Tantum ergo
The two last stanzas of the hymn Pange lingua, for the holiest sacrament, which was written by Thomas of Aquin in the 13th century on the occasion of the introduction of the Corpus Christi feast, have become independent as a church song and are a popular song, especially with the Luxemburg melody from the 18th century. Tantum ergo has its liturgic place in the Eucharistic blessing – i.e. in the festive vesper – or at Corpus Christi.
The choir movement lives off extensive Romantic harmonies and off the continuous eighth notes in the style of a Bach choral, that serve as a motor. A festive polyphonic Amen closes the song after the second stanza.