Category: Jam Session
Hello.
I uploaded a very short sample of a Christmas song i like a lot.
It would be good if anyone could tell me what is called, the composer, what language is the song etc.
It sounds latin to me but i am not sure.
And also if there are any better versions than the one i have got Something i don't like in this version is the fact that the volume keeps changing throughout the song and also it must be performed by English people because they don't pronounce the latin right or whatever the language is.
The link is:
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=check_download&ufid=0915983409F4CCAC&key=948c795f2fdb7c76eb722b2430a072b8299aef47
Thanks.
Greetings Nikos,
I hope someone can help you with this~
Sorry, I am unable.
I am Posting to your BOARD Topic so that for a longer yet while the topic is brought to the forfront and others have opportunity to view it and perhaps lend assistence.
All the BEST Nikos,
Connie ~ Grace
I recognise this song as Gaudete, Gaudete. I have the swingle singers doing it. i do not recognise the language of this particular version.
Sam
Thanks Sam for the information. Much appreshiated.
I found some interesting information about the song including lyrics in Latin and the translation in Englsih with a short history about the song.
Enjoy.
"Gaudete" ("Rejoice") is a sacred Christmas carol, composed sometime in the 16th century, most likely in reference to Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent. It is celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church falling between December 11 and December 17 inclusive. The song was published in the Piae Cantiones, a collection of Finnish/Swedish sacred songs published in 1582. No music is given for the verses, but the standard tune comes from older liturgical books.
The text, in Latin, is a typical song of praise, probably stemming from the Middle Ages. It follows the standard pattern for the time - a uniform series of four-line stanzas, each preceded by a two-line refrain (in the early English carol this was known as the burden). Carols could be on any subject, but typically they were about the Virgin Mary or the Saints of Christmas.
The complete text of the Gaudete, including the refrain:
Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete!
Tempus adest gratiae
Hoc quod optibamus,
Carmina laetitiae
Devote redamus.
Deus homo factus est
Natura mirante,
Mundus renovatus est
A Christo regnante.
Ezechielis porta
Clausa pertransitur,
Unde lux est orta
Salus invenitur.
Ergo nostra cantio,
Psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino:
Salus Regi nostro.
Translating as :
Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!
It is now the time of grace
That we have desired;
Let us sing songs of joy,
Let us give devotion.
God was made man,
And nature marvels;
The world was renewed
By Christ who is King.
The closed gate of Ezechiel
Has been passed through;
From where the light rises
Salvation is found.
Therefore let our assembly now sing,
Sing the Psalms to purify us;
Let it praise the Lord:
Recordings
The folk rock group Steeleye Span had a hit in 1974 (#11, UK singles chart) with an a cappella recording of the song. This recording is one of only three top 50 British hits to be sung in Latin (the others were both recordings of 'Pie Jesu'; firstly by Sarah Brightman in 1986, secondly by the 12-year-old Charlotte Church in 1998 who recorded "Pie Jesu" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Requiem").
Guitarist Bob Johnson visited a church with his father-in-law in Cambridge and heard a folk-carol service. He was attracted by the song and brought it to the attention of the rest of Steeleye Span. In 1997 it was recorded by the classical group Mediaeval Baebes as part of their No. 2 selling classical recording Salva Nos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudete