"Of the Father's Love Begotten"
Corde natus ex parentis ante mundi exordium A et O cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt, quaeque post futura sunt. [Any ideas? Here it is in English.] OF THE FATHER’S LOVE BEGOTTEN Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore! At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done: Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one; All that grows beneath the shining Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore! He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know, That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe, May not henceforth die and perish In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore! O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race; And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore! This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord; Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word; Now He shines, the long expected, Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore! O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing; Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King! Let no tongue on earth be silent, Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore! Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live, On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive; Who at last in vengeance coming Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore! Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing; Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering: Let their guileless songs re-echo, And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore! Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee, Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be: Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory, evermore and evermore! —Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-413), translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866) and Henry Baker (1821-1877). This text is usually sung to a 13th-century plainsong melody known as DIVINUM MYSTERIUM. If you want to hear it, you can go to www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/f/ofthefat.htm. There are many different harmonizations of the melody and some beautiful arrangements for choir; but my favorite way to sing it is just as an unhurried unaccompanied melody. I have pasted the entire text in Latin at the very bottom of this message. Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky carlstam@aol.com www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu/icw HERE IT IS IN LATIN http://www.cyberhymnal.org/non/la/cordenat.htm 1. Corde natus ex parentis ante mundi exordium A et O cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt, quaeque post futura sunt. 2. Ipse iussit et creata, dixit ipse et facta sunt, Terra, caelum, fossa ponti, trina rerum machina, Quaeque in his vigent sub alto solis et lunae globo. 3. Corporis formam caduci, membra morti obnoxia Induit, ne gens periret primoplasti ex germine, Merserat quem lex profundo noxialis tartaro. 4. O beatus ortus ille, virgo cum puerpera Edidit nostram salutem, feta Sancto Spiritu, Et puer redemptor orbis os sacratum protulit. 5. Psallat altitudo caeli, psallite omnes angeli, Quidquid est virtutis usquam psallat in laudem Dei, Nulla linguarum silescat, vox et omnis consonet. 6. Ecce, quem vates vetustis concinebant saeculis, Quem prophetarum fideles paginae spoponderant, Emicat promissus olim; cuncta conlaudent eum. 7. Macte iudex mortuorum, macte rex viventium, Dexter in Parentis arce qui cluis virtutibus, Omnium venturus inde iustus ultor criminum. 8. Te senes et te iuventus, parvulorum te chorus, Turba matrum, virginumque, simplices puellulae, Voce concordes pudicis perstrepant concentibus. 9. Tibi, Christe, sit cum Patre hagioque Pneumate Hymnus, decus, laus perennis, gratiarum actio, Honor, virtus, victoria, regnum aeternaliter. =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org =========================== |