Puer natus in Bethlehem: Difference between revisions
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==General information== | ==General information== | ||
This Christmas hymn was especially popular during the ancient period. Its author is unknown. The oldest Latin text found so far is contained in a Benedictine book dating from the beginning of the fourteenth century. The Latin text, which is found in many different redactions ranging from six to twelve stanzas, has, very likely, been composed by several authors. Consequently, it has undergone many changes due to omissions, revisions, and additions. “Puer natus” was translated into German in 1439 by Heinrich von Laufenberg. Later on a number of German versions appeared. In the old German, Danish, and Swedish hymnals a translation in the vernacular was inserted immediately after each Latin stanza. It has been surmised that the choir sang the Latin and the congregation sang translations of the same. The German rendering most extensively used was that found in | This Christmas hymn was especially popular during the ancient period. Its author is unknown. The oldest Latin text found so far is contained in a Benedictine book dating from the beginning of the fourteenth century. The Latin text, which is found in many different redactions ranging from six to twelve stanzas, has, very likely, been composed by several authors. Consequently, it has undergone many changes due to omissions, revisions, and additions. “Puer natus” was translated into German in 1439 by Heinrich von Laufenberg. Later on a number of German versions appeared. In the old German, Danish, and Swedish hymnals a translation in the vernacular was inserted immediately after each Latin stanza. It has been surmised that the choir sang the Latin and the congregation sang translations of the same. The German rendering most extensively used was that found in Valentin Babst’s Geystliche Lieder, 1545: “Ein Kind geboren zu Bethlehem.” This contains ten stanzas with the German translation inserted after each stanza except the second. The English version included in The Lutheran Hymnary was made by Philip Schaff and was printed in his Christ in Song, 1869. There are at least eleven other English translations. | ||
In regard to the third stanza, Skaar quotes from the hymnological works of Daniel: “On many early medieval paintings representing the nativity of Christ, as well as in Christmas hymns, are found an ox and an ass. This practice has been ascribed to a faulty rendering of the passage, Hab. 3:2: ‘In the midst of beasts make known’; for ‘In the midst of the years make it known.’ They concluded from Is. 1:3 that the two ‘beasts’ referred to were the ox and the ass: ‘The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master’s crib.’ These passages are taken to be the Biblical basis for the old Christmas stanza: ‘Cognovit bos et asinus, quod puer erat Dominus, Halleluja’ (The ox and the ass knew that the Child was the Lord).” Nutzhorn claims that the expression is rather. an “innocent desire for free poetic representation of the circumstances surrounding the nativity of Christ.” [Dahle, Library of Christians Hymns] | In regard to the third stanza, Skaar quotes from the hymnological works of Daniel: “On many early medieval paintings representing the nativity of Christ, as well as in Christmas hymns, are found an ox and an ass. This practice has been ascribed to a faulty rendering of the passage, Hab. 3:2: ‘In the midst of beasts make known’; for ‘In the midst of the years make it known.’ They concluded from Is. 1:3 that the two ‘beasts’ referred to were the ox and the ass: ‘The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master’s crib.’ These passages are taken to be the Biblical basis for the old Christmas stanza: ‘Cognovit bos et asinus, quod puer erat Dominus, Halleluja’ (The ox and the ass knew that the Child was the Lord).” Nutzhorn claims that the expression is rather. an “innocent desire for free poetic representation of the circumstances surrounding the nativity of Christ.” [Dahle, Library of Christians Hymns] | ||
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<tr><td valign="top" width="200"> | <tr><td valign="top" width="200"> | ||
{{Text|Latin| | {{Text|Latin| | ||
Puer natus in Bethlehem, | Puer natus in Bethlehem, | ||
Unde gaudet Jerusalem, | Unde gaudet Jerusalem, | ||
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Processit Matris utero, | Processit Matris utero, | ||
alleluia. | alleluia. | ||
Hic iacet in praesepio, | Hic iacet in praesepio, | ||
Line 58: | Line 62: | ||
Aurum thus myrrham offerunt, | Aurum thus myrrham offerunt, | ||
alleluia. | alleluia. | ||
Intrantes domum invicem, | Intrantes domum invicem, | ||
Line 74: | Line 79: | ||
Peccato sed dissimilis, | Peccato sed dissimilis, | ||
alleluia. | alleluia. | ||
Ut redderet nos homines, | Ut redderet nos homines, | ||
Line 142: | Line 148: | ||
Our sinless kinsman He became, | Our sinless kinsman He became, | ||
Allelujah. | Allelujah. | ||
That we, from deadly thrall set free, | That we, from deadly thrall set free, | ||
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<td valign="top" width="240"> | <td valign="top" width="240"> | ||
{{Text|German| | {{Text|German| | ||
Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem | Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem | ||
Des freuet sich Jerusalem, | Des freuet sich Jerusalem, | ||
Alleluja. | Alleluja. | ||
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Die König aus Saba kamen dar Gold | Die König aus Saba kamen dar Gold | ||
Weihrauch Myrrhen | Weihrauch Myrrhen brachten sie dar. | ||
Alleluja. | Alleluja. | ||
Sie gingen in das Haus hinein, | |||
