Gold in the Sewer

March 19, 2008

KingdomofheavensoundtrackSorry about the rather…iffy title? It’s just my connection between the music and the sewer of confusion in the Kingdom of Heaven film. Just something I wanted to share that I found a few months back. I purchased the Kingdom of Heaven a while back, and one thing I enjoy about it, is how it keeps to the time period, incorporating the music of the different cultures into an artistic blend. I did quite a bit of reserach in regards to trying to find out the Latin Lyrics, and after a bit of time, I was able to find a thread on a forum devoted to soundtracks, which gave the translation to track 1: Burning the Past.

Ave Regina Caelorum ~ Hail Queen of Heaven

Ave Regina Caelorum is a popular Marian antiphon from around the 12th century. It appears to be of monastic origin and the author is unknown. Herman Contractus (+1054) is often suggested as the author, for he wrote several popular Marian antiphons arround then. This antiphon is one of the traditional concluding antiphons for Compline in use since the 13th century. It is traditionally recited from the Feast of the Purification (Feb. 2) until Wednesday in Holy Week. The traditional collect, which is not a part of the antiphon proper, is also given below. As noted by St. Jerome, the versicle and response originally appeared in the writings of St. Ephrem the Syrian (306-373).

AVE, Regina caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta,
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

HAIL, O Queen of Heav’n enthron’d,
Hail, by angels Mistress own’d
Root of Jesse, Gate of morn,
Whence the world’s true light was born.

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,
Lovliest whom in Heaven they see,
Fairest thou where all are fair!
Plead with Christ our sins to spare.

V. Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata.
R. Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.
V. Allow me to praise thee, holy Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Oremus
Concede, misericors Deus, fragilitati nostrae praesidium; ut, qui sanctae Dei Genetricis memoriam agimus; intercessionis eius auxilio, a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray
Grant, O merciful God, to our weak natures Thy protection, that we who commemorate the holy Mother of God may, by the help of her intercession, arise from our iniquities. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Roman Breviary. Translation of the antiphon itself by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878).

It translates to be a classic hymn to Our Lady, so I was much taken to joy to find out that the composer, Harry Gregson Williams (also did the Narnia Soundtrack), had incorporated it into the music. I wasn’t able to find the Lyrics for Track 2: Crusaders. But I’ve read rumors that it has some connection to the Mass… Well, off to more research! :)

Posted in Catholic Church, Catholic Discussion, Chivalry, Crusades, Epic Films, History, Life, Movies, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “Gold in the Sewer”

  1. angelarose Says:

    March 19, 2008 at 4:05 PM

    Wow the translations are beautiful! Sad to say though,I own the movie but never really payed attention to the music..I guess I will now!

  2. marceg Says:

    March 19, 2008 at 5:05 PM

    this is one of my most favorite movie soundtracks.

  3. Master Xavier Says:

    March 19, 2008 at 6:36 PM

    Yeah, I just like it’s Medieval Style, another one of my favorite soundtracks is Master and Commander. Some great classical pieces.

  4. frangelo Says:

    March 20, 2008 at 9:04 AM

    We sing the Ave Regina Caelorum every evening at the end of holy hour. One of my favorites.

    Ridley Scott is a master of historical realism in terms of production values and this is evident in Kingdom of Heaven, but he is not without a regrettable agenda.

    I enjoy historical fiction as long as the writer and/or director is fair minded and acts responsibly as a “historian,” not using his middle ground between history and fiction to peddle his own ideology and then hide behind his art as just “storytelling.”

    I believe it is a matter of honor that the writer and producer of historical fiction assumes responsibility for his work, respecting both history and art. This does not mean that poetic license is no longer a valuable aspect of his art, but it does mean that poetic license is not an excuse to pervert the truth.

    I will refrain from passing judgment on Ridley Scott’s intentions, but personally, I think his work on this movie borders on the irresponsible, no matter what his personal convictions are.

    Scott uses historical events and even historical persons, even Balian, to do his dirty work. It was shameless.

    The myth about the chivalry of Saladin has been repeated so many times that it is just assumed to be beyond question. The noble Saladin is a creation of Western secularists like Sir Walter Scott, and this can easily be discovered by anyone who does some even cursory research.

  5. Master Xavier Says:

    March 20, 2008 at 11:37 AM

    Thanks for the link Father! I’ll be sure to check it out after. Ridley’s agenda is no more than the classic bashing of the Catholic Church, and now, Catholic History. Balian’s representation had me boiling, especially when, after I saw the film, I did a bit of research, only to find that he was a stronger and a more zealous character than the film portrayed him as.

    I didn’t recognize the Friars singing the Ave Regina Caelorum when I attended the Holy Hours before…I’ll have to pay more attention next time!

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