Music (part 11) - The Oldest Christmas Carol?

 

Carols/wikipedia

Christmas Carols have become a beloved tradition during the holiday season.

Here is a quick history with possibly the oldest known Christmas Carol from the 4th century:

https://youtu.be/sIxhywREzIw?si=2cRYT5prZ8zzKq3u

More information: Is this the first Christmas carol? and Saint Hilary of Poitiers

Here is a performance of this carol in Latin:

https://youtu.be/lxIsyebLsoo?si=L38cDm-FvAH70NMb

Jesus Refulsit Omnium (Latin)

Jesus refulsit omnium

Pius redemptor gentium

Totum genus fidelium

Laudes celebret dramatum

Quem stella natum fulgida

Monstrat micans per authera

Magosque duxit praevia

Ipsius ad cunabula

Illi cadentes parvulum

Pannis adorant obsitum

Verum fatentur ut Deum

Munus ferendo mysticum.

Jesus Refulsit Omnium (English)

Jesus, devoted redeemer of all nations, has shone forth,

Let the whole family of the faithful celebrate the stories

The shining star, gleaming in the heavens, makes him known at his birth

and, going before, has led the Magi to his cradle

Falling down, they adore the tiny baby hidden in rags,

as they bear witness to the true God by bringing a mystical gift.

Lovely words of the birth of our Lord, the Star of Bethlehem, and the Magi.

For the year of our Lord, 2024

Merry Christmas

or in Latin

Felix Nativitas

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For more in this series, search blog:

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Photos: Carols/wikipedia

Music (part 10) - Silent Night during Troubled Times

 

Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria/wikipedia

Silent Night

Known in German as Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht

It was first performed Christmas Eve, 1818, in St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, as shown in the above picture.

The lyrics were written in 1816 by a young priest in Austria, Joseph Mohr and the melody by Franz Xaver Gruber. Because the church organ was being repaired, the carol was first played on the guitar.

Since then, Silent Night has gone viral and has been translated into over 300 languages with many renditions.

For the carol's background:  The Story Behind the Beloved Christmas Carol "Silent Night"

Fast forward to the next century:

Christmas Eve, 1914

During a temporary truce on the battlefield of the First World War, soldiers sang carols from home, including "Silent Night," which was simultaneously sung in French, German and English.

The video of a chocolate ad harkens to this event of peace during war.

(Reference: https://youtu.be/NWF2JBb1bvM )

Fast forward to 50 years later, during troubling times....

1966

Simon and Garfunkel did their rendition of Silent Night with the reading of the 7 O'Clock News.

(Reference:  https://youtu.be/VNyqlx0--i0 )

In a world of bad news--wars, conflicts, violence, unrest--there is a yearning for Good News.

And Christmas celebrates the coming of the Savior--the Prince of Peace.

Peace this Christmas 2021
 and blessings for the New Year of 2022.

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Previous posts in the series:
  

Music (part 1) - Winter (2016) 
  

Music (part 2) - All You Need is Love (2016) 

Music (part 3) - Passover (2016)

Music (part 4) - Armed Forces Medley  (2016)

Music (part 5) - Over There : Remembering World War I  (2018)

Music (part 6) - Pastoral and Spring  (2019)

Music (part 7): Summer (2019)

Music (part 8): Autumn (2019)

Music (part 9): June (2021)

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Photo: Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria/wikipedia