A Ceremony of Carols

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)

View original-language texts alone: A Ceremony of Carols

1. Procession
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Today Christ is born;
Today the Saviour has appeared;
Today the angels sing,
The archangels rejoice,
Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
Glory be to God in the highest.
Alleluia!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
1. Einzug
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Geboren ist uns heute Christ;
der Heiland uns erschienen ist;
auf Erden singen Engel heut,
Erzengel jubeln voller Freud,
Heut’ jauchzen die Gerechten ein Gloria:
Ehre Gott dem Erhab’nen. Halleluja!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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Translation of titles
"Procession" = "Einzug"
"Recession" = "Auszug"


This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 6
Word count: 30

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Wolcum Yole!
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Wolcum, Wolcum,
Wolcum be thou hevenè king. 
Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum, born in one morning. 
Wolcum for whom we sall sing!

Wolcum be ye Stevene and Jon. 
Wolcum Innocentes every one.
Wolcum, Thomas marter one. 
Wolcum, be ye, Good Newe Yere.
Wolcum Twelfth Day both in fere,
Wolcum, seintes lefe and dere, 
Wolcum Yole! 

Candelmesse, Quene of bliss. 
Wolcum bothe to more and lesse.
Wolcum be ye that are here.
Wolcum Yole! 
Wolcum alle and make good cheer. 
Wolcum alle another yere.
Wolcum Yole! Wolcum!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( 14th century )

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. Willkommen Weihnacht!
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Willkommen seist du, Himmelskönig. 
Willkommen Weihnacht!
Willkommen der uns heut’ gebracht, 
dem unser Loblied zugedacht!

Willkommen Stefan und Johann.
Willkommen, die schuldlos in Herod’s Bann.
willkommen,Thomas, dem Pein angetan,
willkommen, Neujahr, gute Zeit
willkommen der zwölfte, der beides bereit’,
willkommen die ihr heilig seid.
Willkommen Weihnacht!

Willkommen Lichtmess, Darstellung des Herrn.
Willkommen sei uns beides gern
willkommen ihr, der Gläub’gen Schar.
Willkommen Weihnacht!
Willkommen, jubelt all -  fürwahr
willkommen seid im neuen Jahr.
Willkommen Weihnacht!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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Anmerkung des Übersetzers: Der Text reiht die Tage im Kirchenjahr auf: Geburt Christi 25.12.,den Gedenktag (26.12.) des ersten christlichen Märtyrers, Stephan, den Gedenktag (27.12.) des Apostels und Evangelisten Johannes, den Gedenktag (28.12.) der „Unschuldigen Kinder“ des von Herodes angeordneten Bethlehemitischen Kindermords, den Gedenktag = Todestag (29.12.) des Hl. Thomas Becket, erschlagen in der Kathedrale von Canterbury, Neujahrstag, Epiphanias und Dreikönigstag (6.1.) Lichtmess und Darstellung des Herrn (2.2.)



This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 18
Word count: 74

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. There is no rose
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu:
Alleluya.

For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space:
Res miranda.

By that rose we may well see
That he is God in person three:
Pari forma.

The angels sung the shepherds to:
"Gloria in excelsis Deo",
Gaudeamus.

Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth:
Transeamus.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( 15th-century )

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3.
[Translation not yet available]
4a. That yongë child
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
That yongë child when it gan weep
With song she lulled him asleep;
That was so sweet a melody
It passèd alle minstrelsy.
The nightingalë sang also:
Her song is hoarse and nought thereto:
Whoso attendeth to her song
And leaveth the first then doth he wrong.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( 14th century )

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
4a. Das kleine Kind
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Kindlein fing zu weinen an,
Maria in den Schlaf es sang:
der Minnesänger Melodie -
an Süße übertraf es sie.
Die Nachtigall mit ihrem Sang
misstönend, rau und heiser klang:
Wer immer ihrem Lied zuhört,
es höher als Mariens ehrt, der liegt verkehrt.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 8
Word count: 43

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4b. Balulalow
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
O my deir hert, young Jesus sweit,
Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee in my hert
And never mair from thee depart.

