SYNC CUCCU

CUCCU SONG

“Sumer Is Icumen”

Mid 13th Century

Middle English Lyrics in Black Latin Lyrics in Red

A christogram is a monogram or a combination of letters, which forms a written abbreviation for the name Jesus Christ.

CHI RHO

The Chi Rho symbol is created by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ [Christos] in such a way that the vertical stroke of the rho intersects the center of the chi

Jesus Christ is written ρicola in the

CHRISTOGRAM

Sumer Is Icumen manuscript

~JJ

SILENCING THE CUCKOO

“Sumer Is Icumen In” [1740]

This song Appears in the Reading Abbey Ruins in Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom. According to Charles Tomkins [Views of Reading Abbey, with those of the churches originally connected with it, 1805], The abbey was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. John Evangelist.

SILENCING THE CUCKOO

“Sumer Is Icumen In”

Q: So, Who Was Being Silenced…

A: Cuckoo Call = Hail Mary

The final two lines of the lyric are:

Left: the manuscript with notes clearly amended by the scribe.

Right: the original notes digitally restored.

Cuccu cuccu

“Wel singes þu cuccu ne swik þu nauer nu”

Cuckoo cuckoo

“Well sing you cuckoo don’t cease you ever now”

On the words, “Cuccu cuccu”, a scribe rubbed out three notes and changed the pitches. Of course, by removing the cuckoo call from Perspice Christicola meant removing it from Sumer, too.

[Cuckoo Call = Hail Mary]

Perspice Christicola

Latin devotional song, written in red underneath the Sumer Is Icumen lyric in black: Perspice Christicola, que dignacio, celicus agricola pro vitis vicio Filio – non parcens exposuit mortis exicio – Qui captivos semivivos a supplicio Vite donat et secum coronat in celi solio.

Observe, worshipper of Christ, what gracious condescension, the heavenly farmer who, owing to a defect in the vine, without sparing him, exposes his son to death’s destruction. To the captives half dead in the torments, he gives life and crowns them in heaven, with himself in the throne