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SATB unaccompanied | 2m45 | Early-intermediate

Thought to be Canada’s oldest Christmas carol. And recently, the English words have also come into the pubic domain.

This arrangement has become a favourite in our choir and we have performed it a few times.

English words Jesse Edgar Middleton. Original words and music Jean de Brébeuf.

Preview:

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SATB | Duration: 2m10 | Difficulty: Moderate

A new Christmas carol, in a traditional style, including a soprano descant for the last verse.

The words are an early 20th century English translation of a much older Polish lyric “W Żłobie Leży”, and the melody lightly echoes a more famous version of a translation “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”.

Tell, O shepherds, tell the story
Of the wonders ye have seen;
Of the King of grace and glory
Cradled in a manger mean;
Of th’incarnate Word most holy,
Lying In the stall so lowly.
Cum Maria Virgine.

How ye heard the angels singing
Canticles of holy mirth;
Ev’ry hill and vale a-ringing
With the chorus ‘Peace on earth
Peace and love end full salvation
Now is come to all creation.
Christus natus hodie.

He whom Seer and Prophet hoary,
Long fortold in time afore,
Lo, is here in fullest glory,
To abide for evermore.
Holy Babe we bow before Thee.
And on bended knee adore Thee.
Reddens laudes Domino.

SATB, some div, optional percussion | 2m30 | Early intermediate

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A dramatic a capella setting of Catherine Winkworth’s English lyric “Redeemer of the Nations, Come”.

Redeemer of the nations, come!
Ransom of earth, here make Thy home!
Bright Sun, oh dart Thy flame to earth,
For so shall God in Christ have birth!

Thou comest from Thy kingly throne,
O Son of God, the Virgin’s Son!
Thou Hero of a twofold race,
Dost walk in might earth’s darkest place.

Thou stoopest once to suffer here,
Risest o’er the starry sphere;
Hell’s gates at Thy descent were riven,
Ere thy ascent to highest Heaven.

How bright Thy lowly manger beams!
Down earth’s dark vale its glory streams,
The splendour of Thy natal night
Shines through all Time in deathless light.

Words: Veni, Redemptor Gentium, St. Ambrose; Komm Heidenheiland, Lösegeld, German trans. by Johann Franck; English trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1865. Thanks as ever to Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

Based on my solo/multitracked YouTube version — full choir, but similarly cinematic-medieval feel!

The words and melody of ‘Christe redemptor omnium’ are hundreds of years old. Here is an arrangement of the Christmas plainchant hymn for SATB choir divisi, the effect warm and full, building over the sevenfold structure of the piece.

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SATB unaccompanied, some divisi | Duration: 4m15 | Difficulty: Moderate (flexible, sustained singing)

We sang the original many times in Schola Cantorum and I fell in love with it.

Words:

1. Christe, redemptor omnium,
   ex Patre, Patris unice,
   solus ante principium
   natus ineffabiliter,
2. Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris,
   tu spes perennis omnium,
   intende quas fundunt preces
   tui per orbem servuli.
3. Salutis auctor, recole
   quod nostri quondam corporis,
   ex illibata Virgine
   nascendo, formam sumpseris.
4. Hic praesens testatur dies,
   currens per anni circulum,
   quod a solus sede Patris
   mundi salus adveneris;
5. Hunc caelum, terra, hunc mare,
   hunc omne quod in eis est,
   auctorem adventus tui
   laudat exsultans cantico.
6. Nos quoque, qui sancto tuo
   redempti sumus sanguine,
   ob diem natalis tui
   hymnum novum concinimus.
7. Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
   qui natus es de Virgine,
   cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
   in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Rhymed English translation by
John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

1. O Christ, the Father’s only Son,
   whose death for all redemption won,
   before the worlds, of God most high,
   begotten all ineffably.
2. The Father’s Light and Splendour Thou
   their endless Hope to Thee that bow:
   accept the prayers and praise today
   that through the world Thy servants pay.
3. Salvation’s author, call to mind
   how, taking the form of humankind,
   born of a Virgin undefiled,
   Thou in man’s flesh becamest a Child.
4. Thus testifies the present day
   Through every year in long array,
   that Thou, salvation’s source alone
   proceedest from the Father’s Throne.
5. Whence sky, and stars, and sea’s abyss,
   and earth, and all that therein is,
   shall still, with laud and carol meet,
   the Author of thine Advent greet.
6. And we who, by Thy precious Blood
   from sin redeemed, are marked for God,
   on this, the day that saw Thy Birth,
   sing the new song of ransomed earth.
7. All honour, laud, and glory be,
   O Iesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
   whom with the Father we adore,
   and Holy Ghost forevermore. Amen.