Nowel el el!
Concert Texts & Translations
lux aurumque – Eric whitacre
Lux,
Calida gravisque pura velut aurum
Et canunt angeli molliter
modo natum.
Light,
warm and heavy as pure gold
and angels sing softly
to the new-born babe.
Edward Esch, b.1970
(Translated to Latin by Charles Anthony Silvestri)
quem pastores laudavere – james bassi
Quem pastores laudavere,
quibus angeli dixere,
“Absit vobis jam timere,”
natus est Rex gloriae.
Ad quem magi ambulabant,
aurum, thus, myrrham portabant,
immolabant haec sincere
nato gloriae.
Christo regi, Deo nato,
per Mariam nobis dato,
merito resonet vere
laus, honor, et gloria.
The one praised by the shepherds,
to whom the angels said,
“Now lay aside your fears,”
has been born the king of glory.
To whom the wise men made their way,
bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh,
which they offered with open hearts
to the glorious birth.
To Christ the king, born God,
given to us through Mary,
let there resound as is truly fitting
praise, honor, and glory.
14th c. anonymous
CEREMONY OF CAROLS – benjamin britten
Procession
Hodie Christus natus est
Hodie Salvator apparuit,
Hodie in terra canunt angeli,
Laetantur archangeli,
Hodie exultant justi, dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Alleluia!
Today Christ is born
today the Savior has appeared
today the angels sing on earth
the archangels rejoice
today the righteous exult, saying
Glory to God in the highest, alleluia!
2. Wolcom Yole!
Wolcum, Wolcum,
Wolcum be thou hevenè king.
Wolcum Yole! Wolcum, born in one morning.
Wolcum for whom we sall sing!
Wolcum be ye Stevene and Jon.
Wolcum Innocentes every one.
Wolcum, Thomas marter one.
Wolcum, be ye, Good Newe Yere.
Wolcum Twelfth Day both in fere,
Wolcum, seintes lefe and dere,
Wolcum Yole!
Candelmesse, Quene of bliss.
Wolcum bothe to more and lesse.
Wolcum be ye that are here.
Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum alle and make good cheer.
Wolcum alle another yere.
Wolcum Yole! Wolcum!
3. There is no rose
There is no rose of such vertu
As is the rose that bare Jesu:
Alleluia.
For in this rose conteinèd was
Heaven and earth in littel space:
Res miranda.
By that rose we may well see
That he is God in persons three:
Pares forma.
The aungels sungen the shepherds to:
"Gloria in excelsis Deo",
Gaudeamus.
Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth:
Transeamus.
4a. That yongë child
That yongë child when it gan weep
With song she lulled him asleep;
That was so sweet a melody
It passèd alle minstrelsy.
The nightingalë sang also:
Her song is hoarse and nought thereto:
Whoso attendeth to her song
And leaveth the first then doth he wrong.
4b. Balulalow
O my deare hert, young Jesu sweit,
Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee to my hert
And never mair from thee depart.
But I sall praise thee evermoir
With sanges sweit unto thy gloir;
The knees of my hart sall I bow,
And sing that richt Balulalow!
5. As dew in Aprille
I sing of a maiden
that is makèles:
King of all kings
to her son she ches.
He came al so stille
there his moder was,
As dew in Aprille
that falleth on the grass.
He came al so stille
to his moder's bour,
As dew in Aprille
that falleth on the flour.
He came al so stille
there his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille
that falleth on the spray.
Moder and mayden
was never none but she;
Well may such a lady
Goddes moder be.
6. This little babe
This little Babe so few days old
is come to rifle Satan's fold;
all hell doth at his presence quake
though he himself for cold do shake;
for in this weak unarmèd wise
the gates of hell he will surprise.
With tears he fights and wins the field,
his naked breast stands for a shield;
his battering shot are babish cries,
his arrows looks of weeping eyes,
his martial ensigns Cold and Need
and feeble Flesh his warrior's steed.
His camp is pitchèd in a stall,
his bulwark but a broken wall;
the crib his trench, haystacks his stakes;
of shepherds he his muster makes;
and thus, as sure his foe to wound,
the angels' trump alarum sound.
My soul, with Christ join thou in fight,
stick to the tents that he hath pight.
