About the piece
A short antiphon that accompanies the sprinkling of holy water over the assembly, as a reminder of baptism and a prayer for purification. The edition has 14 measures in modern notation.
How to prepare it
It is sung in unison. The range is wide for a chant, G3–D5 (a twelfth), so decide the starting pitch in advance so that sopranos and basses are comfortable. Rehearse the Latin spoken first, with open vowels, then the melody, aiming for a continuous phrasing without hard accents that follows the sense of the psalm.
When to use it
It is used at the beginning of Sunday Mass, especially in Lent and Ordinary Time, while the celebrant sprinkles the assembly. In Eastertide “Vidi aquam” is customarily sung in its place.