The Cradle of Prayer Canticle Tutorials
In chanting the rhythms of natural speech are essential. The notes of a chant tune have no time value of their own only the rhythm of the syllables. Listen to the cantor (singer) sing the verses, notice the strong and weak stress of syllables, and follow the line “|” which establishes the change of the notes in the melody.
Morning Prayer – Venite, exultemus Domino
“O come Let us sing unto the Lord”.
The Venite, from Psalm 95, is one of the canticles sung in each service of Morning Prayer. The words are as follows:
O Come Let us sing unto the | Lord; Let us heartily rejoice in the strength of | our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanks|giving; and show ourselves | glad in him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great | God; and a great King | above all gods.
In his hand are all the corners of the | earth; and the strength of hills | is his also.
The sea is his and he | made it; and his hands prepar | ed the dry land.
O come let us worship and fall | down; and kneel before the | Lord our Maker.
For he is the Lord our | God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the | sheep of his hand.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of | holiness; let the whole earth | stand in awe of him.
For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the | earth; and with righteousness to judge the world, and the | peoples with his truth.
Glory be to the Father and to the | Son, and | to the Holy Ghost;.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever | shall be, world | without end. Amen.
The following canticles are from the “Hymnal 1940 Standard Harmony edition”:
Venite, exultemus Domino #609 – Venite #609
Venite, exultemus Domino #610 – Venite #610
Venite, exultemus Domino #612 – Venite #612
This tune is sung on most important days of morning prayer. This would include Sundays and significant holy days.
The following canticles are from a traditional Anglican Book of chants:
Venite, exultemus Domino #21 – Venite #21
Venite, exultemus Domino #59 – Venite #59
Venite, exultemus Domino #70 – Venite #70