canasg choral music publishing - Aurora Rutilat

SA5013

Aurora Rutilat YV

(Dawn glows red)

based on a 14th century plainchant hymn
for the feast of St Columba of Scotland

by Sheena Phillips

for adult SATB chorus and two-part children's chorus

SATB performance time approx 3m 20s

Composer's note

This piece is based on a 14th century plainchant hymn in honour of Saint Columba, who flourished in Scotland in the 6th century. The piece uses two of the original verses, and expresses the sense of joy and anticipation as the singers rise with the sun to celebrate the mid-summer feast of Columba.

Starting from a simple statement of the plainchant itself, the music grows in harmonic richness and melodic height, as if mirroring the event of sunrise. A wonderful thing to do in performance is to start in darkness and have the lights come on gradually.

This piece is also available voiced for SATB chorus only.

A recording of the SATB version by Rudsambee company of singers is available on the album citrus and honey (RUBEECD002).

Music

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Hear a MIDI file of the song

Words

Aurora Rutilat

Aurora rutilat lucis prenuncia;
letos nos excitat a sompnolencia,
volentes celebre festum recolere
Columbe venerabilis.

Sit laus perpetua, sit semper gloria
patri et filio sancto paraclito,
simplici Domino qui regit omnia
per cuncta semper secula.

Extracts from the 14th century plainchant Hymn from Lauds for the Feast of St Columba, which appears in the Inchcolm Antiphoner (now in Edinburgh University Library). An edited version of this manuscript has been prepared by Isobel Woods Preece.

Translation

Dawn glows red, heralding daylight;
we are roused gladly from sleep,
eager to keep the famous feast of the
venerable Columba.

Everlasting praise and glory be to the
Father, Son and Holy Paraclete,
the one Lord who reigns over everything
for evermore.

Full pronunciation guide provided

Price per copy Ł1.70 ($2.50)

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces

Browse the 'Sacred' section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

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