Composer

:

English Anonymous

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

13th c.

Average_duration

:

9:02

'Omnis caro peccaverat' is a medieval Latin hymn that tells the story of the biblical flood. It was composed by an anonymous English composer in the 14th century. The hymn is also known as 'The Song of the Flood' and is found in the Douce 139 manuscript, which is housed in the Bodleian Library. The hymn is divided into three movements, each of which tells a different part of the story of the flood. The first movement describes the wickedness of mankind and how God decided to punish them with a flood. The second movement tells the story of Noah and how he built the ark to save himself, his family, and the animals. The third movement describes the flood itself and how it destroyed everything on earth except for those on the ark. The characteristics of the hymn are typical of medieval music. It is written in a monophonic style, meaning that there is only one melody line. The melody is simple and repetitive, with a limited range of notes. The rhythm is also simple, with a regular beat that is easy to follow. The text is sung in a plainchant style, with little ornamentation or variation in pitch. The hymn was likely composed for use in church services, where it would have been sung by a choir or congregation. It was probably performed during the season of Lent, which is a time of repentance and reflection in the Christian calendar. The hymn's somber tone and focus on sin and punishment would have been appropriate for this time of year. Overall, 'Omnis caro peccaverat' is a simple but powerful hymn that tells the story of the flood in a straightforward and direct way. Its monophonic style and plainchant melody reflect the musical traditions of the medieval period, while its focus on sin and punishment reflects the religious beliefs of the time.

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