Surrexit Christus sol: Last Night Did Christ the Sun Arise Sedulius Scottus was an Irishman driven from his native shores by Norse invaders during the mid ninth century. With two friends he blew in with a sleeting wind to the gates of Bishop Hartgar of Liège, France. Recognized immediately as the finest of scholars, Sedulius found thereafter a warm and hospitable home with the Bishop. A Greek text of St. Paul’s Epistles, with an interlinear Latin translation, has survived in what is believed to be Sedulius’ own handwriting. A number of his lyrics have survived as well, including the following Easter “hymn” which caps a letter in verse to a fellow cleric. The terrific medieval scholar, Helen Wadell, rendered the original Latin into the simple and compelling English that follows.

Latin lyrics

English translation

Surrexit Christus sol verus vespere noctis, surgit et hinc domini mystica messis agri. Nunc vaga puniceis apium plebs laeta labore floribus instrepitans poblite mella legit. Nunc variae volucfres permulcent aethera cantu, temperat et pernox nunc philomena melos. Nunc chorus ecclesiae cantat per cantica Sion, alleluia suis centuplicatque tonis. Tado, pater patriae, caelestis guadia paschae percipias meritis limina lucis: ave.

Last night did Christ the Sun rise from the dark, The mystic harvest of the fields of God, And now the little wandering tribes of bees Are brawling in the scarlet flowers abroad. The winds are soft with birdsong; all night long Darkling the nightingale her descant told, And now inside church doors the happy folk The Alleluia chant a hundredfold. O father of thy folk, be thine by right The Easter joy, the threshold of the light.

Labels: eastern, latin, Sedulius Scottus

  ¶ Thursday, October 25, 2007 1 comments

  Lamb of God Thy ewe-lamb, O Jesus, crieth out with a loud voice:
"I love Thee, O my Bridegroom, and, seeking Thee, I suffer.
I am crucified and buried in Thy baptism.
I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee;
I die for Thee, that I may live with Thee.
Accept me, who sacrifice myself for Thee with love, as an unblemished offering!"
By her supplications save Thou our souls, in that Thou art merciful.

C F C
Your only Son, no sin to hide
Am F G
But you have sent him from your side
F C Am
To walk upon this guilty sod
C G C
And to become the Lamb of God

C F C
Your gift of love they crucified
Am F G
They laughed and scorned Him as He died
F C Am
The humble King, they named a fraud
C G C
And sacrificed the Lamb of God

Am G C
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God
Am F G
I love the holy Lamb of God
F Em Am
O wash me in His precious blood
C G C
My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God

C F C
I was so lost I should have died
Am F G
But you have brought me to your side
F C Am
To be led by your staff and rod
C G C
And to be called a lamb of God

Labels: chords, eastern, modern, twila paris

  ¶ Monday, October 22, 2007 0 comments

  Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence “Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” Habakkuk 2:20

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And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth, (or descending)
Our full homage to demand. (or comes our homage to demand)

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Labels: 4th c., chords, christmas, eastern, eucharist

  ¶ Wednesday, January 17, 2007 0 comments