Day 10 . . . One night in 1328, the German mystic and Dominican monk Henrich Suso (or Seuse) had a vision in which he joined angels dancing as they sang to him Nun singet und seid froh (or in latin In Dulci Jubilo). The scene is described in Suso's biography/autobiography:
Now this same angel came up to the Servant [Suso] brightly, and said that God had sent him down to him, to bring him heavenly joys amid his sufferings; adding that he must cast off all his sorrows from his mind and bear them company, and that he must also dance with them in heavenly fashion. Then they drew the Servant by the hand into the dance, and the youth began a joyous song about the infant Jesus, which runs thus: 'In dulci jubilo' . . .
In Dulci Jubilo is one of the oldest and most famous "macaronic" song, which combines Latin and a vernacular language such as English or German. Five hundred years later (in 1853), this same carol became the inspiration for John Mason Neale English paraphrase, Good Christian Men, Rejoice.
If there's ANY tune that could be put in the Greatest Hits of All Time category, this would be one!
A search of In Dulci Jubilo on YouTube brings you a list of videos that goes on, and on, and on. Here's my varied selection . . . from one instrument (recorder) to one person playing or singing with themselves, to multiple voices. And then two selections from composer who were inspired to create works based on this memorable, long lasting and inspiring tune.
In Dulci Jubilo
Latin-German text
In dulci jubilo,
Nun singet und seid froh!
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Leit in praesepio;
Und leuchtet wie die Sonne
Matris in gremio.
Alpha es et O!
Literal English translation
In sweet rejoicing,
now sing and be glad!
Our hearts' joy
lies in the manger;
And it shines like the sun
in the mother's lap.
You are the alpha and omega!
In Dulci Jubilo - from Derby High School; the performer is unnamed
In Dulci Jubilo - Erik Dancy (trombones / during Covid)
In Dulci Jubilo - Josh Turner (voice / pre-Covid!)
In Dulci Jubilo - The Pocket Score Company
In Dulci Jubilo - Choir of King's College, Cambridge (arrangement by Robert Lucas Pearsall)
In Dulci Jubilo - Johann Michael Bach (1648-94) (a first cousin, once removed of J.S. Bach)
Stefan Skobowsky (organ)
In Dulci Jubilo - Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) - Ludwig Güttler Brass Ensemble
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