O Kerstnacht (Luc Jakobs)
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- CPDL #9851:
- Editor: Luc Jakobs (submitted 2005-09-26). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 106 kbytes Copyright: Personal May be freely copied and performed for non-profit use. Please inform the composer of any performances of this work.
General Information
Title: O Kerstnacht, schooner dan de dagen
Composer: Luc Jakobs
Lyricist: Joost van den Vondel
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Carol
Language: Dutch
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 2005
Description: Dutch Christmas Carol
External websites:
Original text and translations
Dutch text
- O Kerstnacht, schooner dan de daegen,
- Hoe kan Herodes 't licht verdraegen,
- Dat in uw duisternisse blinckt,
- En wort geviert en aengebeden?
- Zijn hooghmoed luistert na geen reden,
- Hoe schel die in zijn ooren klinckt.
- Hy pooght d'onnoosle te vernielen
- Door 't moorden van onnoosle zielen,
- En werckt een stad en landgeschrey,
- In Bethlehem en op den acker,
- en maeckt den geest van Rachel wacker,
- Die waeren gaet door beemd en wey,
- Dan na het westen, dan na'et oosten.
- Wie zal die droeve moeder troosten
- Nu zy haer lieve kinders derft?
- Nu zy die ziet in 't bloed versmooren,
- Aleerze naulix zijn geboren,
- en zoo veel zwaerden rood geverft?
English translation
translation by Mick Swithinbank
- Lovelier than day is Christmas night:
- How can Herod stand the blinding light
- That burns through its dank gloom,
- Received with joy, by all adored?
- Reason by Herod is abhorred;
- His arrogance leaves it no room.
- He thinks to murder one baby boy
- If every innocent he destroy:
- Cries re-echo far and wide,
- In Bethlehem, in crofts and homes.
- Rachel's spirit wakes and roams
- All around the countryside,
- Now to the east and now to the west.
- Who can console a mother so distressed
- To see her children dead,
- Over their blood-drenched bodies to mourn,
- Those babes so newly born,
- And see all those swords dyed red?