Alleluia, dulce carmen (Alleluia, song of gladness) is amedieval Latin hymn sung during the week beforeSeptuagesima as a preparation for the dismissal of the "Alleluia" duringLent.
The earliest form ofAlleluia, dulce carmen is found in manuscripts of the 11th century kept at theBritish Museum.[1]
It was traditionally sung inGallican liturgies, such as therite of Lyon, orEnglish liturgies, such as theuse of Sarum, in"clausula Alleluia", as a farewell to theAlleluia in the week before the Sunday ofSeptuagesima, until thefirst Vespers.[2]
Translations in English language of theAlleluia, dulce carmen includeAlleluia! best and sweetest by John Chandler, written in 1837;[3]Alleluia! song of gladness byJohn Mason Neale,[4] written in 1851; and many more in the second half of the 19th century with close resemblance.[1]
While the original medieval manuscripts do not give a specific written melody, English translations of the 19th century relied on the transcriptions from the Gregorian repertoire of François de La Feillée, an 18th-century priest attached to the cathedral at Chartres who had promoted and gathered neo-Gallican chant outside of the strictly Roman liturgy.[5]
Various melodies are currently in use. Hymn tunes includeDulce Carmen byMichael Haydn,Alleluia, Dulce Carmen byEdward J. Hopkins, andLauda Anima (Praise, My Soul) byJohn Goss.[4] Plainsong chants includeUrbs Beata Jerusalem andTibi Christus Splendor Patris.[4]
Alleluia, dulce carmen expresses mixed feelings of joy and bitterness. The setting, which refers to theBabylonian captivity[6] with elements linked toPsalm 134 andPsalm 135, is also the main theme of pre-Lenten celebrations inEastern Orthodoxy Sundays of theTriodion. It is in contrast with the hymnAlleluia perenne used in theMozarabic rite in the same liturgical context but which establishes the perpetuity of the alleluia in heaven, underscoring the hope of its gladsome return, and the security that there the Church never ceases to sing "Alleluia" throughout the year.[7]
Here is the lyric translation byAnglican cleric John Mason Neale, composed in 1851:
Alleluia, dulce carmen | O Alleluia, song of gladness,
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