A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Jubilate
JUBILATE—the first word of the Vulgate version—is the Psalm (100th) which is given as an alternative to the Benedictus, to follow the second lesson in the morning service of the Anglican Church. The ancient custom of the church was to read lessons and psalms alternately, and psalms so used were called responsories. The Jubilate was specially used in this manner in the offices of Salisbury and York, so its adoption in the reformed service was only a perpetuation of ancient custom in the churches of England. Amalaritis also (A.D. 820) speaks of it as used in Lauds apart from its ordinary occurrence in the order of the Psalms. Nevertheless it did not appear in Cranmer's Prayer-book of 1549, but was added in the revised edition which was made in the reign of Edward VI, 1552. Consequently there is no chant given for it in Marbeck's first adaptation of ancient chants to the English service called 'The Book of Common Praier Noted,' which was published in 1550.
It is curious that the Jubilate is much oftener used than the Benedictus, which is looked upon quite as the exception. One of the most distinguished clerical writers on the choral service of the church, Mr. Jebb, has observed that the Benedictus is so infinitely preferable in every respect that it is impossible to attribute the preference which is given to the Jubilate to any other motive than its being shorter. In confirmation of this view it is interesting to note that while the enthusiasm of the Reformation was still hot, the great musicians of that time, Tallis, Byrd, and Farrant, chose the incomparably more beautiful and more appropriate, but longer, Benedictus; but when that enthusiasm was worn away hardly anything but the shorter Jubilate is to be met with. If we take for instance the most famous collections of the ancient services of the church in their order, we find three settings of the Jubilate in Barnard's collection, eight in Boyce's, and no less than fifteen in Arnold's.
Handel set the Jubilate for the thanksgiving service which was held after the Peace of Utrecht, which was concluded March 31, 1713. Mendelssohn also set the Psalm, but not for liturgical use.