Part of the Christmas story that is less frequently told is the slaughter of the innocents (Matthew 2:26), the story of King Herod’s paranoia at the thought that a king of the Jews other than himself had been born, leading him to order the death of all boys in Bethlehem age 2 or younger. There are several Christmas songs that tell this tale, two of which we will look at today and tomorrow.
The medieval Latin carol “Puer Nobis Nascitur” was first published in the Finnish choir book Piae Cantiones, in 1582. Yet the song is significantly older than that: it can be found in German manuscripts from the 15th and 14th centuries. The oldest of these, the Moosburg Gradual, is a collection of songs, many of which can be traced to 12th and 13th century France; that suggests that “Puer Nobis Nascitur” may well date from that earlier era as well.
The Latin has been rendered into English by George Ratcliffe Woodward (1859-1934). Woodward was an Anglican priest, hymnwriter, translator, and publisher. For his own hymns he set new words to well-known religious and renaissance tunes. As a publisher he produced numerous collections of English hymns and carols, and also a book of Greek hymns and an Italian carol book.
1. Unto us is born a son, King of choirs supernal:
See on earth his life begun, Of lords the Lord eternal.
2. Christ, from heav’n descending low, Comes on earth a stranger;
Ox and ass their Owner know Now cradled in a manger.
3. This did Herod sore affray, And did him bewilder,
So he gave the word to slay, And slew the little childer.
4. Of his love and mercy mild Hear the Christmas story:
O that Mary’s gentle Child Might lead us up to glory!
5. O and A and A and O, Cantemus in choro,
Voice and organ, sing we so, Benedicamus Domino.
This is the Guildford Cathedral Choir:
https://youtu.be/NJ5yVD8FA4Q
james-ayers.com 