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The sequentia, originated from the trope of the alleluia-melisma,
was normally used during the mass in the early Middle Ages. It
praised a liturgical event or the life of a celebrated saint until
Pope Pius V, with a few exceptions, forbade this usage.
To this day only 4 sequentias are still sung: 'Stabat Mater',
'Lauda Sion', 'Victimae paschali laudes' and 'Veni Sancte Spiritus'.
By coincidence an old manuscript was found at 'de Zwarte Zusters'
(the Black Sisters) in Bruges. It was the sequentia 'Dies nobis
reparatur'. It praised in 20 verses the life-story of Saint Donatius,
patron saint of the cathedral, the diocese and of Bruges. The
music seems to be inspired by an older manuscript of the XIIIth
century. Moreover the sequentia is probably an imitation of the
sequentia of the feast of the Circumcision, 'In excelcis canitur',
by Adam, abbot of Saint Victor in Paris, considered as the greatest
liturgical poet of the Middle Ages by Dom Guéranger.
During a broad-cast of VRT 3 on July 24, 1998 the Scola gave
a first performance of it and sang it also on November 10, 1998
for the occasion of the exposition of the Saint Donatius Church
in Bruges.
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