DESCRIPTION:
This video is presented in dedication to the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem of Charles Town, WV, USA. Who are especially gifted in both homiletics and sung public prayer. They serve as one of the finest role models of liturgy and community for the Latin Church at large.

Archbishop of Lund, Denmark, His excellency Andreas Suneson (13th c.),
is the author of this sequence.

The music of this sequence is notable, even if judged only from the superficial point of view. Other sequence melodies of that period are common property, i.e. they are set to numbers of different sequence texts. But this melody seems to be solely identified with it's own text. And furthermore, we have not encountered any other melody that may be considered akin to it, or otherwise comparable.

The beginning, the melody to the 1st strophe, Gabriel's mission, is a grand and noble
melody in antique style, sombre of colour, yet vivid of emotion, - serious, yet gentle, -
one of the most splendid melodies of the thirteenth century. In the 2nd strope the covenant has been made, the expression is of brighter character, the melody tending toward upper Hypodorian registers, first returning to the deeper tones towards the close. In the 3rd strope, however, the treatment is again in the grave tones suited to the mysticism of the text.

"Blessed be that fruit forever, fruit of joy, of sorrow, never
Had he tasted it's sweet savour, Adam never had been undone"

Suddently a flood of light and splendour illumines the picture. The melody passes from the darker "plagal" into the lighter authentic mode, and ascent of a whole octave compared with the beginning of the preceding strope. In the melisma expressing this jubilant song, the entire tonal series is employed, while the rhythmic dsign is extended.

In the 5th strope, the last, the joyous character of the foregoing calms down. Prayer rises to the Saviour, gentle peaceful tones, in a warm and heartfelt cantilena of unusual beauty, similar in mood and plenitude to the corresponding part of the sequence "Ab arce sidera". The short melismas, like tiny ripples upon the surface of the melodies tranquil stream, are of charming effect - a reflection of the inner emotions which give rise to these tones.