The Choralis Constantinus is a collection of over 375 Gregorian chant-based polyphonic motets for the proper of the mass composed by Heinrich Isaac and his pupil Ludwig Senfl. The genesis of the collection is a commission by the Constance Cathedral for Isaac, at that time the official court composer for the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, to compose a set of motets for the special holy days celebrated in the diocese of Constance. Isaac was in Constance at the time (April 1508) with the Imperial court as Maximilian had called a meeting of the German nobility (Reichstag) there. The music was delivered to the Constance Cathedral in late 1508 and early 1509.
After Isaac's death in 1517 his pupil Ludwig Senfl, who had been a member of the Imperial chapel choir, compiled music composed for Constance and for the Habsburg Imperial court into the collection which was published by Hieronymus Formschneider in Nuremberg in three volumes (1550–1555) and titled the Choralis Constantinus. Gerhard Pätzig, in his dissertation for the University of Tübingen in 1956, compared available manuscripts with the Formschneider print and determined that the music written for the Constance Cathedral was most of that contained in Volume II and parts of Volume III of the Formschneider publication. The remainder of the Choralis Constantinus is from Maximilian's court repertory.
A modern edition appeared in Volumes 10 and 32 of Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich, the latter edited by Anton Webern, the famous composer, who was a composition student of Arnold Schoenberg. He prepared this volume as part of his dissertation for the University of Vienna, where he received his PhD in 1906. Volume III, edited by Louise Cuyler, was published by the University of Michigan Press in 1950. The Formschneider edition was reprinted with short introductory essays by Edward R. Lerner (Peer: Alamire, 1990–1994).
Each Feast contains a polyphonic motet, based on the corresponding Gregorian chant for the Introit, Alleluia (or Tract) and Communion. Volume II contains most of the Solemn Feasts. Those Propers all include alternate verses of the Sequence hymn, set thus so as to allow for alternatim performance between the choir and the organist. The medieval Sequence was of particular interest to the Constance diocese, which included the monasteries of Reichenau and St. Gall where many Sequences originated.
Choralis Constantinus I (Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich, Volume 10):
Asperges me Domine/Gloria Patri Introit Alleluia Tract Sequence Communion De Sanctissima Trinitate Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas Benedictus es, Domine Benedicta semper sancta sit Trinitas Benedicite Deum Domenica I p. Pentecosten Domine in tua Domine Deus salutis Narrabo omnia mirabili Domenica II p. Pentecosten Factus est Dominus Deus judex justus Cantabo Domino Domenica III p. Pentecosten Respice in me Diligam te virtus Ego clamavi Domenica IV p. Pentecosten Dominus illuminatio Domine in virtu te Dominus firmamentum Domenica V p. Pentecosten Exaudi Domine In te Domine Unam petii Domenica VI p. Pentecosten Dominus fortitudo Omnes gentes plaudite Circuibo et immolabo Domenica VII p. Pentecosten Omnes gentes plaudite Eripe me de inimicis Inclina aurem Domenica VIII p. Pentecosten Suscepimus Deus Te decet hymnus Gustate et videte Domenica IX p. Pentecosten Ecce Deus Attendite populo Primum regnum Domenica X p. Pentecosten Dum clamarum Exultate Deo Acceptabis sacrificium Domenica XI p. Pentecosten Deus in loco Honora de tua Domenica XII p. Pentecosten Deus meus Domine refugium De fructu saciabitur Domenica XIII p. Pentecosten Respice Domine Venite exultemus Panem dedisti Domenica XIV p. Pentecosten Protector et respice Quoniam magnus Panis quem ego Domenica XV p. Pentecosten Inclina