GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN, REJOICE
Words: Attributed to Heinrich Suso (ca. 1295-1366), Nun singet und seid froh; found in Piae Cantiones and freely translated from Latin to English by John Mason Neale in Carols for Christmastide (London, 1853). Folklore has it that Suso, hearing angels sing these words, joined them in a dance of worship.
See: In Dulci Jubilo and these notes.
Music: "In Dulci Jubilo," 14th Century German melody;
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / X
Meter: 66 77 58 75
Source and Harmony From Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old, First Series (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., 1871), Carol #8
1. Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice,
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News!1
Jesus Christ was Born today!
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now;
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today.
2. Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss;
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath ope'd2 the heav'nly door
And man is blessed evermore.3
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
3. Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave;
Peace! Peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
Sheet Music from Bramley & Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old, First Series (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., 1871), Carol #8
Sheet Music from Rev. J. Freeman Young, ed., Carols For Christmas Tide (New York: Daniel Dana, Jr., 1859), #3
Sheet music from A. B. Goodrich, ed., A New Service And Tune Book For Sunday Schools (New York: Gen. Prot. Episc. S. S. Union and Church Book Society, 1863, New Edition, Enlarged, 1866), #146, pp. 132-3.
Sheet Music from Martin Shaw and Percy Dearmer, The English Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1913), Carol #19
Sheet Music from Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), Carol #342
See A Garritan Community Christmas for an MP3:
In Dulci Jubilo, Dan Powers
Notes
1. This line and similar lines in verses 2 and 3, which occurs in Bramley and Stainer, is omitted in most modern versions. The original inclusion by Helmore was probably an error in reading an earlier manuscript. Return2. Or: 'has opened' Return
3. Or: … and man is blessed forevermore Return
