Adorna thalamum tuum

General information

Processional antiphon after blessing of candles at the Feast of the Purification.

Settings by composers

Of CPDL's 5 editions, only Byrd gives the complete text as it appears in Liber usualis.

Giovanni Matteo Asola TTBB (Variant 2) William Byrd ATT Pierre Certon a 5 Clemens non Papa Orlando di Lasso SATB (thru "novi luminis")

Pierre de Manchicourt a 4 Costanzo Porta Francesco Soriano SATB.SATB ("amplectere Messiam gratulare huiusce matri") Pandolfo Zallamella SATB (Variant 1)

Text and translations

Latin text Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion, et suscipe Regem Christum: amplectere Mariam, quae est coelestis porta: [amplectere Messiam gratulare huiusce matri:] ipsa enim portat Regem gloriae novi luminis. Subsistit Virgo, adducens manibus Filium ante luciferum genitum: quem accipiens Simeon in ulnas suas praedicavit populis Dominum eum esse vitae et mortis et Salvatorem mundi. Asola's variant 1 Adorna thalamum tuum, Syon, et suscipe regem regum Christum: amplectere Mariam, quae novo lumine subsistens Virgo portat regem gloriae. Hunc accipiens Simeon exclamavit et dixit: Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine, Secundum verbum tuum in pace. Zallamella's variant 2 Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion, et suscipe Regem Christum: Quem virgo concepit Virgo peperit quem genuit adoravit.

English translation Adorn thy bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the King: embrace Mary, who is the gate of heaven, [embrace the Messiah and congratulate this mother} who herself truly brings the glorious King of new light. She remains a virgin, though bearing in her hands a Son begotten before the daystar, whom Simeon, taking him in his arms, proclaimed to the people to be the Lord of life and death, and Saviour of the world. Variant 1 Adorn thy bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the king of kings: embrace Mary, who remaining virgin, in new light, carries the king of glory. Whom Simeon took in his arms, exclaimed, and said: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word". Variant 2 Adorn thy bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the King: He whom the Virgin conceived and bore, she also worshipped.

External links

• LU and GABC code at Gregobase