Coelos ascendit hodie, Alleluia

Here is my translation of the Ascension hymn/pia cantio, “Coelos ascendit hodie, Alleluia” (Anon., 15th c.) and its fairly close German rendering, “Gen Himmel aufgefahren ist” (asc. Melchior Franck) in ELGB #158/159, originally from Vulpius’ Gsb 1609, with melody by Melchior Franck. It was include in the Gotha Cantional, Niedling’s Handbüchlein, Freylinghausen 1704, etc. A partial translation by F. W. Herzberger made in 1912 was included in the Selah Song Book / Sela Gesangbuch 1924. The most widespread translation is J. M. Neale’s “Today Above the Sky He Soared,” which is full and good. However, following some of the Latin lines, I have given some consideration to beginning with an accentual pattern / - - / rather than pure iambs ( - / - /). I give the melody from Vopelius (for the Latin) and from the Gotha Cantional (for the German text), which are almost identical.

 

 

 

HEAV’Nward this day by high ascent
Alleluia!
Jesus the King of glory went
Alleluia!

2 Sitting on God the Father’s right
Alleluia!
Heaven and earth He rules with might.
Alleluia!

3 Now is fulfilled what was foretold
Alleluia!
By father David’s psalms of old.
Alleluia!

4 Now doth the Lord, our God alone:
Alleluia!
Sit with the Lord on heaven’s throne.
Alleluia!

5 Now on this mighty triumph sing:
Alleluia!
BLESS WE THE LORD, our heav’nly King.
Alleluia!

6 Praised be the Holy Trinity:
Alleluia!
THANKS BE TO GOD eternally!
Alleluia!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

SELA GESANGBUCH 1924 (from the German):

1 In triumph He went heavenward
Hallelujah!
King of all glory, Christ our Lord.
Hallelujah!

2 He sitteth now at God’s right hand.
Hallelujah!
To rule over heaven, sea, and land.
Hallelujah!

3 Fulfilled is what was prophesied:
Hallelujah!
Of Christ the Redeemer crucified.
Hallelujah!

5 Now let all men with joy proclaim
Hallelujah!
The glorious might of His great name.
Hallelujah!

LATIN

1 Coelos ascendit hodie,
Hallelujah,
Jesus Christus Rex gloriae,
Hallelujah.

2 Sedet ad Patris dexteram,
Hallelujah,
Gubernans coelum et terram,
Hallelujah.

3 Jam finem habent omnia,
Hallelujah,
patris Davidis carmina,
Hallelujah.

4 Jam Dominus cum Domino,
Hallelujah,
sedet in Dei solio,
Hallelujah.

5 In hoc triumpho maximo, [Ascensionis Domino]
Hallelujah,
Benedicamus Domino,
Hallelujah.

6 Laudetur sancta Trinitas,
Hallelujah,
Deo dicamus gratias,
Hallelujah.

GERMAN

Gen Himmel aufgefahren ist,
Hallelujah!
der König der Ehren Jesus Christ,
Hallelujah!

2 Er sitzt zur Rechten Gottes Hand,
Hallelujah!
herrscht über Himmel und alle land,
Hallelujah!

3 Nun ist erfüllt, was geschrieben ist,
Hallelujah!
in Psalmen von dem Herren Christ,
Hallelujah!

4 Nun setzt beim Herren Davids Herr,
Hallelujah!
wie zu ihm hat gesagt der Herr,
Hallelujah!

5 Drum jauchzen wir mit größem Schall'n
Hallelujah!
dem Herren Christ zu Wohlgefall'n,
Hallelujah!

6 Wir loben die heilig' Dreifaltigkeit,
Hallelujah!
von nun an bis in Ewigkeit.
Hallelujah!

Ascendit Christus hodie Alleluia Alleluia (…Sursum ad Patrem gloriae)

Here is my translation of the Latin pia cantio / Bendicamus hymn for the Ascension, “Ascendit Christus hodie / Sursum ad Patrem gloriae” (Anon., 15th c.?), in ELGB #154, which will also serve for my translation of the German version, #155, since it is very close to the Latin. Fischer finds it in the Low German Magdeburg Gsb 1584 titled “A Children’s Hymn of the Ascension of Christ,” where the Latin stanzas are accompanied by German counterparts beginning “Gefaren is de hillige Christ, Alle, Alle…” It is found in High German in the Essen Gsb 1614, Lunenburg 1635, etc. It should be distinguished, naturally, from the Easter hymn “Surrexit Christus hodie” as well as from the Ascension hymn “Caelos ascendit hodie”; further, from the similarly beginning “Ascendit Christus hodie / Super caelos Rex gloriae” which I find in Vopelius’ Neu Leipziger Gsb 1684, p. 380ff., and which appears in the Buffalo Synod hymnal as #154.  For the melody of our present hymn, that hymnal appoints either “Puer natus in Bethlehem” or “Erstanden ist der heilge Christ,” though the indicated half-Alleluia full-Alleluia after each line does not seem to match any available versions. The Benedicamus/Gratias in stanzas 8–9 is not rendered with clarity by the High German translation.

