Categories: hymns
Date: 20 December 2004 22:33:18
As we approach Christmas, I thought I'd reflect on a few of my favourite Christmas hymns / carols.
I am eagerly awaiting my first service at an Orthodox church for Christmas. One of the hymns for Christmas particularly strikes me already:
Your Nativity, O Christ our God,For by it, those who worshipped the stars, were taught by a Star to adore You: the contrasting of the worshipping of stars to being led by a star to worship is beautiful. There are many hymns in the Orthodox Church with such contrasts -- I'm sure there is a technical name for this, but I don't know it! -- and they never cease to cause wonder: simply beautiful.
Has shone to the world the Light of wisdom!
For by it, those who worshipped the stars,
were taught by a Star to adore You,
the Sun of Righteousness,
and to know You, the Orient from on High.
O Lord, glory to You!
I first looked at In Dulci Jubilo deeply when I was learning German: using songs to help you learn a language is one of the ways I find helpful. And in terms of hymns and other sacred music, I was rather spoilt for choice with many great German writers (Martin Luther, Joachim Neander, Justus Falckner and Paul Gerhardt to name a few). In Dulci Jubilo, as well as having a wonderfully complementary joyful melody that you can't help being swept up in, is soaked through with joy at the coming of Christ, the Saviour of the world, and the ineffable joy of being in Regis curia (in the court of the King, if my limited Latin does not fail me ;-)).
In dulci jubilo
nun singet und seid froh!
Unsers Herzens Wonne
leit in praesepio,
und leuchtet als die Sonne,
Matris in gremio.
Alpha es et O! Alpha es et O!O Jesu parvule
nach dir ist mir so Weh!
Tröst mir mein Gemüte,
o puer optime
durch alle deine Güte,
o princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te! Trahe me post te!O Patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Wir wären all verloren
per nostra crimina,
so hat er uns erworben
coelorum gaudia:
eia, wären wir da! Eia, wären wir da!Ubi sunt gaudia,
nirgends mehr denn da!
Da die Engel singen,
nova cantica.
Und die Schellen klingen,
in Regis curia:
eia, wären wir da! Eia, wären wir da!Michael Prætorius (1571-1621)