Collinss Religious: 1999) or "Lutheran Hymnal" (Lutheran Publishing House: 1973)

External links

  • Matthew Britt, The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal, Benziger Brothers, New York, 1922
  • Alan Mc Dovgall, Pange Lingua: Breviary Hymns of old uses with an English rendering, Burns & Oates 1916
  • Joseph Connelly, Hymns of the Roman Liturgy, 1957.
  • Vox clara ecce intonat performed by Ensemble Officium
  • Hark! A Herald Voice is Calling, sung (to the tune "Merton") by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge
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