Sacred Music of Holy Week 2025

O Sacred Head Surrounded
Text: Salve caput cruentatum, Ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091 – 1153, abbot, mystic, co-founder of the Knights Templar. From Bernard’s seven passion hymns.
Tune: Passion Chorale, Hans Leo Hassler (Germany, 1564–1612)
Harmony: J. S. Bach (Germany, 1685–1750)

This three stanza, 12^th century, hymn has its’ roots in scripture, including Mark 15, John 19, Isaiah 63, Luke 24, Philippians 2, Hebrews 2, Hebrews 5, 1 Peter 3, Matthew 27, John 10, Romans 5, 1 Peter 2, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 16, 2 Corinthians 5, 1 John 4, Isaiah 52and Isaiah 53.

O Sacred Head, surrounded
By crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding Head, so wounded,
Reviled and put to scorn!
The pow'r of death comes o'er you,
The glow of life decays,
Yet angel hosts adore you,
And tremble as they gaze.

I see your strength and vigor
All fading in the strife,
And death with cruel rigor,
Bereaving you of life;
O agony and dying!
O Love to sinner’s free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn your face on me.

In this, your bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
With your most sweet compassion,
Unworthy though I be:
Beneath your cross abiding
For ever would I rest,
In your dear love confiding,
And with your presence blest.


Stations of the Cross, Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe NM - The Passion of the Lord

Ave Regina Cælorum
12^th century Marian Gregorian chant
Polyphonic setting: Mariano Garau (S.Sardina, Italy, b.1952)

One of the four annual Marian prayers, it is traditionally been sung daily in monasteries at the end of the day from February 2 to Wednesday of Holy Week.

Ave, Regina cælorum,
ave, Domina Angelorum:
salve, radix, salve, porta,
ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

Hail, O Queen of Heaven!
Hail, O Lady of Angels!
Hail! thou root, hail! thou gate
From which the Light for the world has arisen.

Rejoice, glorious Virgin,
Beautiful above all others,
Farewell, most gracious,
And pray for us to Christ.


Miserere Mei
Gregorio Allegri (Venice, Italy, 1582–1652)
Text: Psalm 51, David, 10^th century B.C.

Allegri was a singer in the Papal Chapel from December 6, 1629, until his death on February 17, 1652. He is almost exclusively known for his 1638 falsobordone setting of Psalm 51 , the Miserere Mei, sung in the Sistine Chapel during Holy Week centuries ago. Most will know this choral work for its haunting top C, sung by one voice in a small choir, and the sweeping harmony of the larger choir, separated by simple plain chant, and that the young Mozart spirited this masterpiece out of the the Sistine Chapel during Holy Week of 1770.

Psalm 51 is one of the most famous psalms in the psalter. The scribes saw fit to tell us this is “A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone into Bathsheba.”
This is the lowest point in the life of the King David. He had experienced suffering and the death of his son up to this point in his life. But these tragedies did not compare to the spiritual low point that was his adultery with Bathsheba. Adding to his adultery, he then had her husband murdered, then lied about the whole thing, marrying Bathsheba and acting like nothing ever happened.

David's composition of Psalm 51 is his prayer of remorse.


CHORUS
Miserere mei, Deus,
secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.

Have mercy on me, God,
in accord with your merciful love.

CHANT
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuárum,
dele iniquitatèm meam.

In your abundant compassion
blot out my transgressions.

SOLI
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea:
et a peccato meo munda me.

Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.

CHANT
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognósco:
et peccatum meum contra me èst semper.


For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.

CHORUS
Tibi soli peccavi, et| malum, coram te feci:
ut justificeris in sermonibus tūis, et vincas cum judicaris.

Against you, you alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your eyes.

CHANT
Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus súm:
et in peccatis concepit me matèr mea.

Behold, I was born in guilt,
in sin my mother conceived me.

SOLI
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti:
incerta et occulta sapientiae tuæ manifestasti mihi.

Behold, you desire true sincerity;
and secretly you teach me wisdom.

CHANT
Asperges me hyssopo, et mundábor:
lavabis me, et super nivem deàlbabor.

Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me,
and I will be whiter than snow.

CHORUS
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam,
et exsultabunt ossa humiliate.

You will let me hear gladness and joy;
the bones you have crushed will rejoice.

CHANT
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis méis:
et omnes iniquitates meàs dele.

Turn your face from my sins;
blot out all my iniquities.

SOLI
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus:
et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.

A clean heart create for me, O God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit.

CHANT
Ne projicias me a facie túa:
et spiritum sanctum tuum ne aufèras a me.

