Medieval Carols

In the Middle Ages some of the greatest carols were wrought on parchment aloft. Within this post they sing, to ring in Xmastide offerings! Enjoy! 

—————————————-

🎵Veni Redemptor Gentium

St. Ambrose, 340-397 A.D. 

1. Veni, Redemptor gentium;

Ostende partum virginis;

Miretur omne saeculum.

Talis decet partus Deo.

Come, thou Redeemer of the earth,

and manifest thy virgin-birth:

let every age adoring fall;

such birth befits the God of all.

2. Non ex virili semine,

Sed mystico spiramine

Verbum Dei tactum est caro,

Fructusque ventris floruit.

Begotten of no human will,

But of the Spirit, Thou art still

The Word of God in flesh arrayed,

The promised fruit to men displayed.

3. Alvus tumescit virginis.

Claustrum pudoris permanet;

Vexilla virtutum micant,

Versatur in templo Deus.

The virgin womb that burden gained

With virgin honor all unstained;

The banners there of virtue glow;

God in His temple dwells below.

4. Procedit e thalamo suo,

Pudoris aulo regia,

Geminae gigans substantiae

Alacris ut currat viam.

Forth from His chamber goeth He,

That royal home of purity,

A giant in two-fold substance one,

Rejoicing now His course to run.

5. Egressus eius a Patre,

Regressus eius ad Patrem ;

Excursus usque ad inferos

Recursus ad sedem Dei.

From God the Father He proceeds,

To God the Father back He speeds;

His course He runs to death and hell,

Returning on God's throne to dwell.

6. Aequalis aeterno Patri,

Carnis tropaeo accingere,

Infirma nostri corporis

Virtute firmans perpeti.

O equal to the Father, Thou!

Gird on Thy fleshly mantle now;

The weakness of our mortal state

With deathless might invigorate

7. Praesepe iam fulget tuum,

Lumenque nox spirat novum,

Quad nulla nox interpolet

Fideque iugi luceat.

Thy cradle here shall glitter bright

And darkness breathe a newer light,

Where endless faith shall shine serene,

And twilight never intervene.

8. Gloria tibi, Domine,

Qui natus es de virgine,

Cum Patre et saneto Spiritu,

In sempiterna saecula.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1yZr3w7YHuQ

🎵Corde Natus Ex Parentis

Circa 348-413 A.D. 

1. Corde natus ex parentis ante mundi exordium

A et O cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula

Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt, quaeque post futura sunt.

2. Ipse iussit et creata, dixit ipse et facta sunt,

Terra, caelum, fossa ponti, trina rerum machina,

Quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo.

3. Corporis formam caduci, membra morti obnoxia

Induit, ne gens periret primoplasti ex germine,

Merserat quem lex profundo noxialis tartaro.

4. O beatus ortus ille, virgo cum puerpera

Edidit nostram salutem, feta Sancto Spiritu,

Et puer redemptor orbis os sacratum protulit.

5. Psallat altitudo caeli, psallite omnes angeli,

Quidquid est virtutis usquam psallat in laudem Dei,

Nulla linguarum silescat, vox et omnis consonet.

6. Ecce, quem vates vetustis concinebant saeculis,

Quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant,

Emicat promissus olim; cuncta conlaudent eum.

7. Macte iudex mortuorum, macte rex viventium,

Dexter in Parentis arce qui cluis virtutibus,

Omnium venturus inde iustus ultor criminum.

8. Te senes et te iuventus, parvulorum te chorus,

Turba matrum, virginumque, simplices puellulae,

Voce concordes pudicis perstrepant concentibus.

9. Tibi, Christe, sit cum Patre hagioque Pneumate

Hymnus, decus, laus perennis, gratiarum actio,

Honor, virtus, victoria, regnum aeternaliter.

English Trans.: 

Of the Father's love begotten,

ere the worlds began to be,

he is Alpha and Omega,

he the source, the ending he,

of the things that are, that have been,

and that future years shall see,

evermore and evermore!

At his word the words were framèd; 

he commanded; it was done:

heaven and earth and depths of ocean 

in their threefold order one;

all that grows beneath the shining

of the moon and burning sun, 

evermore and evermore!

O that birth for ever blessèd,

when the Virgin, full of grace,

by the Holy Ghost conceiving,

bare the Savior of our race;

and the Babe, the world's Redeemer,

first revealed his sacred face,

evermore and evermore!

This is he whom seers in old time 

chanted of with one accord;

whom the voices of the prophets 

promised in their faithful word;

now he shines, the long expected,

let creation praise its Lord,

evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven, adore him;

angel-hosts, his praises sing;

powers, dominions, bow before him,

and extol our God and King;

let no tongue on earth be silent,

every voice in concert ring,

evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, 

thee let boys in chorus sing;

matrons, virgins, little maidens,

with glad voices answering:

let their guileless songs re-echo,

and the heart its music bring, 

evermore and evermore!

