A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Matins
MATINS (Lat. Matutinae; Officium matutinum). The first division of the Canonical Hours.
The Office of Matins, as set forth in the Roman Breviary, opens with the series of Versicles and Responses beginning with the 'Domine, labia mea aperies,' followed by the Psalm 'Venite, exultemus,' with its proper Invitatorium, and the Hymn appointed for the Day. The remainder of the Service is divided into portions called Nocturns, of which three are generally sung, on Sundays and Festivals, and one only, on Ferial Days.
The First Nocturn consists either of three, or twelve Psalms, sung with three proper Antiphons, which, on certain Festivals, are doubled—that is to say, sung, entire, both before and after the Psalm. On Ferial Days, and Festivals of minor solemnity, each Antiphon is sung, entire, after the Psalm, but the first few words of it, only, at the beginning. The Psalms are followed by the Pater noster, Absolution, and Benediction; and these, by the First, Second, and Third Lessons for the Day, each succeeded by its proper Responsorium.
Three Psalms, with their proper Antiphons, are sung, in like manner, in the Second Nocturn; which concludes with the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Proper Lessons, and Responsories.
In the Third Nocturn, three more Psalms are followed by the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Lessons and Responsories; the place of the Ninth Responsory being generally, but not always, supplied by the Hymn, 'Te Deum Laudamus.'
The Third Nocturn is immediately followed by the Office of Lauds; which, indeed, may be regarded as the natural corollary of the Service. In antient times, the First Nocturn was sung soon after midnight: but the whole Office is now generally sung 'by anticipation' that is to say, on the afternoon or evening of the day before that for which it is appointed. The Plain Chaunt Music used, both at Matins, and Lauds, will be found in the 'Antiphonarium Romanum,' and the 'Directorium Chori.' [See Lauds; Antiphon; Invitatorium.]
In the First Prayer-Book of King Edward VI, the name of 'Mattins' is given to the Service now called 'The Order for Morning Prayer,' which is derived, in about equal degrees, from the Latin Offices of Matins and Lauds.