This is very late but I will post anyway.
The lessons for the Paschal Vigil in the EF, when chanted by cantors, were traditionally chanted "juniores ante seniores." The most experienced cantor, therefore, sings the final lesson. In the pre-1955 Holy Week rites, this corresponds to Lesson XII (incipit: Nabuchodonosor). There existed a tradition that an attendant increase in the complexity of the modulation must accompany the increase in the seniority of the lector.
The beloved Dominican book typesetter, Holger Peter Sandhofe, left us an example of such melody for Lesson XII. However, since the Paschal Vigil lessons have been shortened from 12 to 4 by Maxima Redemptionis, the tone finally retired to the archives. In a rare occasion last year, we were able to chant Lesson XII, and this year, we applied the beautiful modulation to Lesson IV.
With this, we also used a melismatic melody for Lesson III to balance the lessons (2 tonus propheticus, 2 tonus melismaticus). Lesson IV has the longest melisma, but Lesson III has the widest ambitus.
See attached.
The lessons for the Paschal Vigil in the EF, when chanted by cantors, were traditionally chanted "juniores ante seniores." The most experienced cantor, therefore, sings the final lesson. In the pre-1955 Holy Week rites, this corresponds to Lesson XII (incipit: Nabuchodonosor). There existed a tradition that an attendant increase in the complexity of the modulation must accompany the increase in the seniority of the lector.
The beloved Dominican book typesetter, Holger Peter Sandhofe, left us an example of such melody for Lesson XII. However, since the Paschal Vigil lessons have been shortened from 12 to 4 by Maxima Redemptionis, the tone finally retired to the archives. In a rare occasion last year, we were able to chant Lesson XII, and this year, we applied the beautiful modulation to Lesson IV.
With this, we also used a melismatic melody for Lesson III to balance the lessons (2 tonus propheticus, 2 tonus melismaticus). Lesson IV has the longest melisma, but Lesson III has the widest ambitus.
See attached.