Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 12 - Another year, another Holiday season, another Twelve Days of Christmas - Before and After!  I hope you've made it through this chaotic year as best you could, and that you've been able to contemplate - and perhaps even DO - some of the familiar holiday activities that bring us all comfort and joy.

The first of our Twelve Days contains two carols - one from Germany, written by known poet and a known composer, and the second from Bohemia (part of the present day Czech Republic), a traditional carol with no known creator. And the funny part about it all, from my personal perspective, is that I thought they were the same carol! And they ARE very similar in sound and structure. Even their German names are very similar, at least from a non German-speaking American's point of view!

So let's delve into Ihr Kin­der­lein, kom­met (O, Come, Little Children) and after that, Kommet, ihr Hirten (Come, Ye Shepherds).

First, Ihr Kin­der­lein, kom­met (O, Come, Little Children). The poetic text was written around 1798 by Christoph von Schmid, with the title Die Kinder bei der Krippe (The Children at the Manger). The original poem had eight verses and it was published in 1811. Schmid then included it in his 1818 collection Blüten dem blühenden Alter gewidmet (Flowers dedicated to the flowering age). Together with other poems from this collection, it was set to music in 1837 by Franz Xaver Luft. However, the music which today is associated with Ihr Kin­der­lein, kom­met was written by composer Johann Abraham Peter Schulz. It originally appeared in 1794 as a secular song named Wie reizend, wie wonnig (How charming, how pleasant). Around 1832, Schulz's melody was combined with Schmid's poem for the collection Sechzig deutsche Lieder für dreißig Pfennig (Sixty German Songs for Thirty Pennies). In addition to its popularity as a Christmas carol, the song has become known around the world as one of the first pieces that children learn when studying the violin using the Suzuki method.

Off we go . . .

Ihr Kinderlein, kommet, o kommet doch all!
Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall
und seht, was in dieser hochheiligen Nacht
der Vater im Himmel für Freude uns macht!
[the full German text is . . . here]

Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all,
To Bethlehem's stable, in Bethlehem's stall.
And see with rejoicing this glorious sight,
Our Father in heaven has sent us this night.

Oh, see in the manger, in hallowèd light
A star throws its beam on this holiest sight.
In clean swaddling clothes lies the heavenly Child,
More lovely than angels, this Baby so mild.

Oh, there lies the Christ Child, on hay and on straw;
The shepherds are kneeling before Him with awe.
And Mary and Joseph smile on Him with love,
While angels are singing sweet songs from above.

English translation by Melanie Schulte (1885–1922)

Ihr Kinderlein, kommet - Dresdner Kreuzchor

 

 

Our second tune, Nesem vám noviny (in German: Kommet, ihr Hirten; in English: Come, Ye Shepherds) is a traditional Bohemian carol, later translated into German and eventually into English. The German text was written as a free translation from the Czech original by Carl Riedel and first published in 1870 under the title Die Engel und die Hirten (The Angels and the Shepherds). The English version, translated by Mari Ruef Hofer as Come, All Ye Shepherds, was published in 1912.

Nesem vám noviny, poslouchejte
Z betlémské krajiny, pozor dejte
Slyšte je pilně a neomylně
Slyšte je pilně a neomylně
Rozjímejte

Kommet, ihr Hirten, ihr Männer und Fraun,
Kommet, das liebliche Kindlein zu schaun,
Christus, der Herr, ist heute geboren,
Den Gott zum Heiland euch hat erkoren.
Fürchtet euch nicht!

Come now, ye shepherds, away from your fold,
Come, the dear lovable Child to behold;
Gaze with delight on Christ, the Anointed,
By God as Savior for us appointed,
Banish all fear!

Yea, let us witness in Bethlehem's stall
What we have heard through the heavenly call;
There, with glad voices, publish the story,
Sing of the Savior's wonderful glory.
Hallelujah!

Truly the angels are singing to-day
Unto the shepherds this beautiful lay:
Peace in its fullness to you is granted,
Good will to mortals in all hearts planted.
Glory to God!

 Nesem vám noviny - Balthasar-Neumann-Chor

 

 Nesem vám noviny - Church of the Holy Family

 

 

Both carols appear on YouTube in many different performances. I feel that both carols sound best at a more up-tempo speed. I hope these two lovely, catchy, and boisterous carols will lift our spirits and sweep us into the 2021 Holiday Season - Enjoy!