Make we joy now in this fest
Old English Carol
for mixed chorus
General Information – Performing Forces – Manuscript – Publication – Recordings – Text
Composition:
Late December 1931. Not yet begun on the 21st of the month, but first published
on the 24th. Later revised, probably in preparation for subsequent publication
in 1932.
First Performance:
Unknown
Duration:
About 3 minutes
Text:
Anonymous, fifteenth century
Click here for complete text.
Tempo:
Con spirito [16 m.]
Craggs Catalogue Number:
C24
Mixed chorus (SATB)
There is no known surviving manuscript.
The Daily Dispatch, Saturday, 24 December 1931. [The Daily Dispatch was a newspaper based in Manchester, which had commissioned the carol.]
Oxford University Press. Vocal score, 1932, 019 3405164, Oxford Choral Songs # 750 (discontinued).
Oxford
University Press. Edited by Timothy Brown. William
Walton Edition, Volume 6, "Shorter Choral Works without
Orchestra", 1999, 019 3594323. Vocal score, 019 3594331.
[Purchase
online from SheetMusicPlus.com:
Vocal
score, packet of six copies]
[Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com:
William
Walton Edition, Volume 6]
| Chorus | Conductor | Year | Compact Disc | Timing |
| Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford | Stephen Darlington | 1987 | Nimbus NI 7021 | 3'44" |
| Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge | Richard Marlow | 1988 | Conifer CDCF 164 | 3'25" |
| The Bach Choir | Sir David Willcocks | 1991 | Chandos CHAN 8998 | 3'18" |
| The Finzi Singers | Paul Spicer | 1992 | Chandos CHAN 9222 | 3'15" |
| Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford | Stephen Darlington | 1992 | Nimbus NI 5364 | 3'18" |
| The Tudor Choir | Doug Fullington | 1997 | Loft LRCD 1062 | 3'37" |
| Polyphony | Stephen Layton | 2002 | Hyperion CDA67330 | 3'03" |
Text:
Make we joy now in this fest
In quo Christus natus est. Eya!
[in which Christ is born. Eya!]
A Patre Unigenitus
Is through a maiden come to us.
Sing we of him and say 'Welcome!
Veni, Redemptor gencium.'
[The only begotten of the Father]
[Come, Redeemer of the peoples]
Make we joy now in this fest
In quo Christus natus est. Eya!
Agnoscat omne seculum
A bright star made three kings to come
Him for to seek with their presents,
Verbum supernum prodiens.
[Let every age perceive]
[the high Word coming forth]
Make we joy now in this fest
In quo Christus natus est. Eya!
A solis ortus cardine
So mighty a Lord is none as he,
And to our kind he hath him knit
Adam parens quod polluit.
[From the rising of the sun]
[which our parent, Adam, defiled]
Make we joy now in this fest
In quo Christus natus est. Eya!
Maria ventre concepit,
The Holy Ghost was aye her with.
Of her in Bethlem born his is,
Consors Paterni luminis.
[Mary conceived in her womb,]
[sharing the light of his Father]
Make we joy now in this fest
In quo Christus natus est. Eya!
O Lux beata Trinitas!
He lay between an ox and ass,
Beside his mother-maiden free:
Gloria tibi Domine!
[O Light of the Holy Trinity!]
[Glory to thee, O Lord!]
Make we joy now in this fest
In quo Christus natus est. Eya!— Anonymous, fifteenth century