WCC Texts and Translations
Canite tuba / Rorate Coeli by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1585-15xx)
| Canite tuba in Sion, quia prope est dies Domini, ecce venit ad salvandum nos. Erunt prava in directa et aspera in vias planas. Veni, Domine, et noli tardare. Alleluia. —Advent antiphon based on Joel 2:1 and Isaiah 40:4 | Sound the trumpet in Zion, for the Lord’s day is near at hand, behold, he comes to save us. The crocked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. Come, O Lord, and do not delay. Alleluia. |
| Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra et germinet Salvatorem. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam, et salutare tuum da nobis. Veni, Domine, et noli tardare. Alleluia. —Advent introit based on Isaiah 45:8 | Rain down, heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour forth righteousness, let the earth open and bring forth a Savior. Show us, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation. Come, O Lord, and do not delay. Alleluia |
Xicochi conetzintle by Gaspar Fernández (ca. 1566-1629)
Leonardo Quintero, guitar
Xicochi conetzintle,
ca omitzhuihuixoco in angelosme.
Alleloia. —Anonymous Nahuatl text
Sleep gently, little child,
the angels have come to lull you to sleep.
Alleluia.
Wyandot’s Realm by Andrew Balfour (b.1967)
Manitou – Wyandot – Deo
Estenniayon de tsonwe Iesous ahatonnia.
Onn’ awatewa nd’ oki n’ onyouandaskwaentak.
Ennonchien eskwatrihotat n’onyouandiyonrachatha.
Iesous ahatonnia. In excelsis gloria.
Te hekwatatennonten ahekwachiendaen.
Ti hekwannonronkwannion de sonywentenrände.
outoyeti skwannonhwe icherhe akennonhonstha.
Iesous ahatonnia. In excelsis gloria Deo.
—Wyandot text attributed to Jean de Brébeuf, 17th century
Mysterious being – Wyandot people — God
Have courage, you who are humans. Jesus, he is born.
Behold, the spirit who held us as prisoners has fled.
Do not listen to it, as it corrupts our minds, the spirit of our thoughts.
Jesus, he is born. Glory in the highest.
We will give him praise, honor for his name.
Let us show reverence for him, as he comes to be compassionate with us.
It is providential that you love us, and think, “I should make them part of my family.”
Jesus, he is born. Glory to God in the highest.
Transl. John Steckley
Lullay, My Liking by Rhona Clarke (b. 1958)
Sarah Allison, soprano
I saw a fair maiden sitten and sing:
She lullèd a child, a sweetè lording.
Lullay, my liking, my dear son, my sweeting;
Lullay, my dear heart, mine own dear darling.
Eternal Lord is he that made allè thing;
Of allè lordès he is Lord, of allè kingès King.
There was mickle melody at that childès birth:
All that were in heaven’s bliss they made mickle mirth. mickle: much
Angels bright san that night and saiden to that Child,
“Blessèd be Thou, and so be she that is so meek and mild.”
—15th century English carol
Det hev ei rose sprunge by Ole Gjelo (b. 1978)
Rebecca Tigges, soprano
Alleluia
Det hev ei rose sprunge
Ut av ei rot så grann
Som fedrane hev sunge
Av Jesse rot ho rann
Og var ein blome blid
Midt i den kalde vinter
Ved mørke midtnattstid.
Om denne rosa eine
Er sagt Jesajas ord
Maria møy den reine
Bar rosa til vår jord
Og Herrens miskunns makt
Det store under gjorde
Som var i spådom sagt.
—16th century German carol;
Norwegian translation by Peter Hognestad
Alleluia
A rose has sprung forth
from a slender root
as the elders sang,
it ran from Jesse’s root,
from which a flower bloomed
amid the cold of winter
in the dark midnight.
About this single rose
Isaiah’s words were spoken:
The Virgin Mary, the pure,
who bore the rose on earth.
By the power of the Lord’s mercy
a great wonder occurred,
as was foretold in the prophecy.
Lulajże Jezuniu arr. Maciej Małecki (b. 1940)
Angela Bleke, soprano; Mark Anderson, baritone
Lulajże Jezuniu moja perełko,
lulaj ulubione me pieścidełko.
Lulajże Jezuniu lulajże lulaj,
a ty go Matuniu w płaczu utulaj.
Lulajże piękniuchny mój aniołeczku,
lulajże wdzięczniuchny świata kwiateczku.
Cyt, cyt, cyt, wszyscy się spać zabierajcie,
mojego dzieciątka nie przebudzajcie.
—17th century Polish carol
Sleep gently, little Jesus, my little pearl,
sleep gently, my favorite little delight.
Sleep gently, little Jesus, sleep gently,
and you, Mother, soothe him when he cries.
Sleep gently, our beautiful angel,
sleep gently, the most graceful flower in the world.
Hush, hush, hush, get ready for bed, everyone,
don’t wake my baby.
