For Christmas
For the Circumcision of our Lord, Jan. 1
Words:
John Audelay, from a MS. Of the 15th Century
Bodleian Library. MS. Douce 302.
Compare: What
Tidings (Rickert)
What
Tythyngis Bryngst Us, Messangere
Music:
John Dunstable, 1400-1453
MIDI /
Noteworthy Composer /
PDF
Source:
Rev.
Charles Lewis Hutchins,
Carols Old and Carols New.
Boston: Parish Choir, 1916, Carol 677
Refrain
What
tidings bringest thou, messenger,
Of Christ His birth this jolly
day?
1.
A Babe is born of high nature
The Prince of Peace that ever shall
be.
Of heav'n and earth He hath the cure,
His lordship is
eternity.
Such wondrous tidings ye may hear,
That man is made
now heaven's peer,
Whom sin had made but fiendes pray. Refrain
2.
A wondrous thing doth now befall,
That King that formed star and
sun,
Heaven and earth and angels all,
Now in mankind is new
begun.
Such wondrous tidings ye may hear,
A infant of a single
year
That hath been e'er and shall be aye. Refrain
3.
That seemeth strange to us to see
This berd that hath this babe
a-born
And Lord conceived of high degree
A maiden is and was
beforn:
Such wondrous tidings ye may hear,
That maid and moth'r
are one in fere,
And she a lady of great array. Refrain
4.
That lovliest gan greet her Child,
“Hail, son, Hail,
Brother, Hail, Father dear.”
“Hail, Daughter,”
He saith, “Hail, Mother mild,”
This hailing was on
quaint manner.
Such wondrous tidings ye may here,
That hailing
was of so good cheer
That mannes pain is turned to play. Refrain
Sheet Music from Rev. Charles L. Hutchins
J. A. Fuller Maitland, English Carols of the Fifteenth Century. London: The Leadenhall Press, E.C., ca. 1891, X.
Carol in Original Form From a 15th Century Manuscript
Carol in Modern Form
