For Advent

Words: Conditor alme siderum, Ambrosian, 6^th or 7^th Century,
Translated by Rev. John Mason Neale.

Compare: Creator Of The Starry Height (from Monk and Steggall)
Conditor alme siderum (First Line: There is a Child born of Mary), Edith Rickert, 1914

Music:
Office Hymn, E.
Source: The English Hymnal, p. 1, mode iv. 1906
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML
O. Gibbons, Angel's Song
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF/ XML
St. Ambrose*
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF/ XML
Meter: LM

Source: George Radcliffe Woodward, ed., Songs of Syon (London: Schott & Co., Third Edition, 1908), #1

1. Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting Light;
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear thy servants when they call.

2. Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death an universe,
Hast found the med’cine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruin’d race.

3. Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the Bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a Virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

4. At whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow
And things celestial thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

5. O thou, whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From ev’ry insult of the foe.

6. To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honour, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally. Amen.

From "The Confessions" by Jean Jacques Rousseau, Book III (1728-1731):

"I have always preserved an effection for a certain air of the Conditor alme Syderum, because one Sunday in Advent I heard that hymn sung on the steps of the cathedral (according to the custom of that place) as I lay in bed before daybreak. Mademoiselle Merceret, Madam de Warrens' chambermaid, knew something of music; I shall never forget a little piece that M. le Maitre made me sing with her, and which her mistress listened to with great satisfaction. In a word, every particular, even down to the servant Perrine, whom the boys of the choir took such delight in teasing. The remembrance of these times of happiness and innocence frequently returning to my mind, both ravish and affect me.

Editor's Note:

The original from whence I obtained this arrangement had it at a half-note = 72, which would be an excellent meter if one wishes a dirge. Wishing to celebrate the birth of the Savior in a joyful manner, I have placed it at 95; play it at whatever meter suits you. Return