Let The Earth Rejoice In Chorus

Let The Earth Rejoice In Chorus

Omnis mundus jucundetur

For Christmas

Latin words and melody from Piæ Cantiones, 1582.
English Translation by the Rev. Ronald Knox.

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #167, pp. 16-17.

Let the earth rejoice in chorus, God's own Son receiving Whom the Mother Maiden bore us, Gabriel's word believing! Clear let our voices rise, Clear be our hearts like-wise Come, rejoice we and be glad this holy day;	Omnis mundus jocundetur nato salvatore Casta mater quae concepit Gabrielis ore. Sinceris vocibus Sinceris mentibus, Exsultemus et laetemur hodie.
Holy day, holy day, Christ was born for us of Mary's purity; Purity, purity, Christ was born for us of Mary's purity;	Hodie, Hodie, Christus natus ex Maria Virgine, virgine, Christus natus ex Maria.
Merrily, merrily, Make we merry and be glad in charity. Charity, charity, Make we merry and be glad in charity.	Gaudete, gaudete, Gaudeamus et laetemur itaque. Itaque, Itaque, Gaudeamus et laetemur itaque.

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #167, pp. 16-17.

Sheet Music from Richard R. Terry, Old Christmas Carols. Part One. (London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd., n.d., ca. 1923), Carol #33, p. 45.

Note:

Another translation is Earthly Friends Will Change And Falter, John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore, eds., Carols for Christmas-tide (London: Novello, 1853).

There are 2 versions at the International Music Score Library Project:

1. Omnis mundus jocundetur (Paminger, Leonhard); Free public domain sheet music from IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library. 1963 edition found ("Christmas Motet. [Based on] Resonet in laudibus. In dulci jubilo and Omnis mundis jocundetur.> For five-part chorus of mixed voices a cappella ... Edited by David Pizarro. Lat. & Eng." (n.d.1963, Schirmer; n.d.1965, Chappell)

2. Omnis mundus jocundetur (Michael Praetorius); For 4 voices; SATB or TTBB

At the Choral Public Domain Library, see generally Omnis Mundus Jocundetur

They give this slightly different Latin text:

Omnis mundus jocundetur nato salvatore
casta mater quae concepit Gabrielis ore.
Sonoris vocibus,sinceris mentibus,
exsultemus et laetemur hodie.

Variant 1

Itaque, gaudete, gaudeamus itaque.

Variant 2

Christus natus ex Maria virgine,
Gaudeamus et laetemur itaque.

And this English translation:

All the world rejoices that a Saviour has been born
of a chaste mother who conceived as Gabriel said.
With sounding voices, and with sincere hearts,
Let us rejoice and be glad today.

Variant 1

Therefore, rejoice, let us rejoice, therefore.

Variant 2

Christ was born of the Virgin Mary,
So let us rejoice and be glad therefore.

A single copy of Piæ Cantiones found its way into the hands of Rev. John Mason Neale and Rev. Thomas Helmore in 1853, and from this exceptionally rare volume an immense amount of music was saved from oblivion. For more information, see Piæ Cantiones.

If you would like to help support Hymns and Carols of Christmas, please click on the button below and make a donation.

Related Hymns and Carols