Description: Feast of circumcision, January 1, Second Vespers
External websites: Source: Transcription by Richard Taruskin for Cappella Nova. Notation here is a whole tone higher than original. Translation, text underlay and editorial accidentals by John Hetland and the Renaissance Street Singers. 15 Mar 2018
Original text and translations
Latin text
O admirábile commércium!
Humáni géneris Creátor
hodie ex vírgine násci dignátus est:
Chríste, redémptor ómnium,
et Pátre Pátris únicae,
sólus ánte princípium,
nátus ineffabíliter.
Tu lúmen,
tu spléndor Pátris,
tu spes perénnis Omnium.
Inténde quas fúndunt préces
túi per órbem fámuli.
Tenor intro:
Christus natus est nobis per quem
salus eterna mundo apparuit.
English translation
O wonderous interchange!
The Creator of the human race
today deigned to be born of a virgin:
O Christ, the redeemer of all,
and by the Father, of the Father uniquely,
alone before the beginning,
born wondrously.
You are the light,
you are the splendor of the Father,
you are the perpetual hope of all.
Hear the prayers they pour out,
your servants throughout the world.
Christ was born for us through whom
eternal salvation appeared to the world. Translation by John Hetland
O admirabile commercium!
Creator generis humani
de Virgine nasci dignatus est;
et procedens homo sine semine,
largitus est nobis suam deitatem.
Germinavit radix Jesse,
orta est stella ex Jacob;