Let Us All Be Glad Together

Omnes Una Gaudeamus

For Christmas

Words and melody from the Selden MS. (Selden B.26.f.11), Bodleian Library, Oxford.
English translation by the Rev. J. O'Connor.
Mode I.

Source: Sir Richard Runciman Terry, A Medieval Carol Book: The Melodies Chiefly from MMS. in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1932), Carol #10, pp. 20-21.

1. Let us all be glad together! From mother maid He springs today Who lights us with undying ray. 2. Christ, to take our flesh desirous, Union with Him to inspire us .....From the mother maid He springs to-day. 3. Took His body from the maid And with us His dwelling made. .....From mother etc. 4. Minstrelsy of exaltation Let it voice our veneration. From mother etc. 5. So us may He all unite Housing in His endless light. From mother etc. 6. He is come our souls to save Upon the Cross our price He gave From mother etc.

1. Omnes una gaudeamus, Qui natus est de virgine, Illuxit nobis hodie. 2. Christus volens incarnari, Nos que simul copulari, .....Qui natus est de virgine. 3. Carnem sumpsit virginis Et habitavit in nobis Qui natus etc. 4. Collaudemus venerantes Nos que simul exultantes Qui natus etc. 5. Ut in suo clarissimo Nos ordinet palacio Qui natus etc 6. Venit nos redimere Qui passus fuit in cruce Qui natus etc.

Sheet Music from Sir Richard Runciman Terry, A Medieval Carol Book: The Melodies Chiefly from MMS. in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1932), Carol #10, pp. 20-21.

 

Note from Rev. Terry:

This is one of the very rare examples of a medieval Latin carol with irregular scansion (or, to be more correct, -- accentuation). One verse is omitted on that account.

Editor's Note:

The Selden Manuscript was one of the sources for A Medieval Carol Book.

Several sources have identified this carol as a Gregorian chant. There is a video at YouTube: Omnes una Gaudeamus. There are also a number of recordings of Gaudeamus Omnes in Domino (also Gregorian, identified as a Chant for the Assumption of Mary), and, of course, Gaudemuus igitur (a popular student drinking song featured in the operetta "The Student Prince" by Sigmund Romberg).

A pair of programs found on the World Wide Web included two additional verses:

In praesepi inclinatur
Qui cunctorum dominator
Qui natus est …

Hic est spes redemptionis
Iram non vult ultionis:
Qui natus est ...

See: Discantus and Programmbuch for Festtage <Herbst des Mittelalters>, Basel, 2011, #23, Ensemble Discantus, pp. 278 ff.

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