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.

[ Buy and download on Sheet Music Plus ]

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.