Domine Paratum cor Qui manducat Domenica XVI p. Pentecosten Miserere nostri Domine In exitu Domine memora Domenica XVII p. Pentecosten Justus es Domine Dilexi quoniam Vovete Domino Domenica XVIII p. Pentecosten Da pacem Domine Laudate Dominum Tollite et introite Domenica XIX p. Pentecosten Salus populi Dextera Dei Tu mandisti Domenica XX p. Pentecosten Omnia quae Deus judex Memento servo tua Domenica XXI p. Pentecosten In voluntate De profundis In salutari anima mea Domenica XXII p. Pentecosten Si iniquitates Confiteor tibi Dico vobis Domenica XXIII p. Pentecosten Dixit Dominum Qui posuit Amen Dico vobis Adventus I Ad te levavi Ostende nobis Dominus dabit Adventus II Popule Sion Laetatus Sion Jerusalem surge Adventus III Gaudete in Domino Excita Domine Dicite confortamini Adventus IV Memento nostri Veni Domine Ecce virgo Domenica intra oct. Epiphaniae In excelso Jubilate Deo Fili quid ego Domenica I p. Epiphaniae Omnis terra Laudate Deum Dicit Dominum Domenica II p. Epiphaniae Adorate Deum Dominus regnavit Mirabantur omnes Septuagesima Circumdederunt me De profundis Illumina faciem Sexagesima Exurge quare Commovisti Domine Introibo adalta Quinquagesima Esto mihi Jubilate Domino Manducaverunt et Cinerum Misereris omnium Domine non secundum Qui mediatur Invocavit Invocabit et ego Qui habitat Scapulis suis Reminiscere Reminiscere miserationum Dixit Dominus Intelligite clamorem Oculi Oculi mei Ad te levavi Passer invenit Laetare Laetare Jerusalem Qui confidunt Jerusalem quae Judica Judica me Deus Saepe expugnaverunt Hoc corpus Palmarum Domine ne longa Deus meus Pater si non Quasimodo geniti Quasimodo geniti Mitte manum Misericordia Domini Misericordia Domini Surrexit pastor Ego sum pastor Jubilate Jubilate omnis terra Surrexit Christus Modicum et non Cantate Cantate Domino Cum venerit Vocem Jucunditatis Vocem jucunditatis Benedictus es Cantate Domino Exaudi Exaudi Domine Pater cum
Choralis Constantinus II (Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich, Volume 32): Introit Alleluia Sequence Communion Other Natalis Domini Puer natus Dies sanctificatus Natus ante saecula Viderunt omnes Circumcisionis Vultum tuum Post partum Laetabundus exsultet Simile homini Epiphanie (6 Jan.) Ecce advenit Vidimus stellam Festa Christi Vidimus stellam Purificationis Mariae (2 Feb.) Suscepimus Deus Post partum Concentu parilli Responsum Simeon Gaude Maria (tract) Anunciationis Mariae (25 Mar.) Rorate coeli Ecce virgo Ave Maria (tract) Resurrectione Domini Resurrexi et adhuc Pascha nostrum Laudes Salvatori Pascha nostrum Haec Dies (gradual) Ascensionis Domini Viri Galilei Dominus in sina Summi Triumphum Psallite qui ascendit Sancto Spiritus Spiritus Domini Veni sancte Spiritus Sancti Spiritus Factus est Corpore Christi Cibavit eos Caro mea Lauda Sion Qui manducat Johannis Baptistae De ventre Internatos mulierum Sancti baptistae Tu puer propheta Johannes et Pauli Multae et dehis Isti sunt Haec die veneranda Et sicoram tormenta Petri et Pauli Nunc scio Tu es Petrus Petre summi Christi Tu es Petrus Visitationis Mariae (31 May, formerly July) Gaudeamus omnes Magnificat Lauda sponsa Beata viscera Mariae Magdalena Gaudeamus omnes Maria haec Laus tibi Christe Dico vobis Assumptio Mariae (15 August) Gaudeamus omnes Assumpta est Maria Congaudent angelorum Dilexisti justi Sancto Geberhardo Sacerdotes Domine O Geberhardo Sancti Spiritus assist nobis Beatus servus Sancta Pelagio Laetabitur justus O Pelagio Omnes devota mente Qui vult ab neget Nativitatis Mariae (8 Sep.) Gaudeamus omnes Nativitatis gloriosae Stirpe Maria regis Diffusa est Dedicatione Templi Terribilis est Vox exultationis Ecclesiae desponsato Domus mea Sancta Cruce Nos autem Dulce lignum Laudes crucis Nos autem Omnia Sanctorum Gaudeamus omnes Vox exultationis Omnes sancti Seraphim Amen dico vobis Sancto Martino Sacerdotes Martinus episcobus Sacerdotem Christi Beatus servus Presentationis Mariae Gaudeamus omnes Felix virgo Altissima providente Beata viscera Sancto Conrado (26 Nov.) Sacerdotes Ecce sacerdos Adornata laudibus Beatus servus Conceptionis Mariae (8 Dec.) Gaudeamus omnes Conceptionis gloriosae Conceptio Mariae virginis Diffusa est
