Christ rising again

In the 1549, 1552, and 1559 versions of the Book of Common Prayer the canticle Christ rising again is used after the opening responses at Morning Prayer on Easter Day, taking the place of the Venite. It is drawn from two passages in Romans (ch. 6, v. 9-11 "Christ rising again") and I Corinthians (ch. 15, v. 20-22 "Christ is risen again"), the two together being known as the Easter Anthems. In the 1662 Prayer Book a third anthem, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us", was added before these two.

• BCP versions compared at justus.anglican.org

Settings

• John Amner for SATB or ATTB
• William Byrd for 2 altos and 4 viols, with full sections for AATTTB
• John Sheppard for AATB
• Thomas Tomkins for ATB & organ, with full sections SATB (brief A div.)
• Thomas Tallis SAATB

See also Christ our Passover for other works including the same verses.

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Christopher Tye — Christ rising again

Text and translations

English text BCP 1549 CHRIST rising again from the dead, nowe dyeth not. Death from henceforth hath no power upon hym. For in that he dyed, he dyed but once to put away sinne, but in that he lyveth, he lyveth unto God. In Christe Jesus our Lorde. Alleluya, Alleluya. CHRISTE is risen againe: the firste fruytes of them that slepe: for seyng that by man came death: by man also commeth the resurreccion of the dead. For as by Adam all men do dye, so by Christe all menne shalbe restored to lyfe. Alleluya.

English text BCP 1552, 1559 Christ rising agayne from the dead, now dyeth not. Death from henceforth hath no power uppon him. For in that he dy’d, he dy’d but once to put away sinne, but in that he lyveth, he lyveth unto God. In Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ is risen againe, the first fruits of them that sleepe, forseeing, that by man came death, by man also commeth the resurrection of the dead. For as by Adam al men do dye, so by Christ all men shalbe restored to lyfe. Amen.

English text BCP 1662 CHRIST being raised from the dead dieth no more: death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin: but alive unto God through Jesus Chriſt our Lord. CHRIST is risen from the dead: and become the firſt-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death: by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die: even so in Chriſt shall all be made alive.

English text

 BCP 1978
Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more:
death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once:
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin:
but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 6. 9.)

Christ is risen from the dead:
and become the first-fruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death:
by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Cor. 1)