Tria sunt munera ("Three are the gifts") is the 6th Responsory
of Mattins of Epiphany in the Sarum Breviary; it is also sung as a
Responsory at Vespers.
This is the text in Latin, with an English translation, from Divinum Officium:
Here's the score, from the wonderful McMaster University Sarum Chant site:
As you can see from the Latin / English text above, I also found this Responsory used on Epiphany at Divinum Officium - but only in the early, "pre-Trident monastic" listing for Epiphany Mattins and not in any other version. (It was not, seemingly, used at Vespers in the pre-Trident Breviary, either.) The Responsory apparently disappeared after Trent, and it would be interesting to compare the various versions to see what happened at that point. Perhaps some other emphasis became more important at the Feast of the Epiphany; I will see what I can find in that regard.
Here's a video of Juan Esquivel Barahona's (ca.1563 — after 1613) setting of a much shorter section of the text; it's only the first section of the first line, ending with the word "Domino." The excellent singers are the Ensemble Corund.
I'm interested, too, in the idea of the three "mystic gifts" as symbols, an idea found explicitly stated in the Responsory: "Gold, to show His kingly power; frankincense, for our Great High Priest; and myrrh, against the Lord's burying." This, too, is obviously an old idea - one whose lineage I'd like to trace! Will give a try, and will come back to edit this depending on what I find.
You find this idea expressed in the hymn "We Three Kings," of course, although less explicitly - and I'd never really understood those words anyway. Perhaps the song was too familiar - or perhaps nobody ever sang the "myrrh" verse! Then a few years ago I heard Peter Warlock's Christmas carol, "Bethlehem Down," where it's much more explicit, and I was really struck by the thought. Here's that one, sung by The Choir of Westminster Cathedral:
The text:
Here's something pretty interesting that I've never seen before. It's labeled "Adoration of the Magi. Panel from a Roman sarcophagus, 4th century CE. From the cemetery of St. Agnes in Rome." (Photo credit: Jastrow.)
Reminds me quite a lot of this later work, labeled 'Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy: The Three Wise Men" (named Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar). Detail from: "Mary and Child, surrounded by angels", mosaic of a Ravennate italian-byzantine workshop, completed within 526 AD by the so-called "Master of Sant'Apollinare".' (Photo credit: Nina-no.)
Blessed Feast of the Epiphany.
This is the text in Latin, with an English translation, from Divinum Officium:
R. Tria sunt munera pretiosa, quae obtulerunt Magi Domino in die ista, et habent in se divina mysteria:
* In auro, ut ostendatur Regis potentia: in thure, Sacerdotem magnum considera: et in myrrha, Dominicam sepulturam.
V. Salutis nostrae auctorem Magi venerati sunt in cunjibulis, et de thesauris suis mysticas ei munerum species obtulerunt.
R. In auro, ut ostendatur Regis potentia: in thure, Sacerodtem magnum considera: et in myrrha, Dominicam sepulturam.
R. There are three precious gifts which the wise men offered unto the Lord on this day, and they speak a mystery of the things of God,
* Gold, to show His kingly power; frankincense, for our Great High Priest; and myrrh, against the Lord's burying.
V. The wise men worshipped the Captain of our Salvation, as He lay in the manger, and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him mystic gifts.
R. Gold, to show His kingly power; frankincense, for our Great High Priest; and myrrh, against the Lord's burying.
Here's the score, from the wonderful McMaster University Sarum Chant site:
As you can see from the Latin / English text above, I also found this Responsory used on Epiphany at Divinum Officium - but only in the early, "pre-Trident monastic" listing for Epiphany Mattins and not in any other version. (It was not, seemingly, used at Vespers in the pre-Trident Breviary, either.) The Responsory apparently disappeared after Trent, and it would be interesting to compare the various versions to see what happened at that point. Perhaps some other emphasis became more important at the Feast of the Epiphany; I will see what I can find in that regard.
Here's a video of Juan Esquivel Barahona's (ca.1563 — after 1613) setting of a much shorter section of the text; it's only the first section of the first line, ending with the word "Domino." The excellent singers are the Ensemble Corund.
I'm interested, too, in the idea of the three "mystic gifts" as symbols, an idea found explicitly stated in the Responsory: "Gold, to show His kingly power; frankincense, for our Great High Priest; and myrrh, against the Lord's burying." This, too, is obviously an old idea - one whose lineage I'd like to trace! Will give a try, and will come back to edit this depending on what I find.
You find this idea expressed in the hymn "We Three Kings," of course, although less explicitly - and I'd never really understood those words anyway. Perhaps the song was too familiar - or perhaps nobody ever sang the "myrrh" verse! Then a few years ago I heard Peter Warlock's Christmas carol, "Bethlehem Down," where it's much more explicit, and I was really struck by the thought. Here's that one, sung by The Choir of Westminster Cathedral:
The text:
"When He is King we will give Him the King's gifts:
Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,
Beautiful robes," said the young girl to Joseph,
Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down.
Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight,
Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold,
Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music,
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
When He is King, they will clothe Him in grave-sheets,
Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,
He that lies now in the white arms of Mary,
Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down.
Here He has peace and a short while for dreaming,
Close-huddled oxen to keep him from cold,
Mary for love, and for lullaby music,
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem Down.
Here's something pretty interesting that I've never seen before. It's labeled "Adoration of the Magi. Panel from a Roman sarcophagus, 4th century CE. From the cemetery of St. Agnes in Rome." (Photo credit: Jastrow.)
Reminds me quite a lot of this later work, labeled 'Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy: The Three Wise Men" (named Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar). Detail from: "Mary and Child, surrounded by angels", mosaic of a Ravennate italian-byzantine workshop, completed within 526 AD by the so-called "Master of Sant'Apollinare".' (Photo credit: Nina-no.)
Blessed Feast of the Epiphany.
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