Looser but better translations of the foreign texts for the NCS concerts in December 2015

This page contains slightly less literal translations of the non-English texts for our concerts in December 2015. They’re still fairly literal, and are intended for use in programmes and the like.

There may be mistakes; my apologies if so. I will be glad of any corrections.

Byrd: Viderunt omnes – Alleluia

Viderunt omnes fines terraeAll the ends of the earth shall see
salutare Dei nostri:the salvation of our God:
jubilate Deo, omnis terra.shout for joy to God, all the earth.
Notum fecit Dominus salutare suum,God has made known his salvation,
ante conspectum gentiumbefore the sight of the nations
revelavit justitiam suam,he has revealed his justice.
Alleluia.Alleluia.

Byrd: Dies sanctificatus

Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis,The hallowed day has dawned upon us:
venite gentes et adorate Dominum,come, you nations, and worship the Lord,
quia hodie descendit,for today he has come down,
lux magna super terram.a great light upon the earth.
Alleluia.Alleluia.

Byrd: Tui sunt coeli

Tui sunt coeli, et tua est terra,Yours are the heavens and yours is the earth,
orbem terrarum et plenitudinem eius tu fundasti,the circle of the earth and its fullness you have laid the foundations of,
justitia et judicium praeparatio sedis tuae.justice and judgement are the preparation of your seat.

Byrd: O admirabile commercium

O admirabile commercium,O wonderful exchange,
creator generis humanithe creator of the human race
animatum corpus sumenstaking on a living body,
de virgine nasci dignatus est,deigns to be born of a virgin,
et procedens homo sine semine,and coming forth as man without seed,
largitus est nobishas lavished upon us
suam Deitatem.his divinity.

Tallis: Videte miraculum

Videte miraculum Matris Domini,Behold the miracle of the Mother of the Lord:
concepit virgo Matris Dominithe virgin Mother of the Lord has conceived
virilis ignara consortii,knowing no man as partner,
stans onerata nobili onere MariaMary standing burdened with her noble burden
et matre se laetam cognoscitand happily knows herself a mother
quae se nescit uxorem.who knows not she is a wife.

Byrd: O magnum misterium – Beata virgo

O magnum misteriumO great mystery
et admirabile sacramentum,and wondrous sacrament,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natumthat animals should see the newborn Lord
jacentem in praesepio.lying in a manger.
Beata virgo, cuius visceraBlessed virgin, whose womb
meruerunt portare Dominum Christum.was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.
Ave Maria, gratia plena,Hail Mary, full of grace,
Dominus tecum.the Lord is with you.

Byrd: Ecce advenit Dominator Dominus

Ecce advenit dominator DominusBehold, the ruler the Lord comes,
et regnum in manu eiusand the kingdom is in his hand,
et potestas et imperiumand power and dominion.
Deus, judicium tuum regi da,O God, give to the king judgement,
et justitiam tuum filio regis.and your righteousness to the king’s son.
Gloria patri, et filio, et spiritui sancto,Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
sicut erat in principioas it was in the beginning,
et nunc, et semper,both now and always,
in saecula saeculorum. Amen.through all the ages. Amen.

Byrd: Ab ortu solis – Venite comedite

Ab ortu solis usque ad occasum,From the rising of the sun to its setting,
magnum est nomen meum in gentibus,great is my name among the nations,
et in omne loco sacrificatur,and in every place sacrifice is made
et offertur nomine meo oblatio munda.and a pure offering is offered to my name.
Venite, comedite panem meum,Come, eat my bread with me,
et bibite vinumand drink the wine
quod miscui vobis.which I have mixed for you.

Byrd: Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem

Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem,Arise and shine, Jerusalem,
quia venit lumen tuum,for your light has come,
et gloria Domini super te orta est.and the glory of the Lord has risen over you.
Alleluia.Alleluia.