Do not drive me from before your face,
nor take from me your holy spirit.

CHORUS
Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui:
et spiritu principali confirma me.

Restore to me the gladness of your salvation;
uphold me with a willing spirit.

CHANT
Docebo iniquos vias túas:
et impii ad te convèrtentur.

I will teach the wicked your ways,
that sinners may return to you.

SOLI
Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus sa-lutis meæ:
et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.

Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God,
and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice.

CHANT
Domine, labia mea apéries:
et os meum annuntiabit laudèm tuam.

Lord, you will open my lips;
and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

CHORUS
Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique:
holocaustis non delectaberis.

For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it;
a burnt offering you would not accept.

CHANT
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulátus:
cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non dèspicies.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.

SOLI
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion:
ut ædificentur muri Jerusalem.

Treat Zion kindly according to your good will;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

CHORUS
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiæ,
oblateones et holocausta;
Tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.

Then you will desire the sacrifices of the just,
burnt offering and whole offerings.
Then they will offer up calves on your altar.


Nos sumus in mundo
Hildegard von Bingen (Germany, 1098–1077)
From Hildegard’s Symphony of Virgins (O dulcissime amator)

Nos sumus in mundo
et tu in mente nostra,
et amplectimur te in corde
quasi habeamus te presentem.

We live within the world,
and you within our minds,
and we embrace you in our hearts
as if you’re present even now.


Quasi aurora
Hildegard von Bingen (Germany, 1098–1077)
From Hildegard’s Responsory for the Virgin

Filius Dei per
secreta ipsius quasi aurora exivit.

The Son of God came forth,
through her secrets, like the dawn.


Abenlied
Josef Rheinberger (Bavaria, 1839–1901)
Text: Luke 24 v. 29

Rheinberger composed this six-part setting of Luke's text on March 9, 1855, a few weeks before Easter and only days before his 16^th birthday.

Blieb’ bei uns, denn es will Abend warden;
Und der Tag hat sich geneiget, sich geneiget,
O bleib’ bei uns, denn es will Abend earden.

Bide with us, for evening shadows darken,
And the day will soon be over, soon be over,
O bide with us, for evening shadows darken.
Tr. John Rutter (b. 1945)


Rheinberger at 16 years of age - one year after he composed Abendlied.

Credo
Setting by William Byrd (England, 1543–1623)
From Byrd's Mass for 3 Voices

Byrd wrote this "Ordinary" of the Mass (aka Ordo Missæ) for use by Catholics during a period when celebration of the Mass was strictly forbidden in England. Still, Catholics (or recusants, as they were then known in England) continued to celebrate the Mass under cover of strict secrecy.

Credo in unum Deum,
Patrem omnipoténtem, factórem cæli et terræ,
visibílium ómnium et invisibílium.

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

Et in unum Dóminum Iesum Christum,
Fílium Dei Unigénitum,
et ex Patre natum ante ómnia sǽcula.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine, Deum verum de Deo vero,
génitum, non factum, consubstantiálem Patri:
per quem ómnia facta sunt.

God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.

Qui propter nos hómines et propter nostram salútem
descéndit de cælis.
Et incarnátus est de Spíritu Sancto
ex María Vírgine, et homo factus est.

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

Crucifíxus étiam pro nobis sub Póntio Piláto;
passus et sepúltus est,
et resurréxit tértia die,
secúndum Scriptúras,
et ascéndit in cælum,
sedet ad déxteram Patris.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day,
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Et íterum ventúrus est cum glória,
iudicáre vivos et mórtuos,
cuius regni non erit finis.

He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

Et in Spíritum Sanctum, Dóminum et vivificántem:
qui ex Patre Filióque procédit.
Qui cum Patre et Fílio simul adorátur et conglorificátur:
qui locútus est per prophétas.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

Et unam, sanctam, cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam.
Confíteor unum baptísma in remissiónem peccatórum.
Et exspécto resurrectiónem mortuórum,
et vitam ventúri sǽculi.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

And so it shall be.

Calme des Nuits
Camille Saint-Saëns (France, 1835–1921)
Published 1883, Op. 61, No. 1

Saint-Saëns’s choral arrangement is of his own poem, Calme des Nuits, which puts this piece in a rare category of both his words and his music. The piece reflects on the beauty of quiet nights and on those who can appreciate the peace which they can bring.

Calme des nuits, fraîcheur des soirs,
vaste scintillement des mondes,
grand silence des antres noirs
vous charmez les âmes profondes.
L'éclat du soleil, la gaité,
le bruit plaisent aux plus futiles;
le poète seul est hanté
par l'amour des choses tranquilles.

