1. |
Veni Redemptor Gentium
04:09
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Veni redemptor gentium,
(Come, redeemer of the peoples)
ostende partum Virginis;
(and show the birth from a virgin)
miretur omne saeculum:
(every age shall acclaim)
talis decet partus Deum.
(That such a birth befits God.)
Non ex virili semine,
(Not out of human seed)
sed mystico spiramine
(but out of godly breath)
Verbum Dei factum est caro
(the Word of God is made flesh)
fructusque ventris floruit.
(And the fruit of the womb flourishes.)
Alvus tumescit Virginis,
(The virgin womb became pregnant)
claustrum pudoris permanet,
(yet remained a bastion of chastity,)
vexilla virtutum micant,
(the standards of virtue shine [there],)
versatur in templo Deus.
(God dwells in [such] temple.)
Procedat e thalamo suo,
(Let him come from his chamber,)
pudoris aula regia,
(the kingly dwelling of chastity,)
geminae gigas substantiae
(a giant of twofold substance)
alacris ut currat viam.
(Intent on fulfilling [his] destiny.)
-St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397)
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2. |
Ne Timeas Maria
03:30
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Ne timeas Maria,
(Fear not, Mary,)
invenisti enim gratiam apud Dominum:
(for you have found favor with the Lord:)
ecce concipies in utero et paries filium,
(behold, you shall conceive and bring forth a son)
et vocabitur Altissimi Filius.
(And he shall be called the Son of the Most High)
-Luke 1:31-32
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3. |
Hodie Christus Natus Est
02:54
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Hodie Christus natus est:
(Today Christ is born:
)
Hodie Salvator apparuit:
(Today the Savior appeared:
)
Hodie in terra canunt Angeli,
(Today on Earth the angels sing,
)
laetantur Archangeli
(Archangels rejoice:
)
Hodie exsultant justi, dicentes:
(Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
)
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia.
(Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia.)
-Antiphon to the magnificat
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4. |
The Holly and the Ivy
02:09
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The holly and the ivy,
Now both are full well grown.
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
Oh, the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer.
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the quire.
The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Savior.
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.
The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
-Traditional English
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5. |
Alma Redemptoris Mater
02:18
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Alma Redemptoris Mater,
(Loving mother of the Redeemer,)
quae pervia caeli porta manes,
(who remains the gate by which we enter heaven,)
et stella maris,
(and star of the sea,)
succurre cadenti surgere qui curat populo:
(help your fallen people who strive to rise.)
Tu quae genuisti, natura mirante,
(You who gave birth, amazing nature,)
tuum sanctum Genitorem:
(to your sacred Creator:)
Virgo prius ac posterius,
(Virgin prior and following,)
Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud Ave,
(taking from the mouth of Gabriel that hail,)
peccatorum miserere.
(have mercy on our sins.)
-Marian antiphon
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6. |
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There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu;
Alleluia.
For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space;
Res miranda.
By that rose we may well see
That he is God in persons three,
Pari forma.
The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis deo:
Gaudeamus.
Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth;
Transeamus.
-Anonymous
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7. |
In Natali Domini
01:22
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In Natali Domini
clamant mortalex singuli:
Wo ist uns ein Kind geborn?
Zu Bethlehem ist uns geborn ein Kindelein.
Wo, wo, wo ist uns ein Kind geborn?
Zu Bethlehem, zu Bethlehem
ist uns geborn ein Kindelein
gewinden in ein Tuechelein.
Jesus ist der Name sein.
At the birth of the Lord
cried out all mortal together:
Where is the child born for us?
In Bethlehem is the little child born for us,
wrapped in a blanket,
Jesus is his name.
-Latin, 14th Century
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8. |
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Ding dong! merrily on high
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with Angel singing.
REFRAIN
Gloria,
Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria,
Hosanna in excelsis!
E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
-G.R. Woodward
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9. |
Puer Natus est nobis
03:46
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Puer natus est nobis
(A boy is born to us,)
Et filius datus est nobis
(And a son is given to us,)
Cuius imperium super humerum eius
(upon whose shoulders authority rests,)
Et vocabitur nomen eius
(and his name will be called)
Magni consilii Angelus.
(“The Angel of great Council”.)
Cantate Domino canticum novum
(Sing to the Lord a new song,)
Quia mirabilia fecit.
(because he has done the miraculous.)
