The Twelve Day of Christmas

Day 5 - The Italian-American Pietro Yon (1886-1943) was known primarily as a virtuoso organist. He graduated with honors from Rome’s Accademia di Santa Cecilia, gave a command performance before the King of Italy, and was appointed deputy organist of the Vatican all before he was twenty-one years old. He later moved to the United States and became organist and choir director of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, a position he held for nearly twenty years. His most famous work, the lovely carol Gesù Bambino (1917), resembles an old Italian Christmas pastorale, with its long melodic line, dotted rhythms and triple meter [see other examples like the Pastorale from Corelli's Christmas Concerto, and the Pifa from Handel's Messiah]. The melody and lyrics of the chorus are derived from the chorus of the popular carol Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful). [a thank you to Michael Moore for his note about this carol]

Nell'umile capanna      In the humble hut,
nel freddo e povertà      In cold and poverty
è nato il Santo pargolo    The Holy infant is born,
che il mondo adorerà.      Who the world will adore.

Osanna, osanna cantano    Hosanna, hosanna, sing
con giubilante cor       With a joyous heart,
i tuoi pastori ed angeli  Your shepherds and angels,
o re di luce e amor.       O King of light and love.

Venite adoremus        Come let us adore,
venite adoremus        Come let us adore,
venite adoremus        Come let us adore
Dominum.               Christ the Lord.

O bel bambin non piangere  O beautiful boy do not cry
non piangere, Redentor!    Do not cry, Redeemer!
la mamma tua cullandoti    Your mother cradles you,
ti bacia, O Salvator.     Kisses you, O Savior.

Osanna, osanna cantano    Hosanna, hosanna, sing
con giubilante cor       With a joyous heart,
i tuoi pastori ed angeli  Your shepherds and angels,
o re di luce e amor.       O King of light and love.

Venite adoremus        Come let us adore,
venite adoremus        Come let us adore,
venite adoremus        Come let us adore
Dominum.               Christ the Lord.

Gesù Bambino - Kathleen Battle & Frederica von Stade

Gesù Bambino - Chicago Christmas Holiday Harpist

Gesù Bambino - arranged and performed by Jennifer Eklund