Christmas Bells Roderick Williams (b. 1965)
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1863)
Silent Night Franz Gruber, arr. Thomas Whitfield (1954-1992) and Brandon Waddles (b. 1988)
Ava Greenberg, guest soloist; Tristan Swihart, drums
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!
—Joseph Mohr, English translation by John Freeman Young
Alleluia from Ballade of the Brown King by Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)
Barbara Fischer soprano; Sarah Hallas, alto
Alleluia! Christ the King.
Alleluia! So they sing!
He is Christ the King, Alleluia!
Alleluia! Praise His name!
Alleluia! Christ the King!
Alleluia! They did sing!
—Langston Hughes
Intermission
Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest by Conrad Susa (1935-2013)
Leonardo Quintero, guitar; Sonia Driskill, harp; Tristan Swihart, percussion
I. ¡Oh, mi Belén!
¡Oh, mi Belén!
Llegó tu hora bien amada,
¡oh, mi Belén!
La luz que irradias sin cesar,
es como un faro que nos guía
en nuestra ruta, noche y día.
—Biscayan carol
Oh, my Bethlehem!
Your well loved hour has arrived,
oh, my Bethlehem!
The light, which you radiate without ceasing,
is like a lighthouse that guides us
on our way, night and day.
II. El Decembre congelat
El desembre congelat,
confús es retira.
Abril, de flos coronat,
tot el món admira.
Quan en un jardí d’amor,
neix una divina flor
D’una rosa bella
fecunda y poncella.
El primer pare causà
la nit tenebrosa
Que a tot el mon ofusca
la vista penosa.
Mes en una mitja nit,
brilla el sol que n’és eixit
D’una bella aurora
que el cel enamora.
El mes de maig ha florit,
sense ser encara,
Un lliri blanc i polit
de fragancia rara,
Que per tot el món se sent,
de Llevant fins a Ponent,
Tota sa dulcura
i olor amb ventura.
—Catalonian carol
Frozen December
retreats in confusion;
while April, crowned with flowers,
is admired by the whole world,
when in a garden of love
a divine flower is born
of a beautiful rose,
fertile yet virgin.
The first father [Adam] brought on
the dark night
which in all the world
darkened the painful sight,
when, one midnight
the sun suddenly shines forth,
announcing a beautiful dawn
that delights the sky.
The month of May has blossomed,
but not yet in full flower,
a soft white lily
of rare fragrance
that is sensed throughout the world
from the east to the west,
in all its sweetness,
and aroma, with bliss.
III. Alegría
Luis Pesantez Tello and Elijah Shaw, baritones
Hacia Belén se encaminan
María con su amante esposo,
llevando en su compañía
un todo un Dios poderoso.
¡Alegría y placer!
Que la virgen va de paso
con su esposo hacia Belén.
En cuanto Belén llegaron,
posada el punto pidieron,
nadie les quiso hospedar,
porque tan pobres les Vieron.
Los pajarillos del bosque,
al ver pasar los esposos,
les cantaban melodías
con sus trinos harmoniosos.
—Puerto Rican carol
Heading towards Bethlehem,
Mary and her beloved husband
travel in the company of
the almighty God.
Joy and pleasure!
For the Virgin walks by
with her husband, towards Bethlehem.
When they arrived in Bethlehem
they searched for an inn.
No one wanted to host them
because they looked so poor.
The little birds of the forest,
as they saw the couple pass by,
sang melodies
with their harmonious chirping.
IV. A la nanita nana
A la nanita nana, nanita ea,
mi Jesús tiene sueño,
bendito sea nanita sea.
Fuentecilla que corres
clara y sonora,
Ruiseñor q’en la selva,
cantando lloras,
Callad mientras la cuna
se balancea.
—Castilian or Ecuadorian carol
Lullaby, lullaby,
my Jesus is sleepy,
blessed be the little one.
Little fountain that flows
clearly and sonorously,
nightingale in the forest,
singing sadly,
hush while the crib is rocking,
lullaby, lullaby.
V. Las Posadas
Shawn McCarron, tenor; Mark Anderson and Jack Walsh, baritones; Josh Crawford, bass
¿Quieres que te quite, mi bien, de las pajas?
¿Quieres que te adoren todos los pastores?
A la rurru, niño chiquito,
ya está arrulladito el niño.
Mi querido Padre, mi Díos y Señor,
Que sufriste alegre del frio su rigor.
—Latin American Christmas devotional songs
Would you like me to lift you, my darling, out of the straw?
Would you like all the shepherds to adore you?
Lullaby, lullaby, tiny baby,
this child has already been lulled to sleep.
My dear Father, my God, my Lord,
who suffered the cold’s hardship.
VI. Campana sobre campana
¡Campana sobre compana,
y sobre compana una!
Asómate a la ventana,
y verás al Niño en la cuna.
Belén, campanas de Belén,
que los ángeles tocan
¿Que nuevas me traéis?
Recogido tu rebaño,
¿Adónde vas pastorcito?
Voy a llevar al portal
requesón, manteca y vino.