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto
(Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.)
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,
(As it was in the beginning, and is now, and always will be.)
in secula seculorum. Amen.
(In every human generation. Amen.)
-Introit for Third Mass of the Nativity and for the Octave of the Nativity
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10. |
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Dormi, Jesu! Mater ridet
(Sleep sweet babe! My cares beguiling:
)
Quae tam dulcem somnum videt,
(Mother sits beside thee smiling;)
Dormi, Jesu! Blandule!
(Sleep, my darling, tenderly!
)
Si non dormis, Mater plorat,
(If thou sleep not, mother mourneth,)
Inter fila cantans orat,
(Singing as her wheel she turneth:)
Blande, veni, somnule.
(Come, soft slumber, balmily!)
-Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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11. |
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Mary had the little Baby, Born in Bethlehem,
Every time the Baby cry, She rock in a weary land.
Ain't that a rockin' all night, ain't that a rockin' all night long.
-South Carolina folk song
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12. |
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Mary, what you gonna name that pretty little baby?
Glory be to the newborn King.
If you follow that star, you'll surely find a baby,
Glory be to the newborn King.
Some call him one thing, think I'll call him Jesus,
Glory be to the newborn King.
Some call him Jesus, think I'll call him 'Manuel,
Glory be to the newborn King.
Some call him Emmanuel, think I'll call him Savior,
Glory be to the newborn King.
-Folk carol
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13. |
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Have you heard about our Jesus?
Jesus, Jesus, rest your head,
You have got a manger bed;
All the evil folks on earth
Sleep in feathers at their birth.
Jesus, Jesus, rest your head,
You have got a manger bed;
Have you heard about our Jesus?
Have you heard about his fate?
How his mother went to the stable,
On that Christmas Eve so late?
Winds were blowing, cows were lowing,
Stars were glowing, glowing, glowing.
Jesus, Jesus, rest your head,
You have got a manger bed;
Have you heard about our Jesus?
-Traditional American
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14. |
O Magnum Mysterium
03:19
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O magnum mysterium
(Oh great mystery)
et admirabile sacramentum,
(and wonderful sacrament,
)
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
(that animals should see the newborn Lord
)
jacentem in praesepio.
(Lying in a manger!)
-Fourth of the nine responsories for Matins of Christmas Day
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15. |
Hodie Christus Natus Est
02:16
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Hodie Christus natus est:
(Today Christ is born:
)
Hodie Salvator apparuit:
(Today the Savior appeared:
)
Hodie in terra canunt Angeli,
(Today on Earth the angels sing,
)
laetantur Archangeli
(Archangels rejoice!
)
Hodie exsultant justi, dicentes:
(Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
)
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia.
(Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia.)
-Antiphon to the magnificat
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16. |
In Dulci Jubilo
03:11
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In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage shew:
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio,
Alpha es et O!
O Jesu parvule,
My heart is sore for Thee!
Hear me, I beseech Thee,
O puer optime;
My praying let it reach Thee,
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te.
O patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Deep were we stained
Per nostra crimina:
But thou has for us gained
Coelorum gaudia,
O that we were there
O that we were there!
Ubi sunt gaudia,
If that they be not there?
There are Angels singing
Nova cantica;
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
O that we were there!
There are Angels singing
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
O that we were there!
O that we were there!
-translated by R.L. Pearsall
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17. |
I Saw Three Ships
01:00
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I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas day in the morning.
Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
On Christmas day in the morning.
-Traditional British carol
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18. |
The Lamb
02:56
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Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
-William Blake, 1789
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19. |
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The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.
His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.
For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.
I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.
This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.
-Anon. New Hampshire, 1784
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20. |
Stille Nacht
03:21
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Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
(Silent night, holy night,)
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
(All is sleeping, alone watches)
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
(Only the close, most holy couple)
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
(Blessed Boy in curly hair)
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
(Sleep in heavenly peace!)
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
(Silent night, holy night,)
Hirten erst kundgemacht
(Shepherds just informed)
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
(By the angels' Halleluja,)
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
(It rings out far and wide:)
Christ, der Retter ist da!
(Christ the Savior is here!)
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
(Silent night, holy night,)
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
(Son of God, oh how laughs)
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
(Love out of your divine mouth,)
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
(Because now the hour of salvation strikes for us.)
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
(Christ, in thy birth!)
-Joseph Mohr 1816
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