"Narodil se Kristus Pán" (The Lord Christ Was Born), in English version "Be joyful, Earth and starry sky" is a Czech Christmas carol and Christian hymn. The text and melody come from the oldest preserved record of the song in Latin ("En Virgo parit filium") and Czech in the Gradual of the Czech Silver Museum in Kutná Hora,[1] written in the late 15th century, but the song itself is considered to be older. Some historians date it back to the 13th century,[2] while others believe it is originally a Hussite hymn from the first decades of the 15th century. The song is regarded as the most popular Czech carol and it is sung regularly today at the end of catholic Mass and other Christian worship services in the Czech Republic during Christmas time.
| Narodil se Kristus Pán | |
|---|---|
| Christmas hymn | |
 "En virgo parit filium" – "Narodil se Kristus Pán", oldest document of the song in Latin and Czech in the Gradual held by the Czech Silver Museum, c.before 1500 | |
| English | Be joyful, Earth and starry sky |
| Language | Czech |
The simple and jolly melody has been varied several times, most notably into the German "Freu dich, Erd und Sternenzelt." The Old Czech tune did not contain the tritone (augmented fourth) in the beginning, which can be heard in today's modern editions without exception.[3][4] In the oldest document, it is in triple metre.[5]
Latin lyrics
editEn virgo partit filium
En virgo parit filium,
iubilemus,
rosa gignit lilium,
exultemus.
Natum sine patre
filium cum matre
collaudemus.
Czech lyrics
editNarodil se Kristus Pán This version comes from the beginning of 15th century and it is usually sung today without 5th and 6th strophe
1) Narodil se Kristus Pán, veselme se,
z růže kvítek vykvet' nám, radujme se!
Z života čistého, z rodu královského,
již nám narodil se.
2) Jenž prorokován jest, veselme se,
ten na svět poslán jest, radujme se!
Z života čistého, z rodu královského,
již nám narodil se.
3) Člověčenství naše, veselme se,
ráčil vzíti na se, radujme se!
Z života čistého, z rodu královského,
již nám narodil se.
4) Goliáš oloupen, veselme se,
člověk jest vykoupen, radujme se!
Z života čistého, z rodu královského,
již nám narodil se.
5) Ó milosti Božská, budiž s námi;
dejž, ať zlost ďábelská nás nemámí.
Pro Syna milého, nám narozeného,
smiluj se nad námi!
6) Dejž dobré skončení, ó Ježíši,
věčné utěšení věrných duší!
Přijď nám k spomožení, zbav nás zatracení
pro své narození.
![F2 F2 A2 B2 c2 c2 c4 B2 c2 d4 c8
c2 c2 _B2 B2 A2 A2 G4 A2 _B2 A2 G2 F8
A2 G2 A2 _B2 c4 F4 A2 G2 A2 _B2 c4 F4 F4 d4 c2 _B2 A2 G2 F8|]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/score/q/j/qj05qksb2igu41d1bqz9v1pukokdgio/qj05qksb.png)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ The Gradual of the Czech Museum of Silver in Kutná Hora
- ^ Karel Konrád: Dějiny posvátného zpěvu staročeského (History of Old Czech sacral song), 1881; in Czech
- ^ Audio: "Narodil se Kristus Pán (Symphonic Orchestra of Czech Radio & listeners
- ^ Audio: Conventus Musicorum - "Narodil se Kristus Pán"
- ^ Audio: En virgo partit filium
External links
edit
Media related to Narodil se Kristus Pán at Wikimedia Commons
- Josef Lauschman: Narodil se Kristus Pán. In: Cyril 1935, pp 100–103
- Prague Madrigalists: "Narodil se Kristus Pán" - audio, download
- Sheet music Narodil se Kristus Pán - Jiří Strejc
- Elthin - Narodil se Kristus Pán - the original melody from the XV century - YouTube video