und grüßten das Kind und die Mutter sein. Halleluja. | |||
Seyn Mutter ist die reine Magd, | |||
die ohn ein Mann geboren hat, Alleluia. | |||
Die Schlang ihn nicht vergifften kundt, | |||
ist worden unser Blut ohn Sünd, Alleluia. | |||
Er ist uns gar gleich nach dem Fleisch, | |||
der Sünden nach ist er uns nicht gleich, Alleluia. | |||
Damit er uns ihm machet gleich, | |||
von widerbrecht zu Gottes Reich, Alleluia. | |||
Zu dieser weihnachtlichen Zeit | Zu dieser weihnachtlichen Zeit | ||
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Von nun an bis in Ewigkeit. | Von nun an bis in Ewigkeit. | ||
Alleluja.}} | Alleluja.}} | ||
''Alternative version of last two stanzas from Praetorius, Polyhymnia Caduceatrix et Panegyrica'': | |||
Für solche gnadenreiche Zeit, | |||
sey Gott gelobet in Ewigkeit, Alleluja. | |||
Lob sey der heylgen Dreyfaltigkeit, | |||
nun und in alle Ewigkeit, Alleluja. | |||
</td></tr></table> | </td></tr></table> | ||
Revision as of 22:11, 12 July 2016
General information
This Christmas hymn was especially popular during the ancient period. Its author is unknown. The oldest Latin text found so far is contained in a Benedictine book dating from the beginning of the fourteenth century. The Latin text, which is found in many different redactions ranging from six to twelve stanzas, has, very likely, been composed by several authors. Consequently, it has undergone many changes due to omissions, revisions, and additions. “Puer natus” was translated into German in 1439 by Heinrich von Laufenberg. Later on a number of German versions appeared. In the old German, Danish, and Swedish hymnals a translation in the vernacular was inserted immediately after each Latin stanza. It has been surmised that the choir sang the Latin and the congregation sang translations of the same. The German rendering most extensively used was that found in Valentin Babst’s Geystliche Lieder, 1545: “Ein Kind geboren zu Bethlehem.” This contains ten stanzas with the German translation inserted after each stanza except the second. The English version included in The Lutheran Hymnary was made by Philip Schaff and was printed in his Christ in Song, 1869. There are at least eleven other English translations.
In regard to the third stanza, Skaar quotes from the hymnological works of Daniel: “On many early medieval paintings representing the nativity of Christ, as well as in Christmas hymns, are found an ox and an ass. This practice has been ascribed to a faulty rendering of the passage, Hab. 3:2: ‘In the midst of beasts make known’; for ‘In the midst of the years make it known.’ They concluded from Is. 1:3 that the two ‘beasts’ referred to were the ox and the ass: ‘The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master’s crib.’ These passages are taken to be the Biblical basis for the old Christmas stanza: ‘Cognovit bos et asinus, quod puer erat Dominus, Halleluja’ (The ox and the ass knew that the Child was the Lord).” Nutzhorn claims that the expression is rather. an “innocent desire for free poetic representation of the circumstances surrounding the nativity of Christ.” [Dahle, Library of Christians Hymns]
Settings by composers
- Michael Altenburg — Puer natus in Bethlehem 2 SSTB.ATTB
- Anonymous — Puer natus Latin SATB
- Anonymous — Puer natus in Bethlehem 2 SATB
- Johann Sebastian Bach — Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65 German SATB
- Henricus Beginiker — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SATB
- Johann Crüger — Geistliche Kirchen-Melodien
- Adrian Cuello — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SSATB
- David Drexler — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SAB
- Pal Esterhazy — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SATB
- Robert Franz — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SATB
- Bartholomeus Gesius — Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem 2 SSATB
- Gregorian chant — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin Unison
- Michael J. Drake, Jr. — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SSTB
- Carl Loewe — Puer natus in Bethlehem German SATB.SATB
- Paolo Pandolfo — Puer Natus Latin SATB
- Michael Praetorius — Puer natus in Bethlehem - Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem a 2 2 2 equal voices
- Michael Praetorius — Puer natus in Bethlehem a 4 Latin TTBB
- Michael Praetorius — Puer natus in Bethlehem a 8 2 SATB.SATB
- Peter Reid — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SATB
- Josef Rheinberger — Sechs Hymnen, op. 118 Latin SA
- Samuel Scheidt — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SATB.SATB
- Johann Hermann Schein — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SATB
- Allen H. Simon — Puer natus in Bethlehem Latin SATB
- Tullio Visioli — Puer natus in Bethlehem Spanish SATB
in English
In German
- Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem (Johann Sebastian Bach)
- Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem (Michael Praetorius)
See also
- The Christmas introit Puer natus est
- Puer natus in Bethleem in hoc anno (Michael Praetorius)
- Ein Kindelein so löbelich (Hieronymus Praetorius), which appears to be based on the same tune
Text and translations
Latin text
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English translation Translation by Hamilton M. MacGill , 1876 |
German text
Alternative version of last two stanzas from Praetorius, Polyhymnia Caduceatrix et Panegyrica: Für solche gnadenreiche Zeit, sey Gott gelobet in Ewigkeit, Alleluja. Lob sey der heylgen Dreyfaltigkeit, nun und in alle Ewigkeit, Alleluja.
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External links
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