Personent hodie
Encyclopedia
Personent hodie is a Christmas carol
originally published in the 1582 Finnish
song book Piae Cantiones
, a volume of 74 Medieval songs with Latin texts collected by Jaakko Suomalainen, a Swedish Lutheran
cleric, and published by T.P. Rutha. The song book had its origins in the libraries of cathedral song schools
, whose repertory had strong links with medieval Prague
, where clerical students from Finland and Sweden had studied for generations. A melody found in a 1360 manuscript from the nearby Bavaria
n city of Moosburg
in Germany is highly similar, and it is from this manuscript that the song is usually dated.
text is probably a musical parody
of an earlier 12th century song beginning "intonent hodie voces ecclesie", written in honour of Saint Nicholas
, the patron saint of Russia, sailors and children – to whom he traditionally brings gifts on his feast day, 6 December. Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott
note that two of the verses have an unusual double repeat ('Submersum, -sum, -sum puerum'; 'Reddens vir-, vir-, vir- ginibus'). In 'intonent hodie', these were used to illustrate the three boys and three girls saved by St Nicholas from drowning and prostitution, respectively. The text was probably re-written for the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28) when choristers and their "boy bishop
" traditionally displaced the senior clergy from the choir stalls. The carol is still often associated with Holy Innocents' Day.
Songs from Piae Cantiones continued to be performed in Finland until the 19th century. The book became well known in Britain after a rare copy of Piae Cantiones owned by Peter of Nyland was given as a gift to the British Minister in Stockholm
. He subsequently gave it to John Mason Neale
in 1852, and it was from this copy that Neale, in collaboration with Thomas Helmore
published songs in two collections in 1853 and 1854 respectively.
(1894–1929). She translates the title as On this day earth shall ring, although there are several other English translations. Other versions include Elizabeth Poston
's 1965 "Boys' Carol", which translates the first line of the text as "Let the boys' cheerful noise/Sing today none but joys" and John Mason Neale
's "Let The Song be Begun", which uses the melody but not the text of the carol. Aidan Oliver's non-verse translation renders the text as "Today let the voices of children resound in joyful praise of Him who is born for us."
(1874–1934), where in its organ reduction it is often used as a processional hymn
in church and cathedral services. Holst's version often forms part of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
, and was last featured in the service from King's College Chapel, Cambridge
in 1998 following the eighth lesson. This arrangement is sometimes referred to as "Theodoric" in reference to the composer's middle name (Theodore).
In addition to Holst's version, there is a harmonised choral arrangement by Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott
in the New Oxford Book of Carols
, an arrangement by Antony Pitts in the Naxos Book of Carols and two arrangements by John Rutter
; one for choir and full orchestra which emulates percussive medieval instrumentation, and another in his anthology Dancing Day for female or boys voices with harp or piano accompaniment. The Retrover Ensemble's performance for Naxos Records
pairs the piece with Gaudete
, another carol from Piae Cantiones.
Several recorded versions are arranged in a more folk
-oriented style: for example, a performance by Maddy Prior
and The Carnival Band
on their 1987 album A Tapestry of Carols
, which utilises period instruments
. The female a cappella
quartet Anonymous 4
have also recorded the song with its original "Intonent hodie" text on their CD Legends of St. Nicholas.
The contemporary English cross-disciplinary music ensemble North Sea Radio Orchestra
have recorded a small-ensemble instrumental version of the piece arranged for two violins, cello, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, piano, vibraphone, chamber organ and guitar. This appears on their 2008 album Birds
.
Robert Cummings, writing in the Allmusic guide, states that the "melody is glorious and ebullient in its lively, triumphant manner. It largely consists of bright, resolute three-note phrases whose overall structure gradually rises, then descends."
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
originally published in the 1582 Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
song book Piae Cantiones
Piae Cantiones
Piae Cantiones ecclesiasticae et scholasticae veterum episcoporum is a collection of late medieval Latin songs first published in 1582. It was compiled by Jacobus Finno or Jaakko Suomalainen , a clergyman who was headmaster of the cathedral school at Turku...
, a volume of 74 Medieval songs with Latin texts collected by Jaakko Suomalainen, a Swedish Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
cleric, and published by T.P. Rutha. The song book had its origins in the libraries of cathedral song schools
Cathedral school
Cathedral schools began in the Early Middle Ages as centers of advanced education, some of them ultimately evolving into medieval universities. Throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, they were complemented by the monastic schools...
, whose repertory had strong links with medieval Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where clerical students from Finland and Sweden had studied for generations. A melody found in a 1360 manuscript from the nearby Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n city of Moosburg
Moosburg
Moosburg an der Isar is a town in the Landkreis Freising of Bavaria, Germany.The oldest town between Regensburg and Italy, it lies on the river Isar at an altitude of 421 m . It has 17,275 inhabitants and covers an area of 44 km². It is easily reached by the A 92 autobahn and regional trains on...
in Germany is highly similar, and it is from this manuscript that the song is usually dated.
