A special edition of Hymns of Sunday for Christmas Day. Sing along to favourite carols including O come, all ye faithful, Angels we have heard on high, and Joy to the world.
Photo: Flickr / Lawrence Lew
SONG: GAUDETE, CHRISTUS EST NATUS
Artist: Theater of Voices, Paul Hillier (dir)
Words/Music: Anon/Anon
Recording: Harmonia Mundi HMX 2977079
Refrain:
Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete!
Tempus adest gratiæ
Hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina lætitiæ
Devote reddamus.
Refrain:
Deus homo factus est
Natura mirante,
Mundus renovatus est
A Christo regnante.
Refrain:
Ezechielis porta
Clausa pertransitur,
Unde lux est orta
Salus invenitur.
Refrain:
Ergo nostra concio
Psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino:
Salus Regi nostro.
Refrain:
SONG: GO, TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
Artist: The Trinity Choir, Boston
Words/Music: Trad adapted Work/Trad
Recording: Dorian DOR 93240
Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light.
Refrain:
The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Saviour’s birth
Refrain:
Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
Refrain:
SONG: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Artist: Handel & Haydn Society, Harry Christophers (dir)
Words/Music: Anon trans Chadwick/Trad
Recording: Coro COR 16117
Angels we have heard on high
Singing sweetly o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be?
Which inspire your heavenly songs?
Refrain:
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain:
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choir of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain:
SONG: WHAT CHILD IS THIS
Artist: Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge, David Rowland (dir), Alexandra Jobling (organ)
Words/Music: William Chatterton Dix/Trad arr Stainer
Recording: Priory PRCD 721
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Refrain:
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Refrain:
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Refrain:
SONG: SILENT NIGHT
Artist: Hatea Kapa Haka, David Tapene (dir)
Words/Music: Joseph Mohr/Franz Gruber arr David Tapene Snr
Recording: Hatea Kapa Haka
|
Hāngu te Pō |
Silent night |
SONG: THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY
Artist: Oxford Pro Musica Singers
Words/Music: Trad/Trad
Recording: Proud Sound PROU CD 134
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
and they say that his name is Jesus.
Refrain:
He come from the glory,
he come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
he come from the glorious kingdom.
O yes, believer! O yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
he come from the glorious kingdom.
The angels sang when the baby born,
the angels sang when the baby born,
the angels sang when the baby born,
and they say that his name is Jesus.
Refrain:
The shepherds came where the baby born,
the shepherds came where the baby born,
the shepherds came where the baby born,
and they say his name is Jesus.
Refrain:
SONG: JOY TO THE WORLD
Artist: Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter (dir)
Words/Music: Isaac Watts/George Frideric Handel arr Rutter
Recording: Collegium 880111
Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns: let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
SONG: DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH
Artist: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, Andrew Nethsingha (dir), John Challenger (organ)
Words/Music: Woodward/Trad arr Mack Willberg
Recording: Decca 443 401
Ding dong! Merrily on high,
In heaven the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riven with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! [Repeat]
E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And io, io, io,
By priest and people sungen:
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! [Repeat]
Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! [Repeat]
SONG: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL
Artist: Wellington Cathedral Choir, Philip Walsh (dir), Andrew Macmillan (organ)
Words/Music: Anon trans Oakeley/Anon
Recording: Herald HAVPCD 224
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
God of God, Light of Light eternal,
lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
Refrain:
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:
“Glory to God, in the highest!”
Refrain:
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning
Jesu, to thee be glory given
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
Refrain:
