Make We Joy Now In This Fest

For Christmas

Date about 1450.

Words and Music from the Selden MS. (Selden MS. B.26 f.15^v), Bodleian Library, Oxford
Mode IX.

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #183, pp. 24-25.

Refrain; to be sung before each verse.

 

Refrain; to be sung before each verse.
Make we joy now in this fest
In quo Christus natus est. Eya.

1. A Patre Unigenitus
(All) through a maiden come to us:
Sing we to her and say welcome,
Veni, Redemptor gencium. Refrain

2. Agnoscat omne seculum,
A bright star (maketh) three kingès come,
(Him) for to seek with their presènts,
Verbum supernum prodiens. Refrain

3. A solis ortus cardine
So mighty a Lord was none as He;
For to our kind He hath given peace,
Adam parens quod polluit. Refrain

4. Maria ventre concepit,
The Holy Ghost was aye here with;
In Bethlehem y-born He is,
Consors Paterni luminis. Refrain

5. O lux beata Trinitas,
He lay between an ox and ass,
Thou mother (pure) and maiden free,
Gloria tibi, Domine. Refrain

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #183, pp. 24-25.

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 #14, pp. 28-29.

Note:

Latin translations from Edith Rickert's Glossary:

In quo Christus natus est. = On which Christ was born .

1. A Patre Unigenitus = The only Son of the Father
Veni, Redemptor gencium = Come, Redeemer of mankind

2. Agnoscat omne seculum = Let all the world acknowledge Thee
Verbum supernum prodiens = Showing forth the high Word

3. A solis ortus cardine = Arisen from the quarter of the sun
Adam parens quod polluit = Which Adam, the parent, did pollute (Source: San Francisco Bach Choir, Make We Joy).

4. Maria ventre concepit, = Conceived in Mary’s womb (Source: San Francisco Bach Choir, Make We Joy).
Consors paterni luminis = Consort of the light of the Father

5. O lux beata Trinitas = O blessed light of the Trinity
Gloria tibi, Domine = Glory to Thee, O Lord

Note: Some of the translations of Latin phrases from Rickert are different on the page from the translations by the San Francisco Bach Choir. As I have (thus far) been unable to become literate in Latin, I am not in a position to make a recommendation one way or the other.

Versions of this carol on this web site:

• Make We Joye Nowe In This Fest (Richard Leighton Greene)

• Make We Joy Now In This Fest (From George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1902) (with sheet music)

• Make We Joy Now In This Fest (Richard R. Terry, ca. 1923; with sheet music) [this page]

• Make we jow in this fest (Thomas Wright, 1847)

• Make We Joy In This Feast (From Edith Rickert, 1914)

The Selden Manuscript was one of the sources for A Medieval Carol Book by Rev. Terry.  Scans of the manuscript pages are on-line at the Bodleian Library; see Selden MS B26 (opens in a new window at an exterior site).

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