The original author and composer for this carol are unknown. Similar words can be traced back to the 12th century, and a similar tune to the 13th century; but the first known source for the Latin version is found in the Finnish cathedral song book Piae Cantiones (1582).
Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987) created an alternate English translation in 1965: “Let the boys’ cheerful noise Sing today none but joys.” The translation most of us know comes from Jane M. Joseph (1894-1929), originally published under the pseudonym James M. Joseph. She was a student of Gustav Holst, who gave us the present arrangement of the carol; she eventually became his colleague, and composed a number of choral works of her own before her early death.
The Latin in the refrain translates as “Therefore, therefore, therefore [let there be] glory to God in the highest.” The manifold repetition of the ‘therefore’ emphasizes that because of the incarnation, let us therefore [therefore! therefore!] offer all the highest glory to God.
1. On this day earth shall ring
With the song children sing
To the Lord, Christ our King,
Born on earth to save us;
Him the Father gave us.
Ideo, ideo, ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!
2. His the doom, ours the mirth;
When he came down to earth,
Bethlehem saw his birth;
Ox and ass beside him
From the cold would hide him.
Ideo, ideo, ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!
3. God’s bright star, o’er his head,
Wise Men three to him led;
Kneel they low by his bed,
Lay their gifts before him,
Praise him and adore him.
Ideo, ideo, ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!
4. On this day angels sing
With their song earth shall ring
Praising Christ, heaven’s king
Born on earth to save us;
Peace and love he gave us.
Ideo, ideo, ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!
This is the choir from St Malachy’s College, Belfast.
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