Textual origins
The LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
text is probably a musical parody
Parody music
Parody music, or musical parody, involves changing or recycling existing musical ideas or lyrics — or copying the peculiar style of a composer or artist, or even a general style of music. Although the result is often funny, and this is the usual intent — the term "parody" in musical terms also...
of an earlier 12th century song beginning "intonent hodie voces ecclesie", written in honour of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
, the patron saint of Russia, sailors and children – to whom he traditionally brings gifts on his feast day, 6 December. Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
note that two of the verses have an unusual double repeat ('Submersum, -sum, -sum puerum'; 'Reddens vir-, vir-, vir- ginibus'). In 'intonent hodie', these were used to illustrate the three boys and three girls saved by St Nicholas from drowning and prostitution, respectively. The text was probably re-written for the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28) when choristers and their "boy bishop
Boy bishop
Boy bishop was a name given to a custom very widespread in the Middle Ages, whereby a boy was chosen, for example among cathedral choristers, to parody the real Bishop, commonly on the feast of Holy Innocents...
" traditionally displaced the senior clergy from the choir stalls. The carol is still often associated with Holy Innocents' Day.
Songs from Piae Cantiones continued to be performed in Finland until the 19th century. The book became well known in Britain after a rare copy of Piae Cantiones owned by Peter of Nyland was given as a gift to the British Minister in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He subsequently gave it to John Mason Neale
John Mason Neale
John Mason Neale was an Anglican priest, scholar and hymn-writer.-Life:Neale was born in London, his parents being the Revd Cornelius Neale and Susanna Neale, daughter of John Mason Good...
in 1852, and it was from this copy that Neale, in collaboration with Thomas Helmore
Thomas Helmore
Thomas Helmore was a choirmaster, writer about singing and author and editor of hymns and carols.Helmore's father was a congregationalist minister...
published songs in two collections in 1853 and 1854 respectively.
Translations
The most common English translation of the text is by "James M. Joseph", a pseudonym of the composer Jane M. JosephJane M. Joseph
Jane Marian Joseph was an English composer. She also used the pseudonym "James M. Joseph".-Biography:Jane Joseph was born in Notting Hill, West London, into a Jewish family. She learned double bass as a child, and also played piano. She graduated from St...
(1894–1929). She translates the title as On this day earth shall ring, although there are several other English translations. Other versions include Elizabeth Poston
Elizabeth Poston
Elizabeth Poston was an English composer, pianist, and writer. She studied at Queen Margaret's School, York and then the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she was encouraged by both Peter Warlock and Ralph Vaughan Williams. She won a prize from RAM for her violin sonata, which was...
's 1965 "Boys' Carol", which translates the first line of the text as "Let the boys' cheerful noise/Sing today none but joys" and John Mason Neale
John Mason Neale
John Mason Neale was an Anglican priest, scholar and hymn-writer.-Life:Neale was born in London, his parents being the Revd Cornelius Neale and Susanna Neale, daughter of John Mason Good...
's "Let The Song be Begun", which uses the melody but not the text of the carol. Aidan Oliver's non-verse translation renders the text as "Today let the voices of children resound in joyful praise of Him who is born for us."
Arrangements
The carol became more prominent in England after being arranged for unison voices and orchestra in 1916 by Gustav HolstGustav Holst
Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
(1874–1934), where in its organ reduction it is often used as a processional hymn
Processional hymn
A processional hymn is a chant, hymn or other music sung during the Procession, usually at the start of a Christian service although occasionally during the service itself. The procession usually contains members of the clergy and the choir walking behind the processional cross...
in church and cathedral services. Holst's version often forms part of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Nine Lessons and Carols
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a format for a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas...
, and was last featured in the service from King's College Chapel, Cambridge
King's College Chapel, Cambridge
King's College Chapel is the chapel to King's College of the University of Cambridge, and is one of the finest examples of late Gothic English architecture, while its early Renaissance rood screen separating the nave and chancel, erected in 1532-36 in a striking contrast of style, has been called...
in 1998 following the eighth lesson. This arrangement is sometimes referred to as "Theodoric" in reference to the composer's middle name (Theodore).
In addition to Holst's version, there is a harmonised choral arrangement by Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
in the New Oxford Book of Carols
New Oxford Book of Carols
The New Oxford Book of Carols is a comprehensive anthology of Christmas carols, edited by Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott, and intended to supplement if not supersede the original Oxford Book of Carols of 1928...
