Fantasia on [obscure] Christmas Carols

This is the truth sent from above

The truth of God, the god of love

Therefore don't turn me from your door

But hearken all both rich and poor

The first thing which I will relate

Is that God did man create

The next thing which to you I'll tell

Woman was made with man to dwell

Then after this was God's own choice

To place them both in paradise

There to remain from evil free

Except they ate of such a tree

And they did eat which was a sin

And thus their ruin did begin

Ruined themselves, both you and me

And all of their posterity

Thus we were heirs to endless woes

Till God the Lord did interpose

And so a promise soon did run

That he would redeem us by His Son

That he would redeem us by His Son

By His Son

Come all you worthy gentlemen that may be standing by

Christ our blessed Saviour was born on Christmas day.

The blessed Virgin Mary unto the Lord did pray

Oh we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy

The blessed Virgin Mary unto the Lord did pray

Oh we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy

Christ our Blessed Saviour now in the manger lay

He's lying in the manger while oxen feed on hay

The blessed Virgin Mary unto the Lord did pray

Oh we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy

The blessed Virgin Mary unto the Lord did pray

Oh we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy

The blessed Virgin Mary unto the Lord did pray

Oh we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy

On Christmas night all Christians sing

to hear the news the angels bring 

 On Christmas night all Christians sing

to hear the news the angels bring 

News of great joy, news of great mirth.

News of our merciful King's birth

News of great joy, news of great mirth.

News of our merciful King's birth

When Sin departs before thy grace

then life and health come in it's place. 

When Sin departs before thy grace

then life and health come in it's place.

Angels and men with joy may sing

All for to see the newborn King

All for to see the newborn King

All for to see the newborn King

Angels and men with joy may sing

All for to see the newborn King

God bless the ruler of this house and long on may he reign

From out of darkness we have light

which makes the angels sing this night

Many happy Christmases he live to see again

From out of darkness we have light

which makes the angels sing this night

God bless our generation who live both far and near

Glory to God and peace to men

And we wish them a happy, a happy New Year

Both now and evermore Amen

God bless the ruler of this house and long on may he reign

Many happy Christmases he live to see again

God bless our generation who live both farand near

And we wish them a happy, a happy New Year

Oh we wish you a happy, a happy New Year.

Both now and evermore. Amen

~~~~~

Ralph Vaughan William's Fantasia on Christmas Carols is featured in two parts in this video series.

Obscure Carols Macaronic: In Dulci Jubilo

Macaronic hymns are hymns that use a foreign or classic language and the vernacular of the people.  A hymn may come along nicely in English and then end in the Greek phrase, "Kyrie eleison," meaning, "Lord, have mercy."

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.

~~~~~

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!

~

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!

~

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.

The embed was disabled for this video, so please click here to view it.

~

Full English translation:

Good Christian men, rejoice
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!

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!

~

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!

~~~~~

From the album, Mass for Christmas Morning.

Obscure Carols: I Wonder as I Wander

"I Wonder as I Wander" has it's roots in the Appalachian tradition of North Carolina, but was fully composed in the last century.  You can read about it here.

~~~~~

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King. 

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

This video features photos taken on Christmas Eve in Appalachia.

Obscure Carols: Truth from Above

Rather than focus on the Christmas account in Luke 2, this carol starts with creation and lays the foundation for the coming Messiah.  There is no mention in this carol of shepherds, wise men, angels, mangers, stables, inns, etc.  Rather, the focus is on why we need a Savior.

I was able to locate nine verses of this carol.  Most settings do not use all of them.

~~~~~

This is the truth sent from above
The truth of God, the God of love
Therefore don't turn me from your door
But hearken will both rich and poor

The first thing that I do relate
Is that God did man create
The next thing which to you I'll tell
Woman was made with man to dwell

And after that, 'twas God's own choice
To place them both in Paradise,
There to remain of evil free
Except they ate of such a tree.

But they did eat, which was a sin,
And so their ruin did begin,
Ruined themselves, both you and me,
And all of their posterity.

Thus we were heirs to endless woes
Till God and Lord did interpose
And so a promise soon did run
That He would redeem us by His Son

And at that season of the year
Our blessed Redeemer did appear
He here did live and here did preach
And many thousands he did teach

Thus He in love to us behaved
To show us how we must be saved
And if you want to know the way
Be pleased to hear what He did say

Go preach the Gospel new, He said,
To all the nations that are made
And he that does believe in me,
From all his sins I’ll set him free.

God grant to all within this place
True saving faith—that special grace,
Which to His people doth belong—
And thus I close my Christmas song.

0:00 Creator Alme Siderum (Plainsong Chant)

1:28 Truth From Above (Setting by Ralph Vaughan Williams)

3:49 An Early Tree (Setting by William Byrd)

Obscure Carols: The Old Year Now Hath Passed Away

The old year now hath passed away;

We thank Thee, 0 our God, today

That Thou hast kept us through the year

When danger and distress were near.

We pray Thee, 0 eternal Son,

Who with the Father reign'st as One,

To guard and rule Thy Christendom

Through all the ages yet to come.

Take not Thy saving Word away,

Our souls' true comfort, staff, and stay.

Abide with us and keep us free

From errors, following only Thee.

Oh, help us to forsake all sin,

A new and holier course begin!

Mark not what once was done amiss;

A happier, better year be this,

Wherein as Christians we may live

Or die in peace that Thou canst give,

To rise again when Thou shalt come

And enter Thine eternal home.

There shall we thank Thee and adore

With all the angels evermore.

Lord Jesus Christ, increase our faith

To praise Thy name through life and death.

