This melody which probably dates from the sixteenth century was found in the Swedish/Finnish collection of sacred music called Piae Cantiones published in 1582.

There are five four line verses each separated and introduced by a refrain which is like an easier English form of sacred song called a ‘burden’. You can see what the first printed music for this carol looked like on the image for today’s Advent calendar; it would make a beautiful Christmas card in its own right.

It has stood the test of time over centuries but suddenly soared to no 14 in the UK charts with a version by the folk group Steeleye Span in 1973. Few other songs with Latin lyrics have become chart successes! Probably the other most famous version of this was by the King’s Singers in the 1990s but lots of other artists have produced their versions of it including harpist Kim Robertson on her album The Spiral Gate.

For those curious to know how I played the bells at the same time as the harp, I stood the harp on a platform, played in bare feet and held the bell stick under my foot, hanging it over the edge of the platform to play it. It is not overdubbed!

Gaudete, gaudete!
Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine,
gaudete!

Tempus adest gratiæ
Hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina lætitiæ
Devote reddamus.

Deus homo factus est
Natura mirante,
Mundus renovatus est
A Christo regnante.

Ezechielis porta
Clausa pertransitur,
Unde lux est orta
Salus invenitur.

Ergo nostra contio
Psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino:
Salus Regi nostro.

Rejoice, rejoice!
Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary –
Rejoice!

The time of grace has come—
What we have wished for;
Songs of joy
Let us give back faithfully.

God has become man,
With nature marvelling,
The world has been renewed
By the reigning Christ.

The closed gate of Ezekiel
Is passed through,
Whence the light is risen;
Salvation has been found.

Therefore, let our assembly
Now sing in brightness
Let it bless the Lord:
Salvation to our King.