En etsi valtaa, loistoa (Jean Sibelius)
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- Editor: Sebastian Göring (added 2001-06-12). Score information: 100 kbytes Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: A4 page format, only for US distribution
Error summary - In text - see below (See discussion page for full description)
General Information
Title: En etsi valtaa, loistoa
Composer: Jean Sibelius
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Carol
Language: Finnish
Instruments: a cappella.
Published:
Description: The Finnish text in this score ("En etsi valtaa, loistoa") is a free translation of a poem in Swedish (quoted below) by Zacharias Topelius, and it was the Swedish version that Sibelius actually set, Topelius and Sibelius both being Swedish-speaking Finns. (Thanks to Anders Stenberg for this information). The most impressive-sounding of the various translations of the title which are in circulation is 'We ask for nothing rich or rare'. The German text which is included in the score on cpdl is quite a faithful translation of the Swedish version. I shall provide a reasonably literal English translation of the Finnish one. It is worth noting two errors in the Finnish text: in bar 10 of the first verse, sou should read suo (which also enables it to rhyme), and in bar 16 of the second verse, joulus should read joulu. -Mick Swithinbank
External websites:
Original text and translations
Text and translations need to be added
English translation
I seek not power, glory or gold,
I wish for the light of Heaven and peace on Earth.
Let Christmas bring happiness and put us in mind of heavenly things.
Neither power nor gold but peace on Earth.
May the wonder of Christmas come to both poor and rich;
Into Earth's darkness bring the light of Heaven.
For you I yearn, you I await, Lord of Earth and Heaven,
Now bring sweet Christmas to poor and rich.
Translation by Mick Swithinbank
Swedish translation
Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt
i signad juletid.
Giv mig Guds ära, änglavakt
och över jorden frid.
Giv mig en fest
som gläder mest
den konung jag har bett till gäst.
Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt,
giv mig en änglavakt.
Giv mig ett hem på fosterjord,
en gran med barn i ring,
en kväll i ljus med Herrens ord
och mörker däromkring.
Giv mig ett bo
med samvetsro,
med glad förtröstan, hopp och tro.
Giv mig ett hem på fosterjord
och ljus av Herrens ord.
Till hög, till låg, till rik, till arm,
kom, helga julefrid.
Kom barnaglad, kom hjärtevarm
i världens vintertid.
Du ende som ej skiftar om,
min Herre och min Konung, kom.
Till hög, till låg, till rik, till arm,
kom glad och hjärtevarm.
Original Swedish text by Zacharias Topelius
