Note 95 — Chapter XVIII · LITURGICAL PLAYS

Martene, iii. 180, from an undated Caeremoniale. Lange, 26, only gives a portion of the text containing the Quem quaeritis proper, which was sung as a processional trope before the Missa maior. The procession had immediately before gone to the sepulchre and sung other anthems. But the sepulchre played a part at two other services. Before Matins the clergy had in turn entered the sepulchre, found it empty, came out and given each other the kiss of peace and Easter greeting. No Elevatio is described; perhaps it was still earlier ‘clam.’ After Lauds, the Missa matutinalis was sung ‘ad sepulchrum’ and the prosa or Alleluia trope was thus performed: ‘Prosa Victimae Paschali. Finito v Dicat nobis Maria, clericulus stans in sepulcro cum amictu parato et stola, dicat ℣. Angelicos testes. Chorus respondeat Dic nobis Maria. Clericulus dicat Angelicos testes. Clericus dicat Surrexit Christus. Chorus Credendum est magis usque ad finem.’ On this prose and its relation to the Quem quaeritis cf. p. 29. At St. Mark’s, Venice (Z. f. d. A. xli. 77), the position of the Quem quaeritis is also abnormal, coming just before Prime, but this version dates from 1736.