Within his crib is surest ward,
this little Babe will be thy guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
then flit not from this heavenly Boy.
7. Interlude – Harp Solo
8. In freezing winter night
Behold, a silly tender babe in freezing winter night,
In homely manger trembling lies; alas, a piteous sight!
The inns are full, no man will yield this little pilgrim bed.
But forced he is with silly beasts, in crib to shroud his head.
This stable is a Prince's court, this crib his chair of State;
The beasts are parcel of his pomp, this wooden dish his plate.
The persons in that poor attire his royal liveries wear;
The Prince himself is come from Heav'n; this pomp is prizèd there.
With joy approach O Christian wight, do homage to thy King;
And highly praise his humble pomp, which he from Heav'n doth bring.
9. Spring Carol
Pleasure it is
To hear, iwis,
The Birdès sing.
The deer in the dale,
The sheep in the vale,
The corn springing.
God’s purveyance
For sustenance,
It is for man.
Then we always
To give him praise,
And thank him than,
And thank him than.
10. Deo gracias!
Deo gratias!
Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond,
Four thousand winter
Thought he not to long.
Deo gratias!
And all was for an appil,
An apple that he took,
As clerkès finden
Written in their book.
Né had the appil takè ben,
Né hadè never our lady
A ben hevenè quene.
Blessèd be the time
That appil takè was.
Therefore we moun singen:
Deo gratias!
11. Recession
Hodie Christus natus est
Hodie Salvator apparuit,
Hodie in terra canunt angeli,
Laetantur archangeli,
Hodie exultant justi, dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Alleluia!
quatre motets pour le temps de noël – francis poulenc
O magnum mysterium
O magnum mysterium
et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
jacentem in praesepio.
Beata Virgo cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
O great mystery
and wonderful sacrament
that even the animals saw the newborn Lord
lying in a manger.
Blessed Virgin, whose womb
was worthy to bear
our Lord Christ.
Quem vidistis, pastores
Quem vidistis, pastores, dicite,
annuntiate nobis, in terris quis apparuit?
Natum vidimus et choros angelorum
collaudantes Dominum.
Dicite, quidnam vidistis?
et annuntiate Christi nativitatem.
Whom did you see, shepherds, say,
tell us: who has appeared on earth?
The new-born we saw and choirs of angels
praising the Lord.
Say, what did you see?
And tell us of Christ’s nativity.
Videntes stellam
Videntes stellam Magi
gavisi sunt gaudio magno:
et intrantes domum
obtulerunt Domino aurum,
thus et myrrham.
Seeing the star, the wise men
were overwhelmed with great joy;
and entering the dwelling,
they offered to the Lord
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Hodie Christus Natus Est
Hodie Christus natus est:
Hodie Salvator apparuit:
Hodie in terra canunt Angeli,
laetantur Archangeli
Hodie exsultant justi, dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia.
Today Christ is born:
Today the Savior appeared:
Today on Earth the Angels sing,
Archangels rejoice:
Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
Glory to God in the highest.
Alleluia.
NOWEL EL EL – PIERS CONNOR KENNEDY
1. Procession – O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni, ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.
O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver,
the Expected of the Nations and their Saviour:
come, to save us, O Lord our God.
2. That lovely lady sat and song
Thys endris nyght [the other night]
I saw a sight
A stare as bryght as day,
And ever among
A mayden song,
‘Lullay, by-by, lullay.’
That lovely lady sat and song,
And to hyr chyld con say,
‘My sone, my broder, my fader der,
Why lyest thou thus in haye?
My sweet bryd,
Thus it ys betyde,
Thow thou be kyng veray;
But nevertheles
I wyll not ses
To syng “by-by, lullay”.’
Thys endris nyght (etc.)
‘My der moder, whan tym it be, [when the time comes]
Thou take me up on loft, [pick me up]
And set me ryght upon thi kne,
And handyll me full soft,
And in thi arme
Thou hyl me warme, [cover me up warm]
And kepe me nyght and day;
If I wepe
And may not slepe,
Than syng “by-by, lullay”.’
Thys endris nyght (etc.)
3. Owt of your slepe aryse and wake
Nowel, nowel, nowel,
Nowel, nowel, nowel!