Choralis Constantinus III (University of Michigan Press, 1950) Introit Alleluia Sequence Communion Other In Vigilia un. Apostoli Ego autem sicut Dorsa eorum Plausu chorus laetabundo Ego vos elegi Justus ut palma (gradual) Commune Apostolorum Mihi autem honorati Non vos me elegistiPer manus autemIam no estis Clare sanctorum Vos qui secutiAmen dico ego Qui seminant (tract) Commune Martyrum Multae tribulationisInduant sancti tuiJusti epulenturSancti tui DomineSapientiam sanctorumSalus autem justorumIntret in conspectu Corpora sanctorumJusti autemJusti epulenturTe martirumStabunt justiGaudete justiLaetamini in DominoSancti tui Domine O beata beatorumAgone triumphali Multitudo languentiumJustorum animaeEt si coramPosuerunt mortaliaAnima nostraAmen dico vobisGaudete justi Qui seminant (tract as above) Commune un. Martyris Laetabitur justusIn virtute tuaGloria et honoreProtexisti me DeusJustus non conturbabiturJustus ut palma Laetabitur justusBeatus virJustus germinabitJustus ut palma Spe mercedis et coronaeHaec est sancta Laetabitur justusQui mihi ministratPosuisti DomineQui vult venireMagna est gloria Desiderium animae (tract) Commune de Confessoribus Stauit ei DominusOs justiSacerdotes DeiSacerdotes ejus Juravit DominusElegit teInveni DavidIste est qui anteAmavit eumFulgebunt Dilectus DeoAd laudes salvatoris Beatus servusDomine quinque talentaFidelis servus Beatus vir (tract) Commune de Virginibus Gaudeamus omnesMe exspectaveruntLoquebar de testimoniisDilexisti justitiam Diffusa estSpecie tuaOmnis gloria Exultent filiae Sion Simile est regnumQuinque prudentesDiffusa est gratiaDilexisti justitiam Audi filia (tract) Annunciatiatione beate Virginis Rorate coeli Prophetae sancti Mittet ad Virginem Beata Virgine p. Nativitatis Christi Vultum tuum Post partum Regem regnum Commune de Beata Virgine Salva sancta Sancta Dei Verbum bonum Beata viscera Philippi et Jacobi Exclamaverunt Tanto tempore Sancta Cruce Nos autem Dulce lignum Laudes crucis Nos autem In Vigilia Johannis Baptistae Ne timeas Natalis Johannis Baptistae De ventre matris Erat Johannis Sancti Baptistae Tu puer propheta Vigilia Petri et Pauli Dicit Dominus Simon Johannis Festo de Petri et Pauli Nunc scio vere Tu es Petrus Tu es Petrus Sancti Pauli Scio cui credidi Tu es vas electionis Visitationis Mariae Virginis In Maria benignitas Veni praecelsa In Divisione Apostolorum Coeli enarrant Maria Magdalenae Laus tibi Christi Dico vobis Vigilia Sancta Laurentii Dispersit dedit Sancta Laurentii Martyris Confessio et pulchritudo Levita Laurentius Laurentii, David Assumptio Maria Virgine Assumpta est Maria Congaudent Angelorum Navitatis Mariae Nativitatis gloriosae Stirpe Maria Sancta Michaele Benedicite omnes Concussum est mare Ad celebres Rex Benedicite omnes S. Ursula ac Sociarum Virginum Virginalis turma sexusKyrie solemne[Gloria][Credo][Sanctus][Agnus]Kyrie Paschale[Gloria][Credo][Sanctus][Agnus]Kyrie Magne Deus [Gloria][Credo][Sanctus][Agnus]De MartyribusKyrie[Gloria][Credo][Sanctus][Agnus]De ConfessoribusKyrie[Gloria][Credo][Sanctus][Agnus]
Recordings Margaretha-Maximilian I, Capilla Flamenca together with La Caccia, Schola Cantorum Cantate Domino, Schola Gregoriana Lovaniensis and Joris Verdin, 2001 (Orf CD 265). Contains proper chants from the Choralis Constantinus along with several pieces of secular music.
Further reading
External links score of part I (Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich, Band 10) at the International Music Score Library Project Modern editions of many items at the Choral Public Domain Library