for mixed choir (SSATBB) a cappella
Text: Latin (St Thomas Aquinas)
Duration: 2'00''
Difficulty: 2/5

O Salutaris Hostia was arranged by Dr Walter Vale, Director of Music at All Saints, Margaret Street, London between 1907 and 1939. Although it is not clear exactly when the arrangement was made, it was certainly performed in 1922 alongside the Mass in B flat, another adaptation from Rachmaninoff's Liturgy of St John Chrysostom. This accessible short motet is an ideal way for choirs to explore the music of Rachmaninoff without the need to tackle Russian language and pronunication.

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Text
O salutaris Hostia,
Quae cæli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.

Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.

St Thomas Aquinas

O saving Victim, opening wide
The gate of Heaven to us below;
Our foes press hard on every side;
Your aid supply; Your strength bestow.

To your great name be endless praise,
Immortal Godhead, One in Three.
O grant us endless length of days,
In our true native land with thee.

(Non-literal translation)