Pange Lingua Gloriosi (digital download)
Pange Lingua Gloriosi (arr. Keeling) - for flute and delay, with back track (digital download)
DOWNLOAD INCLUDES SHEET MUSIC PDF AND BACK TRACK
This piece was inspired by a hymn of the same name by John Wade. The original chant and text were composed by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), one of the most influential Catholic theologians of the Middle Ages. The tune was later reset by John Francis Wade (1711-1786).
This hymn is traditionally sung in the Catholic Church on Holy Thursday of the Easter Triduum, during the procession from the church to the place where the Blessed Sacrament is kept until Good Friday. The hymn expresses the doctrine of transubstantiation, in which, according to the Roman Catholic faith, the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ.
Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium, Sanguinisque pretiosi, quem in mundi pretium fructus ventris generosi Rex effudit Gentium.
Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory, of His flesh the mystery sing; of the Blood, all price exceeding, shed by our immortal King, destined, for the world's redemption, from a noble womb to spring.
This setting for flute alone is intended to be supremely prayerful, meditative, and soaring. A very reverberant space is best; optionally, the performer can perform this with a microphone with a heavy digital delay. Take ample time for the echoes to die away before continuing to the next phrase. During the embellished section, be sure that the original hymn melody carries; allow the other notes to become the harmonic accompaniment.
Optionally, perform with the back track.
