Raise Your Voices, Faithful Choirs

For Christmas, Epiphany, Candlemas

Words: Lætabundus, A Sequence from an 11^th Century Manuscript, with notes 
Erroneously attributed to S. Bernard of Clairvaux (died 1153)

Compare: Faithful People (Terry, A Medieval Carol Book)

Music: Sarum Service Book

Source: Hymn-Melodies for the Whole Year From the Sarum Service-Books and Other Ancient English Sources. (London: The Plainsong & Medieval Music Society, 1896, 1903), "Sequences for the Principal Days of the Year from the Sarum Gradual and Other Sources," Lætabundus, Number ii.

Raise your voices,
Faithful choirs, with rapture singing,
Alleluya:

Angel of the Counsel, here,
Sun from star He doth appear, born of Maiden:

As a star its kindred ray,
Mary doth her Child display,
Like in nature:

Lebanon's tall Cedar now
Hyssop-like, in vale to bow
Condescendeth:

Though Esaias has foreshown,
Though the Synagogue had known,
Yet the truth she will now own,
Blind remaining;

No longer then delay,
Doubt not what legends say,
Why be case away,
A race forlorn?

Monarch's Monarch,
From a stainless Maiden springing,
Matchless wonder!

He a Sun Who knows no night,
She a Star whose paler light
Shineth ever.

Still undimm'd the star shines on,
And the Virgin bears a Son,
Pure as ever.

To our vale of sorrow came
Word of God in mortal frame,
Born Incarnate

If her Prophets speak in vain,
Let her heed a Gentile strain,
And from mystic Sibyl gain
Light in darkness.

Turn & this Child behold,
That very Son of old
In God's Writ foretold
A Maid hath borne.

Hymn-Melodies for the Whole Year From the Sarum Service-Books and Other Ancient English Sources. (London: The Plainsong & Medieval Music Society, 1896), "Sequences for the Principal Days of the Year from the Sarum Gradual and Other Sources," Lætabundus, Number ii and xxi-xxii.

Sheet Music from C.J. Ridsdale, The New Office Hymn Book. Parts I and II. (London: Novello and Company, 1908). Part II.
The First Tune, on pp. 6-8: "Laetabundus." Modes vi. & v. transposed. Irregular. Sarum Gradual (Melody of xith or xiith Century).
The Second Tune, pp. 9-11: "Laetabundus." Irregular. Nicholas Gatty, B. Mus.

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