Haec Dies in Old Roman and Gregorian Chant

I suppose there's something about being a man that relishes in comparison. When I study plants, comparison is pretty much all I'm doing. Taxonomy can be thought of as comparison elevated to a science.

Today, I'm relishing in the comparison of the Easter chant Haec dies, in both the Gregorian style and the reconstructed Old Roman style. Gregorian Chant is really a medieval synthesis of various early Christian chant lineages, including Gallican and Old Roman. Gregorian Chant, as we have it today, is largely due to the revival and restoration efforts of the Solesmes Benedictines in the 19th Century.

There have been more modern efforts, however, to restore Old Roman chant, a chant lineage pre-dating Gregorian Chant. The group Ensemble Organum has made some attempts and released a few albums.

So, for comparison, is more or less the same chant: Haec dies, and one can hear how they are related, although the Old Roman version sounds, to me, more Byzantine, esoteric, mystical, while the Gregorian sounds more austere, simple, tranquil.

I really love the Gregorian; in its sobriety lies its beauty, and from there ascends to ecstasy.

Here's the Gregorian:

And here's the Old Roman:

And here's the translation:

This is the day which the Lord hath made: 

let us be glad and rejoice therein. 

Alleluia.

verse for Easter Sunday:

Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: 

for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 118:1)

[Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.]

verse for Easter Monday:

Let Israel now say, that he is good: 

that his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 118:2)

verse for Easter Tuesday:

Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord,

whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy: 

and gathered out of the countries. 

(Psalm 107:2)