The Lent I Offertory: Scapulis suis

The Offertory on the First Sunday in Lent is Scapulis Suis ("His pinions"); it uses exactly the same text - with a different melody - as the Communion song on the day.  

Here's an mp3 of the Offertory from JoguesChant, and below is the score:

Here's their English translation:

He will overshadow you with his pinions, and you will find refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will encompass you with a shield.

Here's CCWatershed's "Simple English Propers" version; quite lovely:




All of the propers for today come from a single source:  Psalm 91 (Psalm 90 in the Vulgate reckoning), called Qui habitat.  It's certainly a wonderful text; it's a Compline Psalm as well.  Here's the US Book of Common Prayer version of the full Psalm:

Psalm 91 Qui habitat

1

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, * abides under the shadow of the Almighty.

2

He shall say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, * my God in whom I put my trust."

3

He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter * and from the deadly pestilence.

4

He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; * his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.

5

You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, * nor of the arrow that flies by day;

6

Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, * nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.

7

A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, * but it shall not come near you.

8

Your eyes have only to behold * to see the reward of the wicked.

9

Because you have made the LORD your refuge, * and the Most High your habitation,

10

There shall no evil happen to you, * neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

11

For he shall give his angels charge over you, * to keep you in all your ways.

12

They shall bear you in their hands, * lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13

You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; * you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.

14

Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; * I will protect him, because he knows my Name.

15

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; * I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor.

16

With long life will I satisfy him, * and show him my salvation.

  
And here is a wonderful video of this text, sung by the Schola Hungarica.  It's labeled "Offertorium" - but it includes some other texts as well; it may be a trope, although all of the content comes straight from Psalm (90/)91.   And it's not the standard Liber Usualis melody as above - but it's definitely worth listening to!



This comes from the YouTube page:

Missa - Offertorium / Mass - The Offertory

Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi,
et sub pennis ejus sperabis,

* scuto circumdabit te veritas ejus.
Dicet Domino: Susceptor meus es,
non timebis a timore nocturno,
a sagitta volante per diem.
* Scuto ..

V) Quoniam Angelis suis mandavit de te,
ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis.
* Scuto ..

V) Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis,
et conculcabis leonem et draconem,
quoniam in me speravit liberabo eum.

* Scuto ..

Offertory

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge,

* His faithfulness will be Your shield and rampart
V) I will say of the Lord: He is my refuge,

You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
His faithfulness will be your shield ...
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways"

* His faithfulness will be your shield...

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent;
for he trusts me and I will save him.

* His faithfulness will be your shield...
*********************************
Sung in Latin by the Schola Hungarica:

Looks like you can buy this mp3, and all the others from the CD, at "Old Roman Liturgical Chants: 1st Sunday Of Lent."

Here's an interesting thing about the Schola Hungarica, from Naxos:

The musicologists László Dobszay and Janka Szendrei founded the Schola Hungarica in Budapest in 1969. Concentrating their efforts on Gregorian chant, the Schola Hungarica has sung many works from late-medieval choral traditions and liturgies throughout Hungary, France, Italy, Sweden and Bohemia. In depth musicological research on the repertoire and a lively interpretive performance are the hallmarks of the ensemble. The characteristic sound of the Schola Hungarica is produced through a combination of children’s, men’s and women’s voices. Sources record that in the late Middle Ages children and adults (all male) sang in cathedral, collegiate and parish churches. The choir has made more than fifty records and compact discs, for which it received numerous international prizes. The Schola Hungarica has toured many European countries, and is one of the most recorded choral ensembles specialising in Early Music.'

Here are the propers for for Lent I, from the Brazilian Benedictines:

Hebdomada prima quadragesimæ
Dominica Introitus: Ps. 90, 15.16 et 1 Invocabit me (cum Gloria Patri) (4m21.1s - 4083 kb) score
Graduale: Ps. 90, 11-12 Angelis suis (4m03.3s - 3805 kb) score
Tractus: Ps. 90, 1-7 et 11-16 Qui habitat (2m59.0s - 2801 kb) score
Offertorium: Ps. 90, 4-5 Scapulis suis (1m04.4s - 1011 kb) score
Communio: Ps. 90, 4-5 Scapulis suis (4m32.5s - 4261 kb) score

Here are posts on Chantblog about the propers for the First Sunday in Lent:

• The Introit for the First Sunday in Lent: Invocabit me
• Angelis suis: the Lent I gradual
• Qui Habitat: "The First Sunday of Lent: A Note on the Tract" (also see, for interest, Josquin des Prez: Qui habitat) 
• The Communio for the First Sunday in Lent: Scapulis suis