Let the [Ambrosian] hymn follow next (Rule of St Benedict 9)
…When the fourth responsory is finished, let
the abbot begin the hymn Te Deum laudamus…then
let the abbot follow with the hymn Te
decet laus…Rule of St Benedict
Chapter 11
The final part of the opening section of Matins is the hymn. Matins on Sundays and feasts also has two other hymns though, so I thought I would cover those off here as well.
The structure of Matins
SECTION
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OPENING (INVITATORY)
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Same elements everyday – opening prayer, Ps 3, Ps 94 (with verse), hymn
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NOCTURN I
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Six psalms with antiphon(s)
Versicle, Our Father, absolution
Blessing, reading and responsory (1,3 or 4 sets)
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NOCTURN II
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Six psalms with antiphon(s)
Versicle, Our Father, absolution
Blessing, reading and responsory *4
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NOCTURN III
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Sundays and major feasts only:
Three OT canticles under one antiphon
Versicle, Our Father, absolution
Blessing, reading and responsory *4
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CONCLUDING SECTION
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Weekdays and minor feasts: Chapter and versicle
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CLOSING PRAYERS
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Collect only or concluding prayers
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The use of hymns in the Benedictine Office
Some commentators point to St Benedict's adoption of the Roman Office canticles as evidence of his more general debt to Roman practice in his Office. But one of the several respects in which he was decidedly not following Roman tradition would appear to be in his use of hymns. The Roman Church in the sixth century seems generally have been reluctant to use non-Scriptural texts in the liturgy, and even in the ninth century, the date of the earliest comprehensive description of it, the Roman Office was still devoid of hymns.
St Benedict, on the other hand, had no such hesitation in relation to non-Scriptural texts, happily adopting the tradition of Office hymns popularised in the West by St Ambrose. A hymn is sung to close off the opening section of the hour each day. In addition, the Te Deum and Te decet laus towards the end of the hour on Sundays and major feasts.
Where to find the hymn
The hymn in the opening section of Matins is usually of the day of the week, unless replaced by one for the season or feast. The hymn for each day of the week for most of the year is set out in breviaries, the Clear Creek Matins booklet and the Psautier Monastique under Matins for the particular day of the week.
Those for seasons and feasts will need to be found in other sections of the books or elsewhere, but on feasts the hymn is generally (though not always) the same as for Vespers.
The chant for the Te Deum and Te decet laus can be found in the Liber Responsorialis or the Solesmes Liber Hymnarius. Note that there are numerous versions of the Te Deum, and an Eastertide version of the Te decet laus.
How to say the hymns
The rubrics for the daily hymns in the opening section are the same as for the other hours - the hymn is properly sung standing, and one normally bows for the doxology in the last verse. In addition an Amen is always added to the end of the hymn.
The Te Deum and Te decet laus are also said standing, and in the Te Deum everyone kneels at the verse Te ergo quaesumus.
Resources for the hymns - chants
The daily hymns for Matins can be found in a convenient format in the Holger Peter Standhofe draft of the OSB Psalterium. The chant tones for the hymns (also used in the Nocturnale Romanum) are not the same as the Solesmes Hymnarius, but generally come from the monastic office Codex Hartker manuscript. Most of the hymns for feasts can be found in the Liber Responsorialis or the Antiphonale Monasticum (also available online for free download).
The Nocturnale Romanum is probably the other source to consider - it is expensive and hard to find, but does include most of the seasonal hymns missing from Liber Responsorialis. It wouldn't be worth buying just for that (the Solesmes Hymnarius also has a version of most of them as well) but if you are also interested in the responsories, it might be worth considering.
Another option to consider, is the Solesmes 1983 Liber Hymnarius. It has to be used with caution as it doesn't always line up with 1963 and earlier breviaries. All the same, a useful book to have as it has most of the hymns you will need, and is extremely useful in (often but not always!) writing out hymns in full, rather than just giving you the first verse.
Resources - listening
Youtube searches will yield recordings of many of the Matins hymns. The Liber Hymnarius website is also always worth checking. Another great resource worth checking out is the Chant blog.
