In dulci jubilo (Pearsall)

Sunday, 05 December 2010 19:18

Robert Lucas de Pearsall's lovely arrangement of In Dulci Jubilo, sung by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge.

1. In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage shew:
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio,
Alpha es et O!

2. O Jesu parvule,
My heart is sore for Thee!
Hear me, I beseech Thee,
O puer optime;
My praying let it reach Thee, 
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te.

3. O patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stained. 
Per nostra crimina:
But Thou for us hast gained
Coelorum gaudia,
Qualis gloria!

4. Ubi sunt gaudia,
If that they be not there?
There are Angels singing7
Nova cantica;
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
O that we were there!

In Dulci Jubilo was believed to have been written by the German mystic Heinrich Seuse, around 1328. More information on the history of this very ancient carol is available here.