This week’s Communion Chant coincides with this Sunday’s Gospel Reading from John. Dicit Dominus in Mode 6 could be called a “mini” drama! The story begins with Jesus speaking to the servants at the wedding at Cana, telling them to fill the jars with water and take them to the steward of the feast. The notes are low for this section…a quasi-recitation on the Home Tone FA. One can almost picture Jesus speaking to them in low tones. The next phrase shifts, as the steward tastes the water turned to wine….(Notice the gradual shift, now moving to the Reciting Tone LA and up to DO as he speaks to the bridegroom. You can imagine his excitement and astonishment!) The third phrase rises up to a MI 3 times, as the steward exclaims, “You have kept the good wine until now!” The final phrase gracefully returns to the narrative as it descends back to the Home Tone FA, stating that Jesus made this first sign in the presence of his disciples.
Listen to the monks of Solesmes as they chant this amazing Communion, including a psalm verse from Psalm 65.