Ecce lignum Crucis
4-Part - Sheet Music

SATB choir, cantor (or celebrant), congregation, a cappella

SKU: C5.3139

Composed by John Sittard. Text: The Roman Missal. Ritual music for Good Friday. Good Friday. Octavo. Published by CanticaNOVA Publications (C5.3139).

Ecce lignum Crucis was composed for the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Worcester, Massachusetts, for the Showing of the Cross during the liturgy of Good Friday. The liturgical setting heightens this powerful moment with even greater solemnity. The piece begins by introducing the text, "This is the wood of the Cross" in Latin (Ecce lignum Crucis in quo salus...). This introduction takes place as the celebrant and ministers enter from the rear of the church. The Sacramentary version of the chant, "This is the wood..." is intoned by the celebrant three times: at the rear, middle and front of the church. A cantor may invite the congregation each time to respond. "Come, let us worship." If necessary, the cantor may also intone the chant. A brief period of silence is kept following each statement of the chant. Between the second and third statements, the procession is clothed in text from the hymn, Vexilla regis. In keeping with tradition, the work modulates twice. To accommodate the length of a particular church and the speed of the procession, the "drone" before each statement of the chant is given a fermata. The length of silence after each chant statement may also be adjusted.