The Wiki page for the Salve Regina covers much of the rich history of the hymn/prayer.
The section English hymns based on the Latin original lists the version of the English language lyrics used in the movie Sister Act but it doesn’t say when that version originated and it doesn’t say where that particular melody came from.
This isn’t going to help until I can get to my mother’s house later this morning.
But she collected hymnals of various denominations, and I contibuted to it a copy of the Armed Forces Hymnal that would have been in use in 1977. I, um, “liberated” it when I was discharged that year. It has Salve Regina in it. I think most of the music included in that book, as in other hymnals, had listings for composers, author/translators and such.
if someone hasn’t come back with your info later this morning I’ll snag the book and look it up.
Ascribed to Hermanus Contractus 1013-1054
Tr. in ‘Roman Hymnal’ New York, 1884
Salve Regina 8. 4. 8. 4. with Refrain
Hildesheim melody 1736
Harm. by Nicola A. Montani, 1880-1948
Harmonization from The St. Gregory Hymnal. Used by permission of the Gregorian Institute of America
Do you read music? Can you confirm that “Hildesheim melody” matches the melody in the version I’m talking about?
The English lyrics in this version feel very 20th Century to me, but I could buy that they go back to 1884. Still, the credit to “Tr.” seems to me that it could be simply stating that the hymn in all its forms and history is traditional, rather than giving any insight into the origins of this particular adaptation.
Still, good info and you are to be commended on your resourcefulness!
Ah, well I had already found the page for Hildesheim the place.
Oh well, I’m at a loss for how to direct further research unless another poster brings in some personal knowledge.
You’ve got me a date on the melody and a ballpark idea of the adaptation of the lyrics. Very good info there, Baker. Thank you!
I’m going to be a guest on a music themed podcast, this movie performance of the song ties into the topic for the episode I’ll be guesting on. I’m going to mention the song one way or another, but I like having good info to bring to the discussion.
I’ve spent too long with my nose in hymnals, and “Triumph all ye cherubim! Sing with us ye seraphim! Heaven and earth resound the hymn!” is a solid 1870 to 1900 construction.
I may have wasted my life, but I stay a devout Marianist.
Ha! Yeah, well, I was thinking 20th Century with a deliberate nod to a deeper tradition. But with Baker’s cite and your Marianist nose I fully accept the 19th Century origins of this adaptation.
The Beth Nielsen Chapman recording that you shared has the original Latin lyrics but uses the Hildesheim melody that Baker cited. I wonder if the Hildesheim melody was written specifically for the Latin originally. Being a newer melody (well, new considering the centuries long history of the hymn) I considered that it might have been written specifically for a vernacular adaptation (why toss out the perfectly good older melodies already written for the Latin- was my thinking). The Latin fits the melody perfectly, though, so I’m inclined to think the Hildesheim melody was written specifically for the Latin and the English adaptation came later. Also wondering if there was a German language version before the English language version (assuming “Hildesheim melody” refers to Hildesheim, Germany).
Wow, I’m getting great info while doing very little work myself! Thanks!
From that link:
So, a similar earlier melody in a hymnal in the German city of Mainz in 1712 then the familiar melody in a hymnal in the city of Hildesheim in 1736. I followed the link on that page to the German wiki page for Gegrüßet seist du, Königin- the original German version. Looks like the song skipped over the U.K. to make it’s first appearance in the English language in America.
No information to add for the OP, but wow - this thread gave me flashbacks to “May Processions” in Catholic grade school almost 50 years ago. Marching around the block and into the church, bellowing that hymn at the top of my lungs trying to impress the cute girls (unsuccessfully) with my vocal prowess.
