1. Translations

2. Text and translations

3. In other media

4. References

5. External links

The ancient poem was translated and paired with a medieval plainchant melody Divinum mysterium. Divinum mysterium was a "Sanctus trope" - an ancient plainchant melody which over the years had been musically embellished.^[2] An early version of this chant appears in manuscript form as early as the 10th century, although without the melodic additions, and "trope" versions with various melodic differences appear in Italian, German, Gallacian, Bohemian and Spanish manuscripts dating from the 13th to 16th centuries.^[2]

The text of the Divinum mysterium was replaced by the words of Prudentius's poem when it was published by Thomas Helmore in 1851. In making this fusion, the original meter of the chant was disturbed, changing the original triple meter rhythm into a duple meter and therefore altering stresses and note lengths. A later version by Charles Winfred Douglas corrected this using an "equalist" method of transcription, although the hymn is now found in both versions as well as a more dance-like interpretation of the original melody.^[2]

Translations

There are two translations commonly sung today; one by John Mason Neale and Henry W. Baker, and another by Roby Furley Davis.

Neale's original translation began "Of the Father sole begotten," in his Hymnal Noted (London, 1851), and contained only six stanzas.^[5] It was Neale's music editor, Thomas Helmore, who paired this hymn with the Latin plainsong. Neale's translation was later edited and extended by Henry W. Baker for Hymns Ancient and Modern (London, 1861; below).

Dissatisfied with Neale's translation, Roby Furley Davis (1866–1937), a scholar at St. John's College, Cambridge, wrote a new version for the English Hymnal of 1906. Davis was assistant master at Weymouth College and a scholar of the works of Tacitus, especially his book on Agricola.^[6] This version was also used in the popular Carols for Choirs series by David Willcocks.^[4]

Text and translations

Of the Father's heart begotten,

Ere the world from chaos rose,

He is Alpha, from that Fountain

All that is and hath been flows;

He is Omega, of all things,

Yet to come the mystic Close,

Evermore and evermore.

Of the Father’s love begotten,

Ere the worlds began to be,

He is Alpha and Omega,

He the source, the ending He,

Of the things that are, that have been,

And that future years shall see,

Evermore and evermore!

By His Word was all created

He commanded and 'twas done;

Earth and sky and boundless ocean,

Universe of three in one,

All that sees the moon's soft radiance,

All that breathes beneath the sun,

Evermore and evermore.

At His Word the worlds were framèd;

He commanded; it was done:

Heaven and earth and depths of ocean

In their threefold order one;

All that grows beneath the shining

Of the moon and burning sun,

Evermore and evermore!

He assumed this mortal body,

Frail and feeble, doomed to die,

That the race from dust created,

Might not perish utterly,

Which the dreadful Law had sentenced

In the depths of hell to lie,

Evermore and evermore.

He is found in human fashion,

Death and sorrow here to know,

That the race of Adam’s children

Doomed by law to endless woe,

May not henceforth die and perish

In the dreadful gulf below,

Evermore and evermore!

O how blest that wondrous birthday,

When the Maid the curse retrieved,

Brought to birth mankind's salvation

By the Holy Ghost conceived,

And the Babe, the world's Redeemer

In her loving arms received,

Evermore and evermore.

O that birth forever blessèd,

When the virgin, full of grace,

By the Holy Ghost conceiving,

Bore the Saviour of our race;

And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,

First revealed His sacred face,

evermore and evermore!

Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises;

Angels and Archangels, sing!

Wheresoe’er ye be, ye faithful,

Let your joyous anthems ring,

Every tongue his name confessing,

Countless voices answering,

Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heaven adore Him;

Angel hosts, His praises sing;

Powers, dominions, bow before Him,

and extol our God and King!

Let no tongue on earth be silent,

Every voice in concert sing,

Evermore and evermore!

This is He, whom seer and sibyl

Sang in ages long gone by,;

This is He of old revealed

In the page of prophecy;

Lo! He comes the promised Saviour;

Let the world his praises cry!

Evermore and evermore.

This is He Whom seers in old time

Chanted of with one accord;

Whom the voices of the prophets

Promised in their faithful word;

Now He shines, the long expected,

Let creation praise its Lord,

Evermore and evermore!

Hail! Thou Judge of souls departed;

Hail! of all the living King!

On the Father's right hand throned,

Through his courts thy praises ring,

Till at last for all offences

Righteous judgement thou shalt bring,

Evermore and evermore.

Righteous Judge of souls departed,

Righteous King of them that live,

On the Father’s throne exalted

None in might with Thee may strive;

Who at last in vengeance coming

Sinners from Thy face shalt drive,

Evermore and evermore!

Now let old and young uniting

Chant to thee harmonious lays

Maid and matron hymn Thy glory,

Infant lips their anthem raise,

Boys and girls together singing

With pure heart their song of praise,

Evermore and evermore.

Thee let old men, Thee let young men,

Thee let boys in chorus sing;

Matrons, virgins, little maidens,

With glad voices answering:

Let their guileless songs re-echo,

And the heart its music bring,

Evermore and evermore!

Let the storm and summer sunshine,

Gliding stream and sounding shore,

Sea and forest, frost and zephyr,

Day and night their Lord alone;

Let creation join to laud thee

Through the ages evermore,

Evermore and evermore.

Christ, to Thee with God the Father,

And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,

Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving,

And unwearied praises be:

Honour, glory, and dominion,

And eternal victory,

Evermore and evermore!

In other media

In Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory's SATB choral piece "Hope for Resolution", the classic hymn is overlapped with a traditional Zulu melody.

References

External links

• Free download of Corde Natus (Divinum Mysterium) for organ
• {{cite web|title=Hymnal 1982: According to the use of the Episcopal Church: Hymn 82 (Divinum Mysterium) musical score |publisher=hymnary.org |url=http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/82 |accessdate=4 January 2014}}

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