Christmas Carols and Hymns ‎#34

34. In Dulci Jubilo

1 In dulci jubilo!
Let us our homage show!
Our heart's joy reclineth
In præsepio!
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio!
Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!
O patris charitas!
O nati lenitas,
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina,
But thou hast for us gained
Cœlorum gaudia.
O that we were there,
O that we were there!
Ubisunt gaudia, where,
If that they be not there?
There are angels singing
Nova cantica;
There the bells are ringing,
In Regis curia.
O that we were there,
O that we were there!
There are angels singing,
There the bells are ringing,
In Regis curia.
O that we were there,
O that we were there!

2 O Jesu parvule!
My heart is sore for thee!
Hear me, I beseech thee,
O puer optime!
My prayer, let it reach thee,
O princeps gloriæ!
Trahe me post te!
Trahe me post te!
O patris charitas!
O nati lenitas,
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina,
But thou hast for us gained
Cœlorum gaudia.
O that we were there,
O that we were there!
Ubisunt gaudia, where,
If that they be not there?
There are angels singing
Nova cantica;
There the bells are ringing,
In Regis curia.
O that we were there,
O that we were there!
There are angels singing,
There the bells are ringing,
In Regis curia.
O that we were there,
O that we were there!

Text Information

• First Line: In dulci jubilo!
• Title: In Dulci Jubilo
• Translator: R. L. De Pearsall
• Language: English; Latin
• Publication Date: 1910

Tune Information

• Name: [In dulci jubilo!]
• Harmonizer: R. L. de Pearsall
• Arranger: W. J. Westbrook
• Key: F Major
• Notes: half note = 126

Text Information:

The original melody employed, as a Cantus firmus, in the following composition, is to be found in an old German book published in the year 1570,—which, from its title and contents, appears to have contained the ritual of the Protestant Congregations of Zweibrücken and Neuburg. Even there it is called "A very ancient song (uraltes Lied) for Christmas-eve;" so that there can be no doubt that it is one of those old Roman Catholic melodies which Luther, on account of their beauty, retained in the Protestant service. It was formerly sung in the processions which took place on Christmas Eve, and is so still in those remove parts of Germany where people yet retain old customs. The words are written half in Latin and half in upper German dialect. I have translated them to fit the music, and endeavored to preserve, as much as I could, the simplicity of the original. R. L. de Pearsall

Tune Information:

The original melody employed, as a Cantus firmus, in the following composition, is to be found in an old German book published in the year 1570,—which, from its title and contents, appears to have contained the ritual of the Protestant Congregations of Zweibrücken and Neuburg. Even there it is called "A very ancient song (uraltes Lied) for Christmas-eve;" so that there can be no doubt that it is one of those old Roman Catholic melodies which Luther, on account of their beauty, retained in the Protestant service. It was formerly sung in the processions which took place on Christmas Eve, and is so still in those remove parts of Germany where people yet retain old customs. The words are written half in Latin and half in upper German dialect. I have translated them to fit the music, and endeavored to preserve, as much as I could, the simplicity of the original. R. L. de Pearsall