Caroling in the Light
This program follows the emotional journey of the Christmas story from the Annunciation to the arrival of the Magi, and alternates large, late-renaissance polyphonic music with intimate Medieval carols. These two types of music are meant to act as foils to one another, to bring out the special qualities unique to each. The large motets are grand and often symphonic in scope, while the carols are light and charming.
We hope that this music fills you with the spirit of the holidays in all its emotional subtlety: joyous, grateful, awe-filled, and ready to celebrate with the people you hold dear.
This collection is dedicated to Michael Terranova, a longtime member of Vox and dear friend. He fell very ill on the morning of a concert day for this program in January 2020 and passed away a couple of weeks later.
Translations
O Emmanuel (Manchicourt)
O Emmanuel, rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio gentium et salvator earum,
veni ad salvandum nos Domine, Deus noster.
O Emmanuel, our King and Law-giver,
Hope of the peoples and their salvation,
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Rorate Coeli Desuper (Palestrina)
Rorate coeli desuper,
et nubes pluant justum:
aperiatur terra et germinet Salvatorem.
Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam,
et salutare tuum da nobis:
veni Domine, et noli tardare.
Alleluia.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above
and let the clouds pour down righteousness:
let the earth open and bring forth the Saviour.
Show us thy mercy, O Lord,
and grant us thy salvation:
come, O Lord, and do not delay.
Alleluia.
Angelus ad Virginem (Traditional Medieval Carol)
Angelus ad Virginem
Sub intrans in conclave,
Virginis formidinem
Demulcens, inquit: Ave!
Ave regina virginum;
Caeli terraeque Dominum
Concipies
Et paries intacta
Salutem hominum;
Tu porta caeli facta,
Medela criminum.
​
Quomodo conciperem
Quae virum non cognovi?
Qualiter infringerem
Quod firma mente vovi?
Spiritus Sancti gratia
Perficiet haec omnia;
Ne timeas,
Sed gaudeas, secura
Quod castimonia
Manebit in te pura
Dei potentia.
​
Ad haec virgo nobilis
Respondens inquit ei:
Ancilla sum humilis
Omnipotentis Dei.
Tibi caelesti nuntio,
Tanti secreti conscio
Consentiens,
Et cupiens videre
Factum quod audio;
Parata sum parere,
Dei consilio.
​
Eia mater Domini,
Quae pacem redidisti
Angelis et homini,
Cum Christum genuisti:
Tuum exora filium
ut se nobis propitium
Exhibeat,
Et deleat peccata:
Praestans auxilium
Vita frui beata
Post hoc exsilium.
When the angel came secretly
to the Virgin in her room,
soothing the maiden's fear,
he said: "Hail!
Hail, Queen of virgins.
While yet untouched by man
you shall conceive and bear
the Lord of heaven and earth,
salvation for mankind.
You have become the gate of heaven,
a remedy for sins."
​
"How can I conceive,
since I have not known a man?
How can I break the vow
I made with firm intent?"
"The grace of the Holy Spirit
shall bring all this to pass.
Fear not,
but rejoice, secure in the
knowledge that pure chastity
shall remain yours
through God's mighty power."
​
To this the noble Virgin
replied, saying:
"I am the lowly handmaiden
of Almighty God.
I bend my will to you,
O celestial messenger,
who share so great a mystery,
and I long to see performed
what I now hear.
I am ready to yield myself
to God's design."
​
Hail, mother of the Lord,
who gave back peace
to angels and mankind
when you bore Christ:
pray your son
to be gracious to us,
and wipe away
our sins,
granting us aid
to enjoy a blessed life
after this exile.
Beata es Virgo Maria (Verdelot)
Beata es, Virgo Maria,
quae Dominum portasti creatorem mundi:
Genuisti eum, qui te fecit,
et in aeternum permanes virgo.
​
Cantus Firmus: Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Blessed are you, O virgin Mary,
who bore the Lord, the Creator of the universe.
You brought forth him who made you,
and remain forever a virgin.
​
Cantus Firmus: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
O Magnum Mysterium (Giovanni Gabrieli)
O magnum mysterium
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
jacentem in praesepio.
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt
portare Dominum Jesum Christum.
Alleluia.
O great mystery
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord
lying in a manger.
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear Jesus Christ the Lord.
Alleluia.
Angelus ad Pastores ait (Sweelinck)
Angelus Domini ad pastores ait:
"Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum
quod erit omni populo,
quia natus est vobis hodie
Salvator mundi; Alleluia."
The angel of the Lord said to the shepherds:
"I bring you news of a great joy
which will be for every people,
for to you is born this day
the Savior of the world; Alleluia."
There is no rose of swych vertu (Anon., Early Fifteenth cent., Trinity roll)
There is no rose of such virtue as is the rose that bare Jesu,
Alleluia.
For in this rose contained was Heaven and Earth in little space,
Res miranda.
By that rose we may well see that he is God in persons three.
Pari forma.
The angels sung, the shepherds too: "Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gaudeamus."
Miraculous thing!
Equal in form.
Let us rejoice.
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Praetorius)
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen,
aus einer Wurzel zart,
wie uns die Alten sungen,
von Jesse kam die Art
Und hat ein Blümlein bracht
mitten im kalten Winter,
wohl zu der halben Nacht.
​
Das Röslein, das ich meine,
davon Jesaia sagt,
hat uns gebracht alleine
Marie, die reine Magd.
Aus Gottes ew'gem Rat
hat sie ein Kind geboren
und blieb doch reine Magd.
​
Das Blümelein so kleine,
das duftet uns so süß,
mit seinem hellen Scheine
vertreibt's die Finsternis:
Wahr' Mensch und wahrer Gott,
hilft uns aus allem Leide,
rettet von Sünd und Tod.
Lo, how a rose e'er blooming,
From tender stem hath sprung.
Of Jesse's lineage coming,
As men of old have sung;
It came, a flow'ret bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half spent was the night.
​
Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it,
the virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright,
She bore to men a Saviour,
and remained a pure virgin.
​
This Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispel with glorious splendour
The darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death he saves us,
And lightens every load.
Magi Veniunt ab Oriente (Clemens)
Magi veniunt ab oriente
Jerosolimam quaerentes et dicentes:
Ubi est qui natus est Rex Judaeorum
cuius stellam vidimus?
Et venimus cum muneribus
adorare Dominum.
The wise men came from the East
to Jerusalem, asking questions and saying:
"Where is the newborn King of the Jews
whose star we have seen?
We have come with gifts
to worship the Lord."
Nowell: Sire Christmas (Rev. Richard Smart)
Nowell, nowell!
Who is there that singeth so nowell?
I am here, Sir Christmas!
Welcome my lord Sir Christmas!
Welcome to us all, both more and less,
come near, nowell!
​
Dieu vous garde, beau sires! Tidings I you bring:
A maid hath borne a child full young
the which causeth you for to sing: Nowell!
Christ is now born of a pure maid,
In an ox-stall he is laid,
Wherefore sing we all at abraid: Nowell!
​
Buvez-bien partoute la compagnie!
Make good cheer and be right merry!
And sing with us now joyfully: Nowell!
God bless you, good sirs!
​
Drink up, everyone!
Hodie Christus Natus est (Andrea Gabrieli)
Hodie Christus natus est:
Hodie Salvator apparuit:
Hodie in terra canunt Angeli,
laetantur Archangeli
Hodie exsultant justi, dicentes:
“Gloria in excelsis Deo.”
Alleluia.
Today Christ is born:
Today the Savior appeared:
Today on Earth the Angels sing,
Archangels rejoice:
Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
“Glory to God in the highest.”
Alleluia.