Category:Sequence hymns

The sequence, as its name suggests, originated as a processional hymn sung in the mass after the Gospel Alleluia. Since 1970 this has been a source of some confusion in the post-Tridentine rite, which has moved it before the alleluia. An enormous repertoire of the late middle ages (much of which was set by Henricus Isaac) was reduced to four sequences by the Council of Trent:

• Victimae paschali laudes for Easter
• Veni Sancte Spiritus for Pentecost
• Lauda Sion Salvatorem for Corpus Christi
• Dies irae for All Souls and the Mass of the Dead

In 1727 Stabat Mater was reintroduced for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows.

in 1970 the Dies irae was removed to the Liturgy of the Hours and the Dominican gradual added a Christmas sequence.

A number of additional sequences are occasionally used in the Anglican Church, and in addition the term sequence hymn may be loosely applied to any hymn inserted before the Gospel.

See also

• For traditional Latin texts used in the context of Lauds, Vespers, Compline, &c, see Office hymns.
• For traditional Metrical Psalmody, hymns, and spiritual songs in English, or other languages, see Hymns, Pentecost, and Corpus Christi.