This is the first of a series of four motets written by Maurice Duruflé in 1960, based on motifs of Gregorian plainsong. The others are Tota Pulchra Es (see last month’s magazine), Tu es Petrus (Thou art Peter) and Tantum Ergo (Only Then).
Ubi Caritas (where there is charity) is an antiphon for use on Maundy Thursday during the washing of feet and is attributed to Paulinus of Aquileia in 796. The melody used by Duruflé in this setting probably dates from late 8th century. The text of the prayer is:
| Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exsultemus et in ipso, jucundemor. Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus sincero. Sincero. Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Amen | Where there is charity and love, God is there. The love of Christ has gathered us together into one. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him. Let us fear and love the living God. And let us love from a sincere heart. Sincere. Where there is charity and love, God is there. Amen |
I first sang this piece on a Sing for Pleasure conducting course in June 2025, and very quickly grew to love it. It’s complex, set for sopranos, altos, tenor I, tenor II, bass I and bass II. The first two lines are repeated, sung by only the altos, tenors and basses. The sopranos don’t sing until “Exsultemus” (rejoice), adding texture in the higher register. The “Et ex corde” phrase is also repeated, and “sincero” emphasised, before the lower voices return to “Ubi caritas” and a long and elaborate Amen.
As noted in my article about “Tota Pulchra Es”, Duruflé does an excellent job of mimicking plainsong and Renaissance polyphony in modern notation. This is not easy. Plainsong has no bar lines, and relies on speech rhythms. To replicate this, and accommodate female voices, Duruflé transposed the melody up a dominant 7th, and changes time signature regularly, varying between 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 quavers to a bar. Regardless, it’s beautiful, and our parish choir has begun learning it, with the lower voice parts covered by Tom on the organ. Meanwhile, you can hear a recording of St John’s Choir Elora here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=755x6IRfLaQ
Carol P
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 