|
The Score, Lyrics and Translation for
Gaudete are reproduced by the kind permission of Andrew D. R. Greenhill
"Gaudete" comes from "Piae Cantiones"
of which the date is 1582.
(Jistebrice Cantional, 1420) No music is given for the
verses in "Piae Cantiones" . They derive from the Bohemian
song, "Ezecheelis Porta", which Finnish clerical students would
have encountered in Prague and which shared a tune with a Czech vernacular
Christmas song that still survives. Finno, the editor of "Piae Cantiones",
was probably responsible for the refrain. It adapts the words of one of the
medieval verses to the music which, in various forms, was sung throughout
Lutheran Germany to Luther's single-stanza grace before meals, "Danket
dem Herren".
Verse three refers to the eastern gate of Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 44:2).
The gate is a traditional symbol of Mary as a perpetual virgin.
The present version of "Gaudete" is taken directly from that
which the well-known folk-rock group, "Steeleye Span", recorded
in 1972. The tune to the verses differs notably from that in the original
version but the refrain is exactly the same.
Andrew Greenhill
 
| LATIN |
ENGLISH TRANSLATION |
| . |
. |
| REFRAIN |
REFRAIN |
| Gaudete, Gaudete, Christus est natus |
Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born |
| Ex Maria Virgine, Gaudete! |
of the Virgin Mary, Rejoice! |
| ---- |
---- |
| VERSE 1. |
VERSE 1. |
| Tempus adest gratiae |
The hour of grace which we |
| Hoc quod optabamus, |
seek is here. |
| Carmina laetitiae |
We offer with devotion our |
| Devote reddamus. |
songs of gladness. |
| ---- |
---- |
| VERSE 2. |
VERSE 2. |
| Deus homo factus est, |
God is made man, a thing of |
| Natura mirante, |
wonder. |
| Mundus renovatus est, |
The world is renewed by |
| A Christo regnante. |
Christ's reign. |
| ---- |
---- |
| VERSE 3. |
VERSE 3. |
| Ezecheelis porta |
Light has arisen. Salvation |
| Clausa pertransitur, |
is come, |
| Undelux est orta |
Bursting the gates of |
| Salus invenitur. |
death. |
| ---- |
---- |
| VERSE 4. |
VERSE 4. |
| Ergo nostra contio |
Our congregation lustily |
| Psallat jam in lustro, |
rejoices now, |
| Benedicat domino, |
Giving blessing to God, |
| Salus Regi nostro. |
our Saviour and King. |
|
