Sometimes this is a practical choice. The Hebrew word, "hallelujah" (or "alleluia") carries a different tone than it's translation, "Praise the Lord." I mean, Handel's chorus, "Hallelujah" just wouldn't sound the same as, "PRAISE ... THE LO - RD! PRAISE ... THE LO - RD!"
Other times it is left in tact for the beauty of the text. The carol, "In Dulci Jubilo" was originally in German and Latin. For English-speaking folk, most hymnals will translate the entire work into English, but in choral works, the Latin is often left alone.
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Setting by Robert Lucas Pearsall (1795-1856)
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German with Latin:
In dulci jubilo,
Nun singet und seid froh!
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Leit in praesepio;
Und leuchtet wie die Sonne
Matris in gremio.
Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!
~
English with Latin:
In dulci jubilo,
Let us our homage show!
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio.
Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!
~
Full German translation:
Nun singet und seid froh,
Jauchzt all' und saget so:
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Liegt in der Krippe bloß
Leuchtet als die Sonne
In seiner Mutter Schoß.
Du bist A und O.
Du bist A und O.
Nun singet und seid froh,
Jauchzt all' und saget so:
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Liegt in der Krippe bloß
Leuchtet als die Sonne
In seiner Mutter Schoß.
Du bist A und O.
Du bist A und O.
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Full English translation:
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
[News! News!]
Jesus Christ was born to-day:
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Jesus Christ was born to-day:
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
This English translation is used as the base for Gustav Holst's Christmas Day
which incorporates a number of other obscure carols.
In this translation, the phrase, "News! News!" is added.
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Full English translation in Lutheran hymnals (TLH 92). It is based on the full German translation:
Now sing we, now rejoice
With heart and sol and voice!
He from whom joy streameth
Poor in a manger lies;
Not so brightly beameth
The sun in yonder skies.
Thou my Savior art!
Thou my Savior art!
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Literal translation from Wiki:
In sweet rejoicing,
now sing and be glad!
Our hearts' joy
lies in the manger;
And it shines like the sun
in the mother's lap.
You are the alpha and omega!
now sing and be glad!
Our hearts' joy
lies in the manger;
And it shines like the sun
in the mother's lap.
You are the alpha and omega!
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From the album, Mass for Christmas Morning.
