Ubi caritas

UbiCaritas

Ubi caritas is a Gregorian chant hymn used as either one of the antiphons for the washing of feet or the offertory procession at the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The text translates as: “Where true charity is, there is God.” Maurice Duruflé wrote a choral setting using the Gregorian melody and the words of the refrain and the first stanza. More recently, University of Aberdeen professor Paul Mealor composed a setting which was included in the ceremony at the 2011 Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

Videos:
Michel Chapuis – Improvisation sur “Ubi Caritas” – Cathédrale Saint-Vincent, Saint-Malo
Gilles Leclerc – Improvisations on Ubi Caritas – St. Francis of Assisi Church, Ottawa, Canada
Tom Trenney – Improvisation on ‘UBI CARITAS’ – First Plymouth Church, Lincoln Nebraska

Pange lingua

PangeLinguaPange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium is a hymn written by St Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) for the Feast of Corpus Christi. It is also sung on Holy Thursday, during the procession from the church to the place where the Blessed Sacrament is kept until Good Friday. The last two stanzas, called separately Tantum Ergo, are sung at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The chant is in the Phrygian mode.

See a list of other popular chant themes here.

Videos:
Aart de Kort – Grands Jeux sur le Pange Lingua – Orgue Isnard (1774) de la Basilique St. Marie-Madeleine à St. Maximin (Provence)
Anthony Hammond – Improvisation on “Pange Lingua” – Bradford Cathedral