Unto Us is Born a Son
Puer nobis nascitur, usually translated as Unto Us is Born a Son, is a medieval Christmas carol found in a number of manuscript sources - the 14th-century German Moosburg Gradual and a 15th-century Trier manuscript.[1] The Moosburg Gradual itself contained a number of melodies derived from the 12 and 13th century organum repertories of Notre Dame de Paris and the Abbey of Saint Martial, Limoges, suggesting that its antiquity may be much greater.[2]
The song was first published in the 1582 Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, a volume of 74 medieval songs with Latin texts collected by Jaakko Suomalainen, a Finnish Lutheran cleric, and published by T.P. Rutha, a Catholic printer.[3] The song book had its origins in the libraries of cathedral song schools, whose repertory also had strong links with medieval Prague, where clerical students from Finland and Sweden had studied for generations.[4] Songs from Piae Cantiones continued to be performed in Finland until the 19th century.[5]
The book became well known in Britain after a rare original copy of Piae Cantiones owned by Peter of Nyland was given as a gift to the British Minister in Stockholm. He subsequently gave it to John Mason Neale in 1852, and it was from this copy that Neale, in collaboration with Thomas Helmore published songs in two collections in 1853 and 1854 respectively, although this carol was not included in either.[5]
The carol became popular as a processional hymn following a translation by George Ratcliffe Woodward (1859-1934) first published in 1902.[6] Percy Dearmer also translated the hymn for inclusion in the 1928 Oxford Book of Carols as Unto Us a Boy is Born.[7] Both translations are commonly used.
Robert Cummings of the All Music Guide notes that "Its text speaks of the birth of Christ and of his mission on Earth. The melody is glorious in its triumphant character and ecstatic devotional sense...a radiant hymn of strong appeal, brighter and more colorful than most of the chants emerging from and before the fourteenth century." He goes on to suggest that the first phrase and indeed the whole melody resembles the much later hymn O God, Our Help in Ages Past.[3]
Text
| Latin text of "Puer nobis nascitur" (1582)[8] | English translation by George Ratcliffe Woodward (1859-1934)[6] | English translation by Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)[7] | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Puer nobis nascitur |
Unto us is born a son, |
Unto us a Boy is born, | |
|
In præsepe ponitur |
Christ, from heav'n descending low, |
Cradled in a stall was He | |
|
Hinc Herodes timuit - |
This did Herod sore affray, |
Herod then with fear was filled: | |
|
Qui natus est ex Marie - |
Of his love and mercy mild |
Now may Mary's Son, who came | |
|
O et A et A et O |
O and A and A and O, |
Omega and Alpha He! | |
References
- ↑ John Garden, The Christmas Carol Dance Book, (Earthly Delights, 2003) ISBN 978-0-9750040-0-5
- ↑ Ronald M. Clancy, Sacred Christmas Music: The Stories Behind the Most Beloved Songs of Devotion, (Sterling Publishing Company, 2008) ISBN 978-1-4027-5811-9, p.86.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Robert Cummings, "Unto Us is Born a Son" at allmusic, URL accessed November 25 2010.
- ↑ Hugh Keyte, Andrew Parrott, "Personent Hodie, On This Day Earth Shall Ring" in The Musical Times, Vol. 133, No. 1795 (September 1992), pp. 1–4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Percy Dearmer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Martin Shaw (ed.), note to J.M. Neale "January Carol" the Oxford Book of Carols (London: Oxford University Press, 1928), p.291.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 George Ratcliffe Woodward, The Cowley Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1902, Revised and Expanded Edition 1929). No. 25.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Percy Dearmer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Martin Shaw (ed.), "Unto Us a Boy is Born" the Oxford Book of Carols (London: Oxford University Press, 1928), p.291.
- ↑ J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), p.88.
External links
- Unto Us is Born a Son at Hymns and Carols of Christmas.