19th December, 2023
Salve Puerule
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1634-1704)
Edited and English words added by John Rutter
adapted for harp by Danielle Perrett
Salve Puerule means ‘Hail, little child!’
Marc-Antoine Charpentier wrote a dramatic motet (oratorio) for the nativity and this is the final chorus from the work.
As the edition of this work by Oxford University Press points out, the three verses of this are sung in turn by each of the three wise men. Rutter’s English words are not a translation of the original Latin text.
Marc-Antoine Charpentier had a high flying career during the time of Louis XIV and composed a great deal of religious music because for part of his career he worked for the Jesuits as Master of Music firstly at their college of Louis-le-Grand when he composed many dramatic motets like this.
I took this piece from Carols for Choirs book 3 for which John Rutter is co-editor together with David Willcocks.
Salve puerule,
Salve tenellule,
O nate parvule quam bonus es;
O nate parvule quam bonus es;
Tu caesium deferis,
Tu mundo nasceris,
Nobis te ut miseres assimiles;
Nobis te ut miseres assimiles.
O summa bonitas!
Excelsa deitas
Vilis humanitas fit hodie,
Vilis humanitas fit hodie.
Aeternus nascitur
Immensus capitur
Et rei tegitur sub specie;
Et rei tegitur sub specie.
Virgo puerpera
Beata viscera
Dei cum opera dent filium
Dei cum opera dent filium.
Gaude, flos virginum,
Gaude, spes hominum,
Fons, lavans crimium proluvium;
Fons, lavans crimium proluvium.
Welcome, thou holy child,
Welcome, thou infant mild;
Mary all undefiled gave thee thy birth;
Mary all undefiled gave thee thy birth.
On thee our sins are laid,
Son of a virgin maid,
Godhead in flesh arrayed come down to earth;
Godhead in flesh arrayed come down to earth.
Sent down from God on high,
In humble crib to lie;
Ox and ass standing by Jesus our Lord;
Ox and ass standing by Jesus our Lord.
Daystar with brightest ray,
Bear thou our sins away;
Saviour, to thee we pray, by all adored:
Saviour, to thee we pray, by all adored.
Mary, thou blessed one,
Through thee God’s will is done:
Bearing his only Son this joyful morn;
Bearing his only Son this joyful morn.
Hail, queen of heaven bright!
Shining with purest light;
Of thee, by God’s great might, Jesus is born;
Of thee, by God’s great might, Jesus is born.
Performed on David Concert Harp