Owt of your slepe aryse and wake,
For God mankind nowe hath y-take
Al of a maide without eny make; [without any mate/peer]
Of al women she bereth the belle. [she takes the prize]
Nowel!
And throwe a maidë faire and wys [through]
Now man is made of ful grete pris; [very great worth]
Now angeles knelen to mannes servys,
And at this tyme al this byfel.
Nowel!
Now man is brighter than the sonne;
Now man in heven an hye shal wone; [in heaven on high shall dwell]
Blessed be God this game is begonne,
And his moder, Emperesse of Helle.
Nowel!
That ever was thralle [enslaved], now ys he fre;
That ever was smalle, now grete is she;
Now shal God deme [assign] bothe the and me
Unto his blysse yf we do wel.
Nowel!
Now, blessëd brother, graunte us grace
A [at] domësday to se thy face
And in thy courte to have a place,
That we mow there synge the nowel. [may]
Nowel!
4. This flour is fayre and fresche of heue
There is a floure sprung of a tre,
The rote therof is called Jessé,
A floure of pryce; [a flower of excellence]
Ther is non seche in paradise.
This flour is fayre and fresche of heue;
Hit fades never bot ever is new;
The blisful branche this flour on grew
Was Mary myld, that bare Jhesu,
A flour of grace;
Ayayns al sorrow hit it is solas. [against]
The sede herof was Godës sond,
That God himselve sew with his hond,
In Bedlem, in that holy lond,
Medis here herbère ther he hir fond; [in the middle of her garden where he found her]
This blisful floure
Sprang never bot in Maris boure [Mary’s bower]
I pray youe, flours of this cuntré,
Whereevere ye go, wereever ye be,
Hold up the flour of good Jessé
Fore your frescheness and youre beuté,
As fairest of al,
And ever was and ever schal.
There is a floure sprung of a tre,
The rote therof is called Jessé,
A floure of pryce; [a flower of excellence]
Ther is non seche in paradise.
5. Puer nobis natus est
Puer nobis natus est
De virgine Maria.
Lystenyt, lordyngs, more and lees,
Y bryng yow tydynges of gladnes,
As Gabryel beryt wytnes;
Dicam vobis quia.
I bryng yow tydynges that ben gowde,
Now es he borne a blyesful fowde,
That boght us alle upon the rode,
Sua morte pia.
For the trespas of Adam,
For ys fader of Jhesu ho cam.
Hereto myrthe us bygan
Teste prophecia.
Mary, modur and leve virgyn,
That bare of child wythouten syn,
Kepe us all fro helle pyn,
De virgine Maria.
6. Nowel el el
Nowel el el el el el el el el el el el el el el el!
Nowel el! bothe eld and yyng,
Nowel el! now mow we syng,
In worchepe of our heavene kyng,
Almyty God in Trinité.
An aungyl fro hefne was sent ful snel,
He name is clepëd Gabriel,
His ardene he dede ful snel,
He sat on kne and seyde, “Ave!”
And he seyde, "Mary, ful of grace,
Hevene and erthe in every place,
Withine the tyme of lytle space,
Reconsilëd it shuld be."
Mary on bryst here hand che leyd,
Stylle she stod, and thus she seyd,
"Lo me here Godes owyn hand mayd,
With herte and wil and body fre!"
Mary moder, mayde myld,
For the love al of thi chyld,
Fro helle pet thou us schyld,
Amen! amen! now synge we.
7. O sisters too
Lully, lulla, thow littel tiny child,
By-by, lully, lullay, thow littell tyny child,
By-by, lully, lullay!
O sisters too,
How may we do
For to preserve this day
This pore yongling
For whom we do singe,
‘By-by, lully, lullay’?
Herod the king
In his raging,
Chargëd he hath this day
His men of might
In his owne sight
All yonge children to slay.
That wo is me,
Pore child, for thee,
And ever morne and may
For thi parting
Nether say nor singe,
‘By-by, lully, lullay.’
Lully, lulla, thow littel tiny child,
By-by, lully, lullay, thow littell tyny child,
By-by, lully, lullay!
8. Of a rose, a lovely rose
Of a rose, a lovely rose,
Of a rose I syng a song.
