Personent hodie
"Personent hodie" is a
Textual origins
The
Songs from Piae Cantiones continued to be performed in Finland until the 19th century.[5] The book became well known in Britain after a rare copy of Piae Cantiones owned by Peter of Nyland was given as a gift to the British Minister in Stockholm. He subsequently gave it to John Mason Neale in 1852, and it was from this copy that Neale, in collaboration with Thomas Helmore published songs in two collections in 1853 and 1854 respectively.[5]
Translations
The most common English translation of the text is by "James M. Joseph", a pseudonym of the composer
Arrangements
The carol became more prominent in England after being arranged for unison voices and orchestra in 1916 by
In addition to Holst's version, there is a harmonised choral arrangement by Hugh Keyte and
A popular arrangement of the carol was written by Dr. Lara Hoggard as a Festival Procession[15] that has been performed with full orchestra and organ [16] and features a brass introduction and a climatic "Gloria in excelsis Deo".[17]
Several recorded versions are arranged in a more
The contemporary English cross-disciplinary music ensemble North Sea Radio Orchestra have recorded a small-ensemble instrumental version of the piece arranged for two violins, cello, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, piano, vibraphone, chamber organ and guitar. This appears on their 2008 album Birds.
Jazz musician Wayne Shorter recorded his arrangement of melody under the name 12th Century Carol on his 2003 album Alegria.
Robert Cummings, writing in the
Bass guitarist/composer Chris Squire recorded his arrangement on the 2007 album Chris Squire's Swiss Choir accompanied by guitarist Steve Hackett and the English Baroque Choir.
Text
Latin text of "Personent hodie" (1582) | Literal translation | English translation by Jane M. Joseph (1894–1929)[7] | Latin text of "Intonent hodie" (c. 1360)[20] |
---|---|---|---|
Personent hodie voces puerulae, laudantes iucunde qui nobis est natus, summo Deo datus, et de vir, vir, vir (2x) |
Let resound today the voices of children, joyfully praising Him who is born to us, given by most high God, and conceived in a virginal womb. |
On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing |
Intonent hodie Voces ecclesiae, |
In mundo nascitur, pannis involvitur |
He was born into the world, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger in a stable for animals, the master of the heavens. The prince of Hell has lost his spoils. |
His the doom, ours the mirth; when he came down to earth, |
Sanctus hic inclitus, Domino subditus, |
Magi tres venerunt, munera offerunt, |
Three Magi came, they were bearing gifts, and sought the little one, following a star, to worship him, and offer him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. |
God's bright star, o'er his head, Wise Men three to him led; |
Parenti misero Submerso puero |
Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri, |
Let all the junior clerics and also the boys sing like angels: "You have come to the world, I pour out praises to you. Therefore, glory to God in the highest!" |
On this day angels sing; with their song earth shall ring, |
Tribus virginibus Victu carentibus |
In several versions, such as the Holst arrangement, the third verse has "parvulum inquirunt, Bethlehem adeunt" in place of "munera offerunt, parvulum inquirunt."
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Robert Cummings, "Personent hodie" at allmusic, URL accessed 4 January 2009
- ^ a b c d e f Hugh Keyte, Andrew Parrott, "Personent Hodie, On This Day Earth Shall Ring" in The Musical Times, Vol. 133, No. 1795 (September 1992), pp. 1–4
- ^ a b "On This Day Earth Shall Ring" at hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com, URL accessed 4 January 2009
- Oxford Book of Carols(London: Oxford University Press, 1928), p.171.
- ^ Oxford Book of Carols(London: Oxford University Press, 1928), p.291.
- ^ The Boys' Carol at Golden Hind Music, URL accessed 4 January 2009
- ^ a b "Personent hodie" at hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com, URL accessed 4 January 2009
- ^ a b Nine Lessons and Carols 2011 order of service at the Choir of King's College, Cambridge website, URL accessed 31 December 2011
- ^ Personent hodie arranged by Gustav Holst at the Choral Public Domain Library, URL accessed 4 January 2009
- ^ Erik Routley, An English-speaking Hymnal Guide, (London: Liturgical Press, 1979), p.140
- ^ God is love, his the care, at Hymnary.org, URL accessed 20 May 2020
- ^ Antony Pitts, The Naxos Book of Carols (Faber Music, 2003)
- ^ John Rutter, Dancing Day at singers.com, URL accessed 4 January 2009
- ^ Markus Tapio, Piae Cantiones: Latin Song in Medieval Finland. Naxos Records 8.554180
- ^ Hoggard, Lara. Personent Hodie: Suggestions for "Processional Choreography" (PDF).
- ^ "Personent Hodie".
- ^ "Personent Hodie". YouTube.
- ^ Brian Wilson, Review of A Tapestry of Carols at MusicWeb, URL accessed 27 January 2009
- ^ Anonymous 4, Legends of St. Nicholas. Harmonia Mundi HMU 907232
- ^ Guido Maria Dreves, [1]Analecta Hymnica Medii Aevi Volume: 21, (Leipzig: O.R. Reisland, 1895)
External links
- Personent hodie arranged by Gustav Holst at the Choral Public Domain Library