Cantantibus organis

Cantantibus organis is commonly found in two versions. The shorter appears in the Solesmes editions as the first antiphon at Vespers of the Feast of St. Cecilia (November 22). It is set by Liszt but also in very old chant sources as both antiphon and responsory; Cima replaces the last three words with 'alleluia'. The longer version is found in many renaissance settings (both Lassos, Manchicourt, Marenzio).

Settings

Giovanni Paolo Cima A & bc Thomas Crequillon a 4 Giraud SAT Ferdinand di Lasso SSATB Orlando di Lasso SATTB Franz Liszt (S. 7) at IMSLP alto solo with chorus and Orchestra or harmonium Pierre de Manchicourt a 4 (variant, with 2. pars Caecilia virgo gloriosa) Luca Marenzio SAAT

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina a 5 (2. pars Biduanis ac triduanis) Peter Philips a 5 Oreste Ravanello a 3 SSA a 5 TTBarBB Cipriano de Rore a 5 Julije Skjavetić SAATB

IMSLP host a Angel Viro

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Peter Tranchell — Cantantibus organis

Text and translations

Latin text Cantantibus organis Cecilia virgo [gloriosa] [in corde suo soli domino] decantabat dicens: Fiat Domine cor meum [et corpus meum] immaculatum ut non confundar. [Frequent pendant:] Biduanis ac triduanis jejuniis orans, commendabat Domino quod timebat: Fiat Domine cor meum et corpus meum immaculatum ut non confundar.

English translation While the musicians played, Cecilia the [glorious] virgin sang [in her heart only to the Lord], saying: 'Lord, let my heart [and body] remain without stain, that I be not put to shame.' Translation by Mick Swithinbank Supplicating by two or three days of fasting, she gave herself unto the Lord whom she feared: Let my Lord make my heart and my body unspotted, that I may not be confounded.