Gaudete (anon c1582)
performed by
Steeleye Span
Translation :
Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born
of the Virgin Mary, Rejoice!
The hour of grace which we seek is here.
We offer with devotion our songs of gladness.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born
of the Virgin Mary, Rejoice!
God is made man, a thing of wonder.
The world is renewed by Christ's reign.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born
of the Virgin Mary, Rejoice!
Light has arisen. Salvation is come,
Bursting the gates of death.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born
of the Virgin Mary, Rejoice!
Our congregation lustily rejoices now,
Giving blessing to God, our Saviour and King.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born
of the Virgin Mary, Rejoice!
Gaudete is a sacred
Christmas carol, thought to have been composed in the 16th century. It was included in
Piae Cantiones, a collection of Finnish/Swedish sacred songs published in 1581. 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".