But I sall praise thee evermoir
With sangis sweit unto thy gloir;
The knees of my heart sall I bow,
And sing that richt Balulalow!

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Note: freely adapted from stanzas 13 and 14 of Martin Luther's text.

by The brothers Wedderburn (James, John and Robert) (flourished 1548)
4b.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein teures Herz, süß Jesulein,
mach meine Seel’ zur Wiege dein,
ins Herze will ich wiegen dich,
nicht weichen von dir ewiglich.

Ich will dich preisen immer mehr
mit süßem Sang zu deiner Ehr;
Ich beuge meines Herzens Knie
und sing dein Schlafensmelodie.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 8
Word count: 43

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
5. As dew in Aprille
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
I sing of a maiden 
that is makèles:
King of all kings 
to her son she ches.

He came al so stille 
there his moder was,
As dew in Aprille 
that falleth on the grass.

He came al so stille 
to his moder bour,
As dew in Aprille 
that falleth on the flour.

He came al so stille 
there his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille 
that falleth on the spray.

Moder and mayden 
was never none but she;
Well may such a lady 
Goddes moder be.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Glossary
makèles = matchless
ches = chose
bour = bower
flour = flower
by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
5. Wie Tau im April
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich sing von der Jungfrau 
einmaliger Art,
die Mutter des 
Himmelskönigs ward.

Bei seiner Mutter 
erschien er so still
wie ein Tau auf den 
Auen im April.

In der Mutter Schoß 
erschien er so still
wie ein Tau auf der 
Blume im April.

In Mutters Kammer 
erschien er so still
wie ein Tau auf den 
Zweig fällt im April.

Mutter und Jungfrau 
gebührte ihr allein:
Solch ein Frau kann wohl 
Gottes Mutter sein.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 20
Word count: 73

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
6. This little babe
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
This little Babe so few days old 
is come to rifle Satan's fold;
all hell doth at his presence quake 
though he himself for cold do shake;
for in this weak unarmèd wise 
the gates of hell he will surprise.

With tears he fights and wins the field, 
his naked breast stands for a shield;
his battering shot are babish cries, 
his arrows looks of weeping eyes,
his martial ensigns Cold and Need 
and feeble Flesh his warrior's steed.

His camp is pitchèd in a stall, 
his bulwark but a broken wall;
the crib his trench, haystacks his stakes; 
of shepherds he his muster makes;
and thus, as sure his foe to wound,
the angels' trump alarum sound.

My soul, with Christ join thou in fight, 
stick to the tents that he hath pight.
Within his crib is surest ward, 
this little Babe will be thy guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy, 
then flit not from this heavenly Boy.

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by Robert Southwell (1561? - 1595)
6. Dies kleine Kind
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das kleine Kind, erst Tage alt,
erscheint, zu brechen Satans G’walt;
die Hölle zitternd vor ihm fällt,
obwohl es selbst erbebt vor Kält’;
schwach, ohne Waffen wie es ist,
bezwingt die Hölle es mit List.

Die Tränen sind sein siegreich’ Heer,
die bloße Brust ist seine Wehr;
mit Schreien es die Mauern bricht
und Pfeile schickt sein Tränenblick;
seine Paniere: Not und Kält’,
und schwaches Fleisch sein Streitross stellt.

Sein Lager ist in einem Stall,
die Schutzwehr ein durchbrochner Wall;
die Kripp’ sein Schutz, Heuhaufen Wehr,
und Hirten sind sein stehend’ Heer;
dem Feind zu bringen bittern Harm,
trompeten Engel laut Alarm.

Mein Seel’, zieh’ mit, wenn Christus ficht,
bleib bei dem Zelt, das er erricht’;
bei seiner Kripp’ du sicher bist,
dies Kindlein dein Beschützer ist.
Willst deine Feind’ besiegt du sehn,
dann bleib’ beim Himmelsknaben stehn.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 24
Word count: 138

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
7. Interlude (Harp Solo)
— Tacet —

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7.
[Translation not yet available]
8. In freezing winter night
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Behold, a silly tender babe in freezing winter night,
In homely manger trembling lies; alas, a piteous sight!

