Day 4 . . . Before we get started today, I just wanted to add a note to yesterday's music. My brother Mark sent me a note saying that Henry Howell's piece Here is the little door, was "influenced by the external social and political conditions of the time. If it was composed in 1918, as you indicate, it would be written in the fouth year of WWI . . . a massive, catastrophic event that devastated much of the Continent. In the UK around six million men were mobilized, and of those just over 700,000 were killed. So martial images and rituals of death may have felt appropriate for the moment." That puts the references at the end of the poem to 'gold, he gives a keen-edged sword . . . incense, smoke of battle red, [and] myrrh for the honoured happy dead' into a completely different context. Thanks so much for the insight!
Today we'll turn to another ancient and beautiful Christmas hymn, Of The Father’s Love Begotten. The latin text Corde natus ex parentis was written by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-413), a lawyer and judge serving under the Christian Emperor Theodosius in the Roman territory of Tarraconensis, which would be modern day Northern Spain. For the last 10 years of his life, Prudentius turned to writing poetry and hymns for the church. These words are taken from the Hymnus omnis horae (Hymn for every hour), a 37-stanza poem found in the hymn collection Cathemerinon. Corde natus ex parentis, originally containing nine verses, tells the story of the creation, fall and redemption of mankind through the incarnate Christ.
The music now associated with this text is the medieval plainchant melody Divinum mysterium. Divinum mysterium (with its own words) first appeared in the Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, published in 1582. The text of the Divinum mysterium was joined to the words of Prudentius's poem by Thomas Helmore in 1851.
To get us started, here are five of the verses sung by Skylark Vocal Ensemble (text is below):
Corde Natus Ex Parentis (Divinum Mysterium) - Skylark Vocal Ensemble
Corde natus ex parentis Of the Father's heart begotten,
Ante mundi exordium Ere the world from chaos rose,
A et O cognominatus, He is Alpha, from that Fountain
ipse fons et clausula All that is and hath been flows;
Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt, He is Omega, of all things,
quaeque post futura sunt. Yet to come the mystic Close,
Saeculorum saeculis. Evermore and evermore.
Ipse iussit et creata, By His Word was all created
dixit ipse et facta sunt, He commanded and 'twas done;
Terra, caelum, fossa ponti, Earth and sky and boundless ocean,
trina rerum machina, Universe of three in one,
Quaeque in his vigent All that sees the moon's soft radiance,
sub alto
solis et lunae globo. All that breathes beneath the sun,
Saeculorum saeculis. Evermore and evermore.
O beatus ortus ille, O how blest that wondrous birthday,
virgo cum puerpera When the Maid the curse retrieved,
Edidit nostram salutem, Brought to birth mankind's salvation
feta Sancto Spiritu, By the Holy Ghost conceived,
Et puer redemptor orbis And the Babe, the world's Redeemer
os sacratum protulit. In her loving arms received,
Saeculorum saeculis. Evermore and evermore.
Psallat altitudo caeli, Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises;
psallite omnes angeli, Angels and Archangels, sing!
Quidquid est virtutis usquam Wheresoe’er ye be, ye faithful,
psallat in laudem Dei, Let your joyous anthems ring,
Nulla linguarum silescat, Every tongue his name confessing,
vox et omnis consonet. Countless voices answering,
Saeculorum saeculis. Evermore and evermore.
Tibi, Christe, sit cum Patre Let the storm and summer sunshine,
hagioque Pneumate Gliding stream and sounding shore,
Hymnus, decus, laus perennis, Sea and forest, frost and zephyr,
gratiarum actio, Day and night their Lord alone;
Honor, virtus, victoria, Let creation join to laud thee
regnum aeternaliter. Through the ages evermore,
Saeculorum saeculis. Evermore and evermore.
Here's a fuller choral version posted online, unbelievably, just six days ago:
Of the Father's Love Begotten - Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church Section Leaders & Guest Artists
As I found out over the past week, there are so many lovely performances to choose from. Here's my favorite organ prelude on this theme (uploaded just five days ago!) . . .
Wilbur Held: Chorale Prelude, "Of Our Father's Love Begotten" (Divinum Mysterium) - Faith Loewe (organ)
And a serene transformation for celtic harp, played by Will the Harper:
Of the Father's Love Begotten - arranged as a slow Jig
And lastly, a gorgeous choral arrangement by Terry Schlenker (text is below) . . .
Of Our Father's Love Begotten (Divinum Mysterium) - St. Martin's Chamber Choir
Of the Father's love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessèd,
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Saviour of our race;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face,
Evermore and evermore!
This is He Whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him,
and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore!
Christ, to Thee with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, with Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving,
And unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore!
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