Si aún las estrellas alumbran,
¿Pastor dónde quieres ir?
Voy al portal por si el Niño
con Él me deja dormir.
—Andalucian carol
Bell upon bell,
and after these bells another one!
Go to the window and you will see
the Baby in the cradle.
Bethlehem, bells of Bethlehem,
that the angels play,
what news will you bring me?
Having gathered your flock,
Where are you going, little shepherd?
I’m going to the stable, bringing
fresh cheese, cream, and wine.
Now that the stars are shining,
where are you going, little shepherd?
I am going to the stable to see if the child
will let me sleep beside him.
VII. En Belén tocan a fuego
Katie Fortney, alto; Kelsey Welch, soprano; Christopher Eggers, tenor
En Belén tocan a fuego,
del portal salen las llamas.
Porque dicen que ha nacido
el Redentor de las almas.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el río,
brincan y bailan de ver a Dios nacido.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el agua,
brincan y bailan de ver nacida el alba.
En el portal de Belén
nació un clavel encarnado,
que por redimir el mundo
se ha vuelto lirio morado.
La Virgen lava pañales,
y los tiende en el romero.
Los pajarillos cantaban
y el agua se iba riendo.
—Castilian carol
In Bethlehem they tend the fire,
the flames leave the stable
to announce the birth
of the Redeemer of souls.
The fish in the river jump and dance,
they jump and dance to see the newborn God.
The fish in the water jump and dance,
they jump and dance to see the new dawn.
In a stable in Bethlehem
a carnation was born, incarnate,
who, by redeeming the world,
has become a purple lily.
The Virgin washes the swaddling clothes
and sets them in the rosemary.
The little birds were singing
and the water was laughing.
VIII. El Noi de la Mare
Sarah Maurer, soprano; Clare Boulanger, alto; Christopher Eggers, tenor; Elijah Shaw, bass
¿Qué li darem a n’el Noi de la Mare?
¿Qué li darem que li sápiga bo?
Li darem panses en unes balances,
li darem figues en un paneró.
¿Qué li darem a n’el Noi de la Mare?
¿Qué li darem a l’hermos Infantó?
Panses i figues anous i olives,
panses i figues i mel i mató.
¿Tampatantam, que les figues son verdes?
¿Tampatantam, que ja madurarán?
Si no maduren el día de Pasqua,
madurarán en el día del Ram.
—Catalonian carol
What shall we give to the Son of the Mother?
What shall we bring that will taste good to him?
We shall give him a tray full of raisins,
We shall bring figs in wicker baskets.
What shall we give to the Son of the Mother?
What shall we give to the beautiful child?
Raisins and figs and nuts and olives,
Raisins and figs and honey with fresh cheese.
Tampatantam, what if the figs are still green?
Tampatantam, will they ripen?
If they don’t ripen by Easter,
they will ripen by Palm Sunday.
[i.e., they will ripen eventually]
IX. Chiquiriquitín
Ay, del chiquirritín,
metidito entre pajas,
Ay, del chiquirritín,
queridito del alma.
Por debajo del arco
del portaliño
se descubre a María,
José y el Niño.
Entre el buey y la mula
Dios ha nacido,
y en un pobre pesebre
lo han recogido.
—Andalucian carol
Ah, little tiny one
laid in the straw,
Ah, little tiny boy,
darling of my soul.
Through the doorway
of the little stable,
we find Mary,
Joseph, and the Child.
Between the ox and the mule
God was born,
and in a poor manger
they have received him.
X. El Rorro
Andi Beccera, soprano
A la rururru, niño chiquito,
duérmase ya mi Jesucito.
Del elefante hasta el mosquito
guarden silencio, no le hagan ruido.
Noche venturosa, noche de alegría,
bendita la dulce divina María.
Coros celestiales con su dulce acento,
canten la ventura de este nacimiento.
—Mexican carol
A la rurru, dear little boy,
Go to sleep already, my tiny Jesus,
From the elephant to the mosquito
stay silent, don’t make noise.
Blissful night, night of joy,
blessed, sweet, divine Mary.
Celestial choirs with your sweet accents,
sing the blessings of this birth.
Fum! Fum! Fum! a Catalonian carol, arr. Conrad Susa
On December five and twenty, fum, fum, fum!
On December five and twenty, fum, fum, fum!
For the love of us is given
the holy infant, son of heav’n,
Of the Virgin, Joseph’s bride
to all the earth good will betiding, fum fum fum!
Little birds from out the forest, fum, fum, fum!
Little birds from out the forest, fum, fum, fum!
All your fledglings leave behind,
go seek the Savior, Savior kind,
come and build a lovely nest
to warm the lovely Baby bless’d, fum fum fum!
Little stars up in the heavens, fum fum fum!
Little stars up in the heavens, fum, fum, fum!
If you see the Baby cry,
Oh, do not answer with a sigh!
Rather, lighten up the sky
with heaven’s beams of radiant brightness, fum, fum fum!
—Catalonian carol; author of English paraphrase unknown
