The title for this year’s holiday card is Gaudete, “Rejoice” in Latin. I first heard it as an á capella song from Steeleye Span, the British folk-rock band formed in 1970 and still active in 2006. I loved the song – and the band – then, and I love them still.
In 1972, the single ‘Gaudete’ from ‘Below the Salt’ belatedly became a Christmas hit single, reaching number 14 in the UK Charts. ‘Gaudete’ is one of only two songs sung in Latin to reach the British Top 50. If you go here, page down and click on Number 7, you can hear a bit of it.
Gaudete, gaudete christus est natus
Ex maria virginae gaudete
Gaudete, gaudete christus est natus
Ex maria virginae gaudete
Tempus ad est gratiae hoc quod optabamus
Carmina laetitiae devote redamus
Gaudete, gaudete christus est natus
Ex maria virginae gaudete
Gaudete, gaudete christus est natus
Ex maria virginae gaudete
Deus homo factus est naturam eraute
Mundus renovatus est a christo regnante
Gaudete, gaudete christus est natus
Ex maria virginae gaudete
Gaudete, gaudete christus est natus
Ex maria virginae gaudete...
Photo: West Window, Monks’ Choir, Ampleforth Abbey.
No comments:
Post a Comment