Christ, to thee with God the Father,

and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,

hymn and chant and high thanksgiving,

and unwearied praises be;

honor, glory and dominion,

and eternal victory,

evermore and evermore!

🎵O Nobis Nativitas

Anonymous 

Latin Trans: 

Quadruplum

O nobilis nativitas

virgo parit hodie

o patris summa pietas

iam spes datur venie

quia dei filius natus extat in nostra specie

ut mundi delicta tegeret propere.

Triplum

O mira dei misericordia

natus eius qui creavit omnia

nascitur hodie inter animalia

et Maria tamen extat in partu virgo similis

et post partum virgo pia.

Duplum

O decus virgineum

casta parit hodie

o laus celestium

gloria canitur venie

et in terra pax hominibus leticie

iam decantant angeli

o gaudium populi

rite regis pacifici.

Tenor

Apparuit.

English Translation: 

Quadruplum

O celebrated nativity, the virgin gives birth

today, o highest love of the father, hope of

forgiveness is given now, because the son

of God is born in our form, that he might

speedily blot out the world's

transgressions.

Triplum

O wondrous mercy of God, who has

created everything; His son is born today

among the animals, and yet Mary in birth

is truly a virgin and is a pious virgin after

birth.

Duplum

O virginal splendour, the chaste lady gives birth today, o praise of the

heavens; there is singing about the glory of forgiveness, and now the angels

keep singing, "Peace on earth to men of gladness"; o joy to the people of the

peace-making king.

Tenor

He has appeared.

🎵Be Merry, Be Merry 

15th Century 

Refrain:
Be merry, be merry, be merry I pray you everyone.

1. A principal point of charity
It is, it is merry to be
(I wis) in Him that is but One,
                        Be merry.

2. For He that is but One in bliss,
To us hath sent His son I wis,
To save us from our foes.
                        Be merry;

3. For of a maid a Child was born,
To save mankind that was forlorn,
Man think thou thereupon
                        Be merry

🎵What Tidings Bringest Thou?

John Dunstable, 1400-1453 A.D. 

A Babe is born of high nature
The Prince of Peace that ever shall be.
Of heav'n and earth He hath the cure,
His lordship is eternity.
Such wondrous tidings ye may hear,
That man is made now heaven's peer,
Whom sin had made but fiendes pray. Refrain

2. A wondrous thing doth now befall,
That King that formed star and sun,
Heaven and earth and angels all,
Now in mankind is new begun.
Such wondrous tidings ye may hear,
A infant of a single year
That hath been e'er and shall be aye. Refrain

3. That seemeth strange to us to see
This berd that hath this babe a-born
And Lord conceived of high degree
A maiden is and was beforn:
Such wondrous tidings ye may hear,
That maid and moth'r are one in fere,
And she a lady of great array. Refrain

4. That lovliest gan greet her Child,
“Hail, son, Hail, Brother, Hail, Father dear.”
“Hail, Daughter,” He saith, “Hail, Mother mild,”
This hailing was on quaint manner.
Such wondrous tidings ye may here,
That hailing was of so good cheer
That mannes pain is turned to play. Refrain

🎵Unto Us is Born A Son 

15th Century 

1. Unto us is born a son,

King of choirs1 supernal:

See on earth his life begun,

Of lords the Lord eternal.

2. Christ, from heav'n descending low,

Comes on earth a stranger;

Ox and ass their Owner know

Now cradled in a manger.

3. This did Herod sore affray,

And did him bewilder,

So he gave the word to slay,

And slew the little childer.

4. Of his love and mercy mild

Hear the Christmas story:

O5 that Mary's gentle Child

Might lead us up to glory!

5.O and A and A and O,

Cantemus in choro,
Voice and organ, sing we so,

Benedicamus Domino.

Agincourt Carol 

15th Century 

Deo gratias Anglia redde pro victoria!

[Give thanks, England, to God for victory!]

Owre Kynge went forth to Normandy

With grace and myght of chyvalry

Ther God for hym wrought mervelusly;

Wherefore Englonde may call and cry

Chorus

Deo gratias!

Deo gratias Anglia redde pro victoria!

He sette sege, forsothe to say,

To Harflu towne with ryal aray;

That toune he wan and made afray

That Fraunce shal rewe tyl domesday.

Chorus

Then went hym forth, owre king comely,

In Agincourt feld he faught manly;

Throw grace of God most marvelsuly,

He had both feld and victory.

Chorus

Ther lordys, erles and barone

Were slayne and taken and that full soon,

Ans summe were broght into Lundone

With joye and blisse and gret renone.

Chorus

Almighty God he keep owre kynge,

His people, and alle his well-wyllynge,

And give them grace wythoute endyng;

Then may we call and savely syng:

Chorus

————————

There ye have Merry Medieval Carols to ring in the Festive Year! May your Christmas bask in Heavenly Light! Amen.