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August 27, 2009
Nearly Christmas ...
Although it is only late August, I can see from my office window that the leaves on the sycamore outside are turning yellow, and that, of course, leads me to think about Christmas. So I thought I'd share with you a few unusual Christmas carols I've sung over the years ...
The words are 12th century Latin, the tune German, ca. 1360. The whole thing, when done correctly, is guaranteed to send a shiver up your spine.
Personent hodie
voces puerulae,
laudantes iucunde
qui nobis est natus,
summo Deo datus,
et de virgineo ventre procreatus.
In mundo nascitur,
pannis involvitur
praesepi ponitur
stabulo brutorum,
rector supernorum.
perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.
Magi tres venerunt,
parvulum inquirunt,
Bethlehem adeunt,
stellulam sequendo,
ipsum adorando,
aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo.
Omnes clericuli,
pariter pueri,
cantent ut angeli:
advenisti mundo,
laudes tibi fundo.
ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.
Attributed to Richard Smart, Rector of Plymtree in Devon some time in the mid 15th century, this is, apparently, the first known Christmas carol to personify Christmas ...
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
’Who is there that singeth so?’
’I am here, Sir Christëmas.’
’Welcome, my lord Christëmas,
Welcome to us all, both more and less
Come near, Nowell!’
“Buvez bien par toute la campagnie,
Make good cheer and be right merry.”
A perennial Danish favourite, it was composed in 1848, with music by Emil Hornemann and words by Peter Faber. Faber was an interesting character, being a poet and scientist, and had worked with H C Oersted (who established a link between electric current and magnetic fields, among other acheievements). He was appointed Director of Telegraphy in Denmark in 1852 when a project to lay a line between Elsinore in Northern Sjaelland and Hamburg was initiated, and before telegraphy had much of a hold in the country. He remained in the post for 25 years as the length of telegraph line grew to 2,800 km and the number of stations to 200. He died in 1877 of pneumonia contracted during a tour of inspection. Faber was also, apparently, Denmark's first recorded amateur photographer.
Højt fra træets grønne top
stråler juleglansen
spillemand, spil lystigt op
nu begynder dansen.
Læg nu smukt din hånd i min
ikke rør ved den rosin!
Først skal træet vises
siden skal det spises.
(High up on the tree's green top
gleams the Christmas star
Let the music play loud
and the dancing begins.
Put you hand nicely in mine
Don't touch that raisin!
The tree must be admired first
before that can be eaten!)
Se, børnlil, nu går det godt
I forstår at trave,
lad den lille Signe blot
få sin julegave.
Løs kun selv det røde bånd!
Hvor du ryster på din hånd
Når du strammer garnet,
kvæler du jo barnet!
Peter har den gren så kær,
hvorpå trommen hænger
hvergang han den kommer nær
vil han ikke længere.
Hvad du ønsker, skal du få
når jeg blot kan stole på
at du ej vil tromme
før min sang er omme.
Anna, hun har ingen ro
før hun får sin pakke
fire alen merino
til en vinterfrakke.
Barn, du blir mig altfor dyr
men da du så propert syr
sparer vi det atter,
ikke sandt, min datter?
Denne fane ny og god
giver jeg til Henrik.
Du er stærk og du har mod
du skal være fændrik.
Hvor han svinger fanen kækt
Børn, I skylder ham respekt
vid, det er en ære,
Dannebrog at bære.
O, hvor er den blød og rar
sikken dejlig hue!
Den skal sikre bedstefar
imod frost og snue.
Lotte, hun kan være stolt
tænk jer, hun har garnet holdt!
Det kan Hanne ikke,
hun kan bare strikke.
Børn, nu er jeg bleven træt
og I får ej mere.
Moder er i køkkenet,
nu skal hun traktere.
Derfor får hun denne pung,
løft engang, hvor den er tung!
Julen varer længe,
koster mange penge.
Posted by daen at August 27, 2009 04:08 PM
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