Respice, Domine, in testamentum tuum, et animas pauperum tuorum ne derelinquas in finem: exsurge Domine, et judica causam tuam: et ne obliviscaris voces quaerentium te.
Click here to listen to an audio of the chant.
Sung by Br. Jacob Berns, OSB, of St. John’s Abbey.
“Look, o Lord, to your covenant and do not forget the souls of your poor forever. Arise, Lord, and defend your cause, and do not ignore the voices of those who seek you.” (cf. Ps 74(73):19–23)
Like in so many chants of the Gregorian repertoire we find a play with the direction of the melody. How else could you shape the words exsurge Domine (“arise, Lord”) as in the third line? This is how Gregorian Chant cries to heaven.
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