The inns are full, no man will yield this little pilgrim bed.
But forced he is with silly beasts, in crib to shroud his head.

This stable is a Prince's court, this crib his chair of State;
The beasts are parcel of his pomp, this wooden dish his plate.

The persons in that poor attire his royal liveries wear;
The Prince himself is come from Heav'n; this pomp is prizèd there.

With joy approach o Christian wight, do homage to thy King;
And highly praise his humble pomp, which he from Heav'n doth bring.

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by Robert Southwell (1561? - 1595)
8. In frost’ger Winternacht
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schaut, ein unschuldig zartes Kind in frost’ger Winternacht
zitternd in einer Krippe liegt - wie herzzerreißend, ach!

Herberge und ein Bett, zu ruhn, gibt man ihm nirgendwo.
So ruht bei Ochs und Esel es in einer Kripp’ auf Stroh.

Der Stall ist nun ein Fürstenhof, die Krippe ist sein Thron;
ein hölz’ner Teller sein Gedeck, Tiere sein Hofstaat schon.

Als wär’s ein höfisches Gewand wirkt Volkes schlichte Tracht;
Der Prinz selbst kam vom Himmel hoch; dort preist man diese Pracht.

Tritt her mit Freud’, o Christenmensch, bring deinem König Ehr;
lobpreise seine schlichte Pracht, die kommt vom Himmel her.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 10
Word count: 98

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
9. Spring carol  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Pleasure it is
To hear, iwis,
The Birdès sing.
The deer in the dale,
The sheep in the vale,
The corn springing.
God’s purveyance
For sustenance,
It is for man.
Then we always
To give him praise,
And thank him than,
And thank him than.

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by William Cornish (1465 - 1523)
9. Frühlingslied
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Freude fürwahr,
horch, nimm es wahr
der Vögel Lied.
Das Reh im Tal,
das Schaf zumal,
das Korn ersprießt.
Gott sorgt und schafft
stets Lebenskraft
für jedermann.
Darum erweist
ihm Ehr und preist
ihn, dankend dann.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Translation of title "Spring carol" = "Frühlingslied"


This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 36

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
10. Deo gracias
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond,
Four thousand winter
Thought he not too long;

And all was for an apple,
An apple that he took,
As clerkës finden
Written in their book.

Né had one apple taken been,
The apple taken been,
Né had never Our Lady
A been Heaven's Queen.

Blessèd be the time
That apple takèn was.
Therefore we moun singen:
Deo gratias!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( 15th century )

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
10.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Adam lag gebunden,
gebunden in der Sünd’,
vier tausend Winter
ihm nicht zu lange sind;

All dies für einen Apfel,
den Apfel, den er brach,
wie in den Schriften
ist zu lesen nach.

Wär er nicht gebrochen worden,
von ihm gebrochen worden,
dann wär’ Unsere Liebe Frau
nie Himmelskönigin geworden.

Gesegnet sei die Zeit,
da er ihn brach und aß.
Darob wir können singen:
Deo gratias!

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2015-01-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 66

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
11. Recession
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Today Christ is born;
Today the Saviour has appeared;
Today the angels sing,
The archangels rejoice,
Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
Glory be to God in the highest.
Alleluia!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
11. Auszug
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Geboren ist uns heute Christ;
der Heiland uns erschienen ist;
auf Erden singen Engel heut,
Erzengel jubeln voller Freud,
Heut’ jauchzen die Gerechten ein Gloria:
Ehre Gott dem Erhab’nen. Halleluja!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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Based on:

Based on:

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Translation of titles
"Procession" = "Einzug"
"Recession" = "Auszug"


This text was added to the website: 2015-07-26
Line count: 6
Word count: 30

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann