Christ the King 2025
Processional hymn: Crown Him with Many Crowns, 858
Recessional: Christus Vincit, Chant
Credo IV, 780; Kyriale: III, 705
Motet at Offertory: Rex gloriose martyrum, Tomás Luis de Victoria
Motet at Communion: Ave Maria, a5, G.P. Palestrina (1525–1585)
The Motet sung during the offertory is a setting of a hymn by Tomás Luis de Victoria. He composed the even verses of this hymn alternating with the ancient chant melody for the odd verses. During verse two, the Tenor voice retains the Gregorian melody in long tones, known also as the cantus firmus. In the final verse, the Holy Trinity is invoked and the music changes to groups of three, while all voices sing the text in rhythm together making for a very effective three-in-one quality in musical form; Victoria used this exact same verse in his setting of the Easter hymn Ad Cenam Agni Providi.
Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548–1611), along with Palestrina and de Lassus, is one of the greatest composers of the 16th C., famous for its ethereal polyphony. Ordained a priest at age 27, he lived in Rome for years, and assisted St. Philip Neri as chaplain of San Girolamo della Carità.