The last song in the collection, Hymns and Spiritual Songs Vol 1 from Liturgical Song, is this song for the Easter Sequence.
This is Paul Mason’s setting of c11 text by Wipo of Burgundy, Victimae Paschale Laudes in the ICEL translation.
For the full effect, Mason suggest a tenor voice cantor, a female voice cantor, SATB choir and assembly. Specifically, V1 – C1 + C2 in parts, V2 C1, V3 C2, V4 starts with C1 and ends with C2, V5&6 C1 + C2 in parts. It blossoms out in the alleluias, and it doesn’t at all come across in a BIAB backing. I’d love to hear a recording of the the full arrangement.
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
offer sacrifice and praise.The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
has sinners to his Father reconciled.Death with life contended: combat
strangely ended!
Life’s own Champion, slain,
yet lives to reign.Tell us, Mary: say
what you did see upon the way?
The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ’s glory as He rose!The angels there attesting;
shroud with grave-clothes resting.
Christ, my hope, has risen:
He goes before you into Galilee.That Christ is truly risen
from the dead we know.
Victorious King, Thy mercy show!Alleluia x6
Christ has become our paschal sacrifice; let us feast with joy in the Lord.
Alleluia x6
This is a very good collection that does not need all the artillery that the arrangements suggest, but will carry it off if you have the multiple cantors and choirs. For your $A40 you get twenty songs, with seven having an additional full score. You get Paul Mason’s wonderfully obssessive liturgy notes, so what’s not to like. I’d would like more single sheets and samples of the music available online for those of us who can’t just sit and sight read a piece. I hope Volume 2 emerges as promised.