Five branches of that rose ther ben [are],
The wychë ben both feyer and shene [which are both fair and beautiful];
Of a maydyn, Mary, hevyn queen,
Out of hyr bosum the branches sprong.
The first branch was of gret honour:
Ther cam an angell out hevyn toure [out of heaven’s tower],
That blyssëd Mary shuld ber the flour,
To breke the Develes bond.
The secund branch was gret of myght,
That sprong upon Cristmes nyght,
The sterrë shone and lemëd bryght,
That man schuld se both brod and longe [see far and wide].
The thridë branch gan spryng and spred [began to sprout and spread];
Thre kyngës than the branch gan led [three kings the branch then led]
Tho to owr Lady in hure childbed;
Into Bethlem that branch ryght sprong.
The fourthë branch, it sprong to hell,
The Develes power for to fell [vanquish],
That no soule therin shuld dwell,
The braunch so blessedfully sprong.
The fifthë branch, it was so swote [sweet],
Yt sprong to hevyn, both croppe and rote [top and root],
In every ball to ben owr bott [every tribulation to be our remedy],
So blessedly yt sprong.
9. When Cryst was born of Mary fre
Christo paremus cantica:
‘In excelsis gloria.’
When Cryst was born of Mary fre [noble]
In Bedlem, in that fayre cyté,
Angelles songen with myrth and gle,
‘In excelsis gloria.’
Herdmen beheld thes angelles bryght,
To hem apperëd with gret lyght
And seyd, ‘Goddes sone is born this nyght;
In excelsis gloria.’
Jesu, Lord, for thy gret grace,
Graunt us in blys to se thy face,
Where we may syng to the solas: [for thy pleasure]
‘In excelsis gloria.’
10. This rose is reed of colour bryght
Of a rose synge we:
Misterium mirabile.
This rose is reed of colour bryght,
Throw whom oure joye gan alyght,
Uppon a Cristys masse nyght,
Claro David germine.
Of this rose was Cryst ybore,
To save mankynde that was forlore;
And us alle from synnes sore,
Prophetarum carmine.
This rose, of flourys she is flour,
She ne wole fade for no shour,
To synful men she sent socour,
Mira plenitudine.
11. A babe is borne of hye natèwre
What tythynges bryngst us, messangère,
Of Cristës borth this New Eres Day?
A babe is borne of hye natèwre,
A Prynce of Pese that ever schal be;
Off heven and erthe he hath the cewre [charge];
Hys lordship is eterneté.
Seche wonder tythynges ye may here [bear]:
That God and mon is on in fere [God and man are united as one],
Our syn had mad bot fyndës pray [whom our sins made but prey for fiends].
A wonder thyng is now befall:
That Lord that mad both se and sun,
Heven and erth and angeles al,
In monkynde ys now becumme [has now become man]
Seche wondur tydynges ye mow here [bear]:
A faunt that is bot of on yere [an infant who is only in his first year]
Ever as ben and schal be ay [ever has been and ever shall be]
That Lord that al thyng mad of noght [made from nothing]
Is mon becum fore monnës love [has become man for love of man];
For with his blood he schul be boght [shall be redeemed]
From bale to blys that is above.
Seche wonder tythynges ye may here:
That Lord us grawnt now our prayère,
To dwel in heven that we may.
12. Procession – O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni, ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.
The shepherd’s carol – Bob chilcott
We stood on the hills, Lady,
Our day’s work done,
Watching the frosted meadows
That winter had won.
The evening was calm, Lady,
The air so still,
Silence more lovely than music
Folded the hill.
There was a star, Lady,
Shone in the night,
Larger than Venus it was
And bright, so bright.
Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady,
It seemed to us then
Telling of God being born
In the world of men.
And so we have come, Lady,
Our day’s work done,
Our love, our hopes, ourselves,
We give to your son.
o magnum mysterium – morten lauridsen
O magnum mysterium
et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
jacentem in praesepio.
Beata Virgo cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia!
O great mystery
and wonderful sacrament
that even the animals saw the newborn Lord
lying in a manger.
Blessed Virgin, whose womb
was worthy to bear
our Lord Christ.
Alleluia!