~~~~~

One tune associated with this text is "Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns bend."

~~~~~

Das alte Jahr vergangen ist,

wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ,

dass du uns hast in großer G'fahr

so gnädiglich behüt' dies Jahr.

Wir bitten dich, ewigen Sohn

des Vaters in dem höchsten Thron,

du wollst dein arme Christenheit

ferner bewahren allezeit.

Entzieh uns nicht dein heilsamWort,

das ist der Seelen Trost und Hort,

vor falscher Lehr, Abgötterei

bewahr uns, Herr, und steh uns bei.

Hilf, dass wir von der Sünde Bahn

und fromm zu werden fangen an.

der Sünd im alten Jahr nicht denk,

ein gnadenreiches Jahr uns schenk,

Christlich zu leben, seliglich

zu sterben und hernach fröhlich

Am Jüngsten Tage aufzustehn,

mit dir im` Himmel einzugehn,

Zu danken und zu loben dich

mit allen Engeln ewiglich.

O Jesu, unsern Glauben mehr

zu deines Namens Lob und Ehr.

~~~~~

The tune used in Bach's Orgelbuchlein is "Das alte Jahr vergangen ist."

Obscure Carols: Gabriel's Message

Among liturgical traditions Gabriel's Message (also known as The Basque Carol) has had somewhat of a resurgence and found its way into hymnals and hymnal supplements of the last 10 or 15 years.  In the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod the carol appeared in Hymnal Supplement '98 and Lutheran Service Book (2006).

The carol is most appropriate for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, as the Gospel reading for that day is Gabriel's appearance to Mary.

~~~~~

The angel Gabriel from Heaven came, 

His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; 

All hail,said he,thou lowly maiden Mary, 

Most highly favored lady, Gloria! 

For know a blessèd mother thou shalt be, 

All generations laud and honor thee, 

Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, 

Most highly favored lady, Gloria! 

 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, 

To me be as it pleaseth God, she said, 

My soul shall laud and magnify His holy name. 

Most highly favored lady, Gloria! 

Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born 

In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, 

And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say— 

Most highly favored lady,Gloria!

Obscure Carols: The Huron Carol

"The Huron Carol" is a new carol to me, courtesy of Facebook friend Jeffrey "The Aslan."

Here's some bullet points from the Wiki article:

• Canada's oldest Christmas song
• Written in 1643 by Jean de Brébeuf
• Brébeuf was a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in Canada
• Lyrics were in the native language of the Huron/Wendat people
• Original Huron title is "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Jesus, he is born")
• Melody based on a traditional French folk song, "Une Jeune Pucelle" ("A Young Maid")
• English lyrics were written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton
• English lyrics derived from Brebeuf's original song and Huron religious concepts
• The hymn also uses a traditional Algonquian name, Gitchi Manitou, for God. 
• The song remains a common Christmas hymn in Canadian churches of many Christian denomination

So there's the interesting one to me. My parents live in Michigan just south of the Huron National Forest. I had never heard of it before this year.  I guess I thought this one would have drifted into Michigan along with Canadian coins.

So here's a video followed by the English lyrics. As I was writing this morning, I couldn't find the original tongue. If you know them, feel free to drop them in the comments.  Finally, look for concepts that may be from the Huron tribe instead in lieu of the biblical account.

~~~~~ 

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’Twas in the moon of wintertime,

When all the birds had fled,

That mighty Gitchi Manitou

Sent angel choirs instead;

Before their light the stars grew dim,

And wondering hunters heard the hymn:

 Jesus your King is born,

Jesus is born,

In excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark

The tender babe was found,

A ragged robe of rabbit skin

Enwrapped His beauty round;

But as the hunter braves drew nigh,

The angel song rang loud and high:

 Jesus your King is born,

Jesus is born,

In excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime

Is not so round and fair

As was the ring of glory on

The helpless Infant there.

The chiefs from far before Him knelt

With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.  

Jesus your King is born,

Jesus is born,

In excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free,

O seed of Manitou,

The holy Child of earth and Heav’n

Is born today for you.

Come kneel before the radiant Boy,

Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.

 Jesus your King is born,

Jesus is born,

In excelsis gloria.

Obscure Carols: Noel by Brad Holmes

This carol comes from the Congo region and can be heard on the 2011 Christmas broadcast from St. Olaf College. Special thanks to Jonathan Tan at Cantus Mundi for posting this video and the translation. Below is the honors choir from the Michigan School Vocal Music Association. You can check out 2 other groups over on Jonathan's post.

~~~~~

~

Noel! Noel!

Yesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto.

Noel! Noel!

Yesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto

Kana nge zola ku zaba mwana,

Nge fwiti kwisa ku fukama.

Kana nge zola ku zaba mwana,

Nge fwiti kwisa ku fukama.

~

Noel! Noel!

Jesus has come to live with us.

Noel! Noel!

Jesus has come to live with us.

If you want to know the Child,

You have to come kneel.

If you want to know the Child,

You have to come kneel.