Calm of the nights, freshness of the evenings,
vast scintillating of the worlds,
great silence of the dark caves
you charm the deep souls (i.e. the poets).
The brilliance of the sun, the gaiety,
the noise pleases the most futile;
the poet alone is haunted
by the love of quiet things.


Camille Saint-Saëns c.1880, two years before he composed Calme de Nuits.

Junto a La Cruz
Emilio Vicente Maté (Spain, b.1946)

Cuando el Señor va a la muerte
Junto al Señor estás tú
Lloran tus ojos de Madre
Lloran mirando a la cruz

When the Lord goes to his death
you are with the Lord
your Mother's eyes cry,
looking at the cross

Estribillo:
Pero tú, junto a la cruz
Olvidas el dolor
Y nos das en tu mirar
La fuerza del amor

Chorus:
But you, beside the cross
You forget the pain
And in your gaze you give us
The strength of love

Virgen que sufres y lloras
Junto a la cruz tu dolor
Dime si ves a los hombres
O sólo ves al Señor

Virgin who suffers and weeps
Beside the cross, your pain
Tell me if you see men
Or do you only see the Lord?

Ves el dolor de los hombres
Hombres clavados en cruz
Hombres que miran al cielo
Hombres sedientos de luz

Do you see the pain of men
Men nailed to the cross
Men who look to the sky
Men thirsty for light

Ves esta tiеrra gastada
En una lucha sin fin
Ves a los hombres que pasan
Sin ilusión dе vivir

Do you see this worn-out earth
In an endless struggle
Do you see men who pass by
Without the desire to live

Virgen que sufres y lloras
Junto a la cruz tu dolor
Sufres por ver a los hombres
No porque muere el Señor

Virgin who suffers and weeps
Beside the cross, you suffer
pain because you see men,
not because the Lord dies


Abide with Me
Text: Henry Francis Lyte (Scotland, 1793–1847)
Melody (Eventide): William Henry Monk (England, 1823–1889)

Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte wrote this hymn as he was dying from tuberculosis as a prayer for God to stay with us throughout life and in death. It is most often sung to the tune "Eventide" by the English organist William Henry Monk.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.


Henry Lyte


William Henry Monk

Earth Song
Frank Ticheli (USA, b.1958)

A cry for peace in a world torn by war, this poignant a cappella setting of an original text is filled with striking dynamic contrasts. "Sing, Be, Live, See... This dark stormy hour, the wind, it stirs. The scorched earth cries out in vain... But music and singing have been my refuge, and music and singing shall be my light…"

Sing. Be. Live. See.
This dark stormy hour the wind, it stirs,
the scorched Earth cries out in vain.

Oh war and power, you blind and blur.
The torn heart cries out in pain
But music and singing have been my refuge.
And music and singing shall be my light.
A light of song, shining strong.
Through darkness and pain and strife,
I'll sing, I'll be, I'll live, I'll see.
Peace.


O Salutaris Hostia
Gregorian chant: Thomas Aquinas (Italy, 1225–1274)
Polyphonic setting: Ēriks Ešenvalds (Latvia, b.1977)

O Salutaris Hostia is from the last two verses of Verbum Supernum, one of the five Eucharistic Hymns written by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) at the request of Pope Urban IV (1261-1264) when the Pope first instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi in 1264. The prayer is still used today, often at exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

O salutaris Hostia,
quæ cæli pandis ostium:
bella premunt hostilia,
da robur, fer auxilium.

Saving Victim,
who opens the gate of heaven:
wars press hostile (on us),
Give strength, send aid.

Uni trinoque Domino
sit sempiterna gloria,
qui vitam sine termino
nobis donet in patria.

The the one and threefold Lord,
May there be eternal glory,
who life without end,
may he give us the Fatherland.

Amen.

And so it shall be.


Corpus Christi procession on Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1884 - 1892?)
Palace of the Governors Photo Archives

Ubi Caritas
Ola Gjeilo (Norway, b.1978)

Since the 10^th century, "Ubi Caritas" has been chanted (as a Gregorian chant that likely originated in France) during Holy Week's Holy Thursday Mass. Schola sings this contemporary setting by Norway's Ola Gjeilo.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

Where charity and love are, there God is.
The love of Christ has gathered us into one.
Let us exult, and in Him be joyful.
Let us fear and let us love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love each other (and Him).


Were You There
Afro-American Spiritual

This spiritual was likely composed by enslaved African Americans in the 19^th century.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble!
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?