Motetum Vaticanum (Marche Pontificale)

http://www.zazzle.com/ProVaticanus Motetum Vaticanum (Marche Pontificale): Roma, alma parens, Sanctorum Martyrumque, Nobile carmen, te decete, sonorumque, Gloria in excelsis, paternae maiestati Pax et in terra fraternae caritati Ad te clamamus, Angelicum pastorem: Quam vere refers, Tu mitem Redemptorem! Magister Sanctum, custodis dogma Christi, Quod unun vitae, solamen datur isti. Non praevalebunt horrendae portae infernae, Sed vis amoris veritatisque aeternae. Salve, Roma! In te aeterna stat historia, Inclyta, fulgent gloria Monumenta tot et arae. Roma Petri et Pauli, Cunctis mater tu redemptis, Lumen cunctae in facie gentis Mundique sola spes! Salve, Roma! Cuius lux occasum nescit, Splendet, incandescit, Et iniquo oppilat os. Pater Beatissime, Annos Petri attinge, excede Unum, quaesumus, concede: Tu nobis benedic. Vatican City State has its own flag and anthem like any other universally recognized, sovereign nation. On 16 October 1949 Pope Pius XII decided that Charles Gounods (1818-1893) Pontifical March should become the official hymn. At the time, the French musician and devout Catholic was already a famous composer, especially well known for his lyrical work Faust and his composition of Ave Maria. The music of the current Pontifical Hymn was composed by Gounod for the anniversary of the incoronation of Blessed Pope Pius IX to whom he was particularly devoted. The Pontifical March was performed for the first time on the afternoon of 11 April 1869 during celebrations marking the Popes jubilee of priestly ordination. On that day in St. Peters Square a large crowd had gathered for a special concert following the mornings liturgical celebrations in the Basilica. The concert brought together seven pontifical bands with members belonging to seven different papal corps and regiments in Rome (Papal Gendarmes conducted by maestro Roland, Reggimenti di Linea conducted by maestro Baffo, Cacciatori conducted by Pezzina, Zuavi conducted by maestro Willimburg, Carabinieri stationed outside Italy, Legione Romana conducted by maestro Angelini, Reggimento Dragoni). They were accompanied by a chorus made up of over one thousand soldiers. The Pontifical March of Gounod was widely applauded and played numerous times, as the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano reported the following day. Pope Pius IX received the greetings of numerous diplomats gathered in St. Peters Basilica with the five thousand faithful for the morning celebration. Later in the day, he appeared at the central loggia of St. Peters Basilica to greet the crowds applauding below and filling the square for the concert. The seven musical bands were lined up along the steps in the square and when the Pope appeared they began with the new hymn written especially for the occasion by maestro Gounod and to be accompanied by a chorus of one thousand soldiers, as announced by the Vatican newspaper the day before. In the past, whenever the Pope would appear, the bands would play the Triumphal March, the old anthem composed by Hallmayer. The new composition was immensely successful. On 12 April 1869 the Vatican newspaper reported that the anthem was played again and again numerous times. It was performed often after this event and became famous for its majesty and solemnity, almost of a liturgical character. However, it was only adopted as the official Pontifical Hymn 81 years later, even though many had wished it were done so immediately. The Pontifical Hymn of Gounod, which was officially adopted on the eve of the Holy Year 1950, is quite different from the previous anthem composed by Hallmayer and reflects a style of that period consisting of a lively and bright rhythm, like that of a waltz. Pope Pius XII decided to change the anthem with the still well known Pontifical March of Gounod, given its religious tone thought to be more appropriate for the times. The music was performed for the first time as the new, official anthem during a solemn ceremony on Christmas Eve of 1949 which was also the vigil of the opening of the Holy Year 1950. The old anthem was also played almost as a sign of respect to mark its passing. The musical band of the Palatine Guard of Honor was lined up with all its divisions in the San Damaso Courtyard and performed the music after the order of the day was read out announcing the official change in anthem: Roma immortale di Martiri e di Santi, Roma immortale accogli i nostri canti: Gloria nei cieli a Dio nostro Signore, Pace ai Fedeli, di Cristo nell'amore. A Te veniamo, Angelico Pastore, In Te vediamo il mite Redentore, Erede Santo di vera e santa Fede; Conforto e vanto a chi combatte e crede, Non prevarranno la forza ed il terrore, Ma regneranno la Verità, l'Amore. http://www.youtube.com/ProVaticanus