 

 

 

TODAY did Christ ascend the height:
Alle- Alleluia!
Up to the glorious Father’s right.
Alle- Alleluia!

He by the cross’s agony:
Alle- Alleluia!
Made naught the world’s iniquity.
Alle- Alleluia!

3 So did He love our wretched race:
Alle- Alleluia!
He hath embraced us men in grace.
Alle- Alleluia!

4 So to the glorious Victor now:
Alle- Alleluia!
All pow’rs as to the Father bow.
Alle- Alleluia!

5 And for us lowly mortal men:
Alle- Alleluia!
He intercedeth now in heav’n.
Alle- Alleluia!

6 Why stand, ye men of Galilee:
Alle- Alleluia!
And gaze at heaven longingly?
Alle- Alleluia!

7 The Lord whose going ye have seen:
Alle- Alleluia!
Some day from heav’n shall come again.
Alle- Alleluia!

8 Now on this mighty triumph sing:
Alle- Alleluia!
BLESS WE THE LORD, our heav’nly King.
Alle- Alleluia!

9 Praised be the Holy Trinity:
Alle- Alleluia!
THANKS BE TO GOD eternally!
Alle- Alleluia!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

Adscendit Christus hodie,
Halle-Halleujah,
sursum ad Patrem gloriae,
Halle-Halleujah.

2 Qui morte crucis horrida,
Halle-Halleujah,
mundi delevit crimina,
Halle-Halleujah.

3 Amore tanto miseros,
Halle-Halleujah,
complexus est nos homines,
Halle-Halleujah.

4 Nunc ergo victor inclytus,
Halle-Halleujah,
conregnat Patri similis,
Halle-Halleujah.

5 Atque pro nobis miseris,
Halle-Halleujah,
intercedit mortalibus
Halle-Halleujah.

6 O Galilaei homines,
Halle-Halleujah,
in coelum quid adspicitis,
Halle-Halleujah.

7 Hinc ut migravit Dominus,
Halle-Halleujah,
olim redibit coelitus,
Halle-Halleujah.

8 In hoc triumpho maximo,
Halle-Halleujah,
Benedicamus Domino,
Halle-Halleujah.

9 Laudetur sancta Trinitas,
Halle-Halleujah
Deo dicamus gratias,
Halle-Halleujah.

 

GERMAN

Gefahren ist der heil'ge Christ,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
zum Vater, des all' Ehre ist,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

2 Der durch des Creuzes bittren Tod,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
die ganze Welt erlöset hat.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

3 Sehr hoch Er uns geliebet hat,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
uns Elende aus lauter Gnad.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

4 Drum ist Er nun dem Vater gleich,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
regiert samt Ihm im Himmelreich.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

5 Da Er uns vor des Vaters Thron,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
verbittet, daß Er unser schon'.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

6 Ihr Galiläer gehet fort,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
was steht ihr hie an diesem Ort?
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

7 Als Er zum Himmel fahren ist,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
also sein letzte Zukunft ist.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

8 Solch Himmelfahren thut uns wohl,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
drum sind wir Trost- und Freudenvoll.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

9 Lob sei der heil'ge Dreieinigkeit,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
von nun an bis in Ewigkeit.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

 

Ex legis observantia

Here is my translation of the Candlemas hymn (or pia cantio), “Ex legis observantia” (Anon., 16th c.), in ELGB #76 explicitly for the Purification of Mary. A translation of the early hymn of Bohemian origin existed in German in the mid-16th c. as “Da Jesus Christ, Mariä Kind und wahrer Gottes Sohn vom Himmelreiche,” for which Zahn gives a melody by Triller (1555). Selnecker includes our Latin text with a different melody, indicating another German translation, “Nach dem Gesetz wird Gottes Sohn.” Again, a melody by Schein in a more accessible form is given by Zahn, this from the Cantional 1627, which then appears with various further German translations: “Nachdem sich nun Marien Kind,” “Heut hat Marien Kindelein,” “Maria stellte Christum dar.” I give the melodies from Zahn.

 

 

 

 

 

KEEPING in faith the ancient laws,
The Virgin Mary hath the Christ presented,
Who to the Law subjected was,
That He might free us from its yoke lamented.
Simeon, elated,
Held the Long-Awaited,
The host of angels celebrated!

2 Then it behooved the Lad, that He
Fulfill what God by Moses had commanded,
Till in time’s fullness He should be
Revealed as Christ with words and glory candid.
Simeon, elated,
Held the Long-Awaited,
The host of angels celebrated!

3 Many an age upon our eyes
A blinding mist remained without redressing;
So did the Law us terrorize
With thunder blast, our mind and heart distressing.
Simeon, elated,
Held the Long-Awaited,
The host of angels celebrated!

