The Ninth Before Christmas

 

       I find myself with little time today, and even less inspiration. I also find myself faced, quite dauntingly, with the exuberant Medieval carol, "Gaudete."

As a lover of old music, naturally I would find this carol entrancing, but this one in particular is for all those of you who associate Medieval music with droning chants and endless soliloquies pronounced in Latin. I want you to know that while these things are all real, they are no all there is. As with any era we must filter out the dross and take only the precious. Gaudete is one of those gems. It is the type of song which makes you want to dance even if you don't know how, and compels you to sing along even when you don't know the words.

Before you decide that old music is boring, try listening to this song. What is it's simple message?

     Rejoice! Christ is born of the virgin Mary, Rejoice!

There are four verses, each surprisingly sound in doctrine considering that they were probably written sometime in the fifteenth century, and each one at a pace which cannot help but to lift one's spirits.

       Gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria, Virgine, Gaudete! 

I give you here my favorite arrangement, by John Rutter, of course!(Who did you expect?)

Gaudete, gaudete  Christus est natus Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.   Tempus adest gratiae  Hoc quod optabamus, Carmina laetitiae  Devote redamus. Deus homo factus est  Natura mirante, Mundus renovatus est  A Christo regnante. Ezechielis porta  Clausa per transitur Unde lux est orta  Salus invenitur. Ergo nostra contio  Psallat jam in lustro, Benedicat Domino  Salus Regi nostro.    ~~~~~~ Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born  Of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!   The Time of grace has come For which we have prayed, Let us devoutly sing, Songs of joy.   God is made man While nature wonders, The world is renewed,  By Christ the King. The closed gate of Ezekiel, Has been passed through, From where light has risen, Salvation is found. Therefore let our assembly sing praises now, At this time of purification, Let it bless the Lord, Greetings to our King.      Until tomorrow, friends, let us rejoice because Christ is born!          ~ Christianna