, an arrangement by Antony Pitts in the Naxos Book of Carols and two arrangements by John Rutter
John Rutter
John Milford Rutter CBE is a British composer, conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, mainly of choral music.-Biography:Born in London, Rutter was educated at Highgate School, where a fellow pupil was John Tavener. He read music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the...
; one for choir and full orchestra which emulates percussive medieval instrumentation, and another in his anthology Dancing Day for female or boys voices with harp or piano accompaniment. The Retrover Ensemble's performance for Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
pairs the piece with Gaudete
Gaudete
Gaudete is a sacred Christmas carol, composed sometime in the 16th century. The song was published in Piae Cantiones, a collection of Finnish/Swedish sacred songs published in 1582...
, another carol from Piae Cantiones.
Several recorded versions are arranged in a more folk
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
-oriented style: for example, a performance by Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.-Early life:...
and The Carnival Band
The Carnival Band (folk group)
The Carnival Band is an English early music group. Their broad repertoire focuses on popular music fromthe 16th and 17th centuries, and traditional music from around the world. Presentation is informal and humorous, and in the spirit of medieval and renaissance Carnival...
on their 1987 album A Tapestry of Carols
A Tapestry of Carols
A Tapestry of Carols is an album by Maddy Prior. It is a collection of ancient carols from across Europe, played by The Carnival Band on replicas of medieval instruments...
, which utilises period instruments
Historically informed performance
Historically informed performance is an approach in the performance of music and theater. Within this approach, the performance adheres to state-of-the-art knowledge of the aesthetic criteria of the period in which the music or theatre work was conceived...
. The female a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
quartet Anonymous 4
Anonymous 4
Anonymous 4 is a female a cappella quartet, based in New York City. Their main performance genre is medieval music, although they have also premiered works by living composers such as John Tavener and Steve Reich...
have also recorded the song with its original "Intonent hodie" text on their CD Legends of St. Nicholas.
The contemporary English cross-disciplinary music ensemble North Sea Radio Orchestra
North Sea Radio Orchestra
North Sea Radio Orchestra is an English contemporary music ensemble and cross-disciplinary chamber orchestra ....
have recorded a small-ensemble instrumental version of the piece arranged for two violins, cello, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, piano, vibraphone, chamber organ and guitar. This appears on their 2008 album Birds
Birds (North Sea Radio Orchestra album)
Birds is the second album by the English cross-disciplinary musical ensemble North Sea Radio Orchestra. It was released on December 1, 2008 on Oof! Records.-Background:...
.
Robert Cummings, writing in the Allmusic guide, states that the "melody is glorious and ebullient in its lively, triumphant manner. It largely consists of bright, resolute three-note phrases whose overall structure gradually rises, then descends."
Text
| Latin text of "Personent hodie" (1582) | English translation by Jane M. Joseph (1894–1929) | Latin text of "Intonent hodie" (c.1360) |
|---|---|---|
| Personent hodie voces puerulae, laudantes iucunde qui nobis est natus, summo Deo datus, et de virgineo ventre procreatus. |
On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing to the Lord, Christ our King, born on earth to save us; him the Father gave us. Refrain Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, Id-e-o gloria in excelsis Deo! |
Intonent hodie Voces ecclesiae, Dies laetitiae Refulsit in mundo, Ergo laetabundo Corde jubilemus Et ore jucundo. |
| In mundo nascitur, pannis involvitur praesepi ponitur stabulo brutorum, rector supernorum. perdidit spolia princeps infernorum. |
His the doom, ours the mirth; when he came down to earth, Bethlehem saw his birth; ox and ass beside him from the cold would hide him. Refrain |
Sanctus hic inclitus, Domino subditus, In cunis positus Ubera vitabat, Corpus macerabat, Et ter in sabbato Puer jejunabat. |
| Magi tres venerunt, munera offerunt, parvulum inquirunt, stellulam sequendo, ipsum adorando, aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo. |
God's bright star, o'er his head, Wise Men three to him led; kneel they low by his bed, lay their gifts before him, praise him and adore him. Refrain |
Parenti misero Submerso puero Mari pestifero Dedit, quod petivit, Preces exaudivit, Submersum puerum Patris custodivit. |
| Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri, cantent ut angeli: advenisti mundo, laudes tibi fundo. ideo gloria in excelsis Deo. |
On this day angels sing; with their song earth shall ring, praising Christ, heaven's King, born on earth to save us; peace and love he gave us. Refrain |
Tribus virginibus Victu carentibus Reddidit honorera, Subtraxit errorem, Reddens virginibus Virgineum florem. |
External links
- Personent hodie arranged by Gustav HolstGustav HolstGustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
at the Choral Public Domain LibraryChoral Public Domain LibraryThe Choral Public Domain Library is a sheet music archive which focuses on choral and vocal music in the public domain or otherwise freely available for printing and performing .-Description:...