4 Prophet and patriarch of old
For such a glimpse of Christ were ever yearning
Simeon now did Him behold,
The Monarch with His Mother here discerning.
Simeon, elated,
Held the Long-Awaited,
The host of angels celebrated!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

Ex legis observantia
Virgo Maria Christum praesentavit,
esset ut legi subditus,
qui nos a jugo legis liberaret;
Simeon hunc vetus
amplexatur laetus,
congaudet Angelorum coetus.

2 Decebat id tum puerum,
ut patris jussa sub Mose compleret;
dum plenitudo temporis,
quo nobis sit conspicuus, veniret:
Simeon hunc vetus
amplexatur laetus,
congaudet Angelorum coetus.

3 Diu sub oculis manet
caligo, quae semel satis adhaesit,
quam praebuit illis tum lex
cum tonitru, in animoque sedit:
Simeon hunc vetus
amplexatur laetus,
congaudet Angelorum coetus.

4 Vates olim sancti patres
visionem Christi desiderabunt,
solus at ipse Simeon
Puerperam cum Christo prasentabat. [praesentavit]
Simeon hunc vetus
amplexatur laetus,
congaudet Angelorum coetus.

Quando Christus ascenderat

Here is my translation of the Benedicamus hymn for Ascension: "Quando Christus ascenderat," as corrected by M. Herman Bonnus and included in Lossius "Psalmodia." While still a hymn of the Ascension, it links the Ascension and Session to Pentecost more explicitly than other hymns that focus on the Ascension itself. The text is based on the late medieval pia cantio of the same name, and uses the same melody. Here is the Pia Cantiones version of the melody.

The last line in the original is sung thus (note the length of 4th note):

WHEN Christ ascended into heav’n,
To sit upon the Father’s right,
Then, as He promised, man was giv’n
The Holy Ghost from realms of light,
A sound was heard like rushing wind,
And tongues of fire were burning bright.

2. His sudden coming there discerned,
Then none from blessed fear was spared,
A Comforter upon them burned,
And pow’r to all th’ Apostles shared,
Who then in myriad tongues unlearned
The mighty acts of God declared.

3. The sterile Church He fertile made
With fruitful gifts of many a kind,
Their conscience He with grace allayed,
Consoled their heart, illumed their mind,
From Satan’s wiles their life he stayed,
From evil saved, from world so blind.

4. Now to the Spirit’s Father high
In heaven let our pray’r ascend
That in the faith of Christ His Son
He keep us ever without end.
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Bless we the Lord, bless we the Lord.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

LATIN

1. Quando Christus ascenderat,
sedens ad Patris dexteram,
quem antea promiserat,
e coelo mittit Spiritum,
auditur tanquam sonitus,
linguae videntur igneae. [< linguis loquuntur omnium]

2. Hic subito adveniens,
Metum incussit omnibus,
Et consolator pavidos
Apostolorum animos,
Qui statim linguis variis
Docent Dei magnalia.

3. Foecundat hic Ecclesiam
Diversis donis sterilem,
consolatur, illuminat,
et servat conscientias,
Adversus mundum, Satanam,
Et dirae moris impetum.

4. Patrem oramus igitur
Coelestem, sanctus Spiritus,
Ut nos in fide Filii
Pura semper retineat,
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Benedicamus Domino.

Omnis mundus jocundetur (new translation)

As you may or may not have realized, the first day of Christmas is only a Christmas feast (12 days) away, so here is my translation of the old pia cantio for the nativity, "Omnis mundus jocundetur." An earlier "translation" — really a new creation— appeared by J.M. Neale in the Carols for Christmas-Tide. The only part I could not quite work in is "by the mouth of Gabriel." There is, it seems, a more faithful translation by Willis Wager, to whom I owe the first line, but I have been unable to find any more of his version. If found and acceptable, I withdraw mine. Here's another Latin version. The music I have transcribed from the white mensural notation in Piae Cantiones.



LET ALL earth ring out with gladness
To the new-born Savior;
For the Virgin's Son our sadness
Takes away forever.
Pure in tone lift your voice;
Pure in heart, now rejoice.
Let us celebrate this day with glad acclaim! (glad acclaim!)
By the Virgin Mary, Christ a man became. (man became.)
To the Virgin Christ is born so praise His name! (praise His name!)
Therefore let us all rejoice and praise His name! (praise His name!)
Therefore let us all rejoice and praise His name!

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2010.

LATIN

Omnis mundus jocundetur nato salvatore
casta mater quae concepit Gabrielis ore.
Sonoris vocibus
sinceris mentibus,
exsultemus et laetemur hodie. ::
Christus natus ex Maria virgine, ::
[Christus natus ex Maria] gaudete. ::
Gaudeamus et laetemur itaque. ::
Gaudeamus et laetemur itaque.