Rejoice! It's Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent (Gaudete is 'rejoice' in Latin). Hymns include Tell out my soul, and New Zealand carols From Pastures Green and Pohutukawa Carol.
Fra Angelico, The Annunciation, c. 1438-45, fresco, 230 x 321 cm (Convent of San Marco, Florence) Photo: Steven Zucker, Smarthistory
SONG: TELL OUT, MY SOUL
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Timothy Dudley-Smith/Michael Baughen
Recording: Hyperion 112105
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name the Lord, the Mighty One.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and forevermore!
SONG: LO, HOW A ROSE E’ER BLOOMING
Artist: Musica Sacra, Indra Hughes (dir)
Words/Music: Anon/Anon harmonised Praetorius
Recording: Atoll ACD 207
[Translation by Henry Baker]
Lo, how a rose e'er blooming,
From tender stem hath sprung.
Of Jesse’s lineage coming,
As men of old have sung;
It came, a flow'ret bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind,
With Mary we behold it,
The virgin mother kind;
To show God's love aright,
She bore to men a Saviour,
When half spent was the night.
O Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispel with glorious splendour
The darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death now save us,
And share our every load.
SONG: POHUTUKAWA CAROL
Artist: Choir of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington, Dianne Halliday (dir)
Words/Music: Ted Forsman/Douglas Mews Snr
Recording: Private CD
Lyrics not available
SONG: FROM PASTURES GREEN
Artist: Graham Wise (tenor), Festival Singers, Guy Jansen (dir)
Words/Music: Bing Lucas/Alex Duncan
Recording: Festivity Productions FP2003
From pastures green and tussock brown,
When sheep come in for shearing.
Remember shepherds who bowed down,
With angels bright appearing.
At night the Southern Cross afar
Is seen in nature's ceiling,
Remember then that eastern star
The way, to kings revealing.
Chorus:
Praise to God who sent his son
Down to earth with us made one
Sing it on a summer morn
This the day when Christ was born
On Christmas morning gifts to share,
Of friendship they're a token
Remember kings brought presents rare,
A custom still unbroken
When summer sunshine warms the earth,
The sea and mountain beckon
Remember Christ the Saviour, King,
A child with whom to reckon.
Chorus:
On surfboard or on mountainside
from childhood youth is growing
Remember how Christ lived and died,
to all compassion showing.
With trees of rata flowering red
In bush-clad valley straying
Remember how Christ's blood was shed
His love for us displaying
Chorus:
SONG: THE FIRST NOWELL
Artist: Christchurch Salvation Army Citadel Band
Words/Music: Anon/Trad
Recording: V&H 430036
The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Chorus:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Chorus:
SONG: O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Phillips Brooks/Trad arr Ralph Vaughan Williams
Recording: Conifer 115907
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
SONG: WHENCE IS THAT GOODLY FRAGRANCE
Artist: Graduate Choir, Terence Maskell (dir), Pene Pati (tenor solo) Philip Smith (organ)
Words/Music: Trad trans Ramsay/Trad arr David Willcocks
Recording: Atoll ACD207
Whence is the goodly fragrance flowing,
Stealing our senses all away,
never the like did come a-blowing,
Shepherds, in flow'ry fields of May,
Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing,
Stealing our senses all away.
What is that light so brilliant, breaking
Here in the night across our eyes.
Never so bright, the day-star waking,
Started to climb the morning skies!
What is that light so brilliant, breaking,
Here in the night across our eyes.
Bethlehem! there in manger lying,
Find your Redeemer haste away,
Run ye with eager footsteps vieing!
Worship the Saviour born today.
Bethlehem! there in manger lying,
Find your Redeemer haste away.
SONG: WHAT CHILD IS THIS
Artist: Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge
Words/Music: William Chatterton Dix/Trad
Recording: Priory PRCD 721
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds worship and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him praise,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies he in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Come, have no fear, God’s son is here
His love all loves exceeding:
Nails, spear, shall pierce him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Saviour comes,
The Babe, the son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
All tongues and peoples own him,
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let every heart enthrone Him.
Raise, raise your song on high
While Mary sings a lullaby.
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the son of Mary.
SONG: ANGELS’ CAROL
Artist: Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter (dir)
Words/Music: John Rutter
Recording: Collegium 880111
Lyrics not available
