Our culmination of the
songs of the season for 2017 goes back to 14th Century Germany, by
way of one of my all-time favorite collector/composers, Michael
Praetorius, with some input from our pal Martin
Luther.
The text of “In Dulci
Jubilo” is what’s known as macaronic: a mashup of languages, in this case
(originally) German and Latin. I don’t know the story, but I like to think it
might have been an attempt to either dress up a vulgar (as in, not-posh, not as
in risqué) German thing with some high-toned Latin. Or to make something Latin
understandable to the masses. Or possibly it was just something resulting from
folks hitting the Glühwein and not being able to remember what language they
were supposed to be using.
It came down to us via
the 19th Century translation that swaps out the German for English,
retaining the Latin. We know it as “Good Christian Men, Rejoice”. (Fun fact:
when I was a kid I wondered why all the good Christian women were excluded.
Were they out fixing a meal? Or putting the kids to bed? I did not know.) It’s
also often sung in such a way as to make me think the choristers have been
hitting the Wassail—lotta glissando. It’s also one that I very often hear
performed by brass groups. It seems to suit those instruments particularly
well.
To give you an idea of
the macaronic thing, here are a couple of verses of the German version:
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.
Here it is, sung by the
choir of Exeter Cathedral:
The English version
(kind of mid-way between German and “Good Christian Men”) goes:
In dulci jubilo
Now sing with hearts
aglow
Our delight and pleasure
Lies in praesepio
Like sunshine is our
treasure
Patris in gremio
Alpha es et O
Alpha es et O
O Jesu parvule
For thee I sing always
Comfort my heart’s
blindness
O puer optime
With all thy loving
kindness
O princeps gloriae
Trahe me post te
Trahe me post te
And, “Good Christian Men,
Rejoice”:
Good Christian men,
rejoice
With heart and soul and
voice!
Give ye heed to what we
say
News! News
Jesus Christ is born
today!
Ox and ass before Him
bow
And He is in the manger
now
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
Good Christian men,
rejoice
With heart and soul and
voice
Now ye hear of endless
bliss
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born
for this
He hath ope’d the heav’nly
door
And man is blessed
evermore
Christ was born for this
Christ was born for this
And here it is sung in a
typically upbeat performance by a serviceable choir I’ve never before heard of.
Merry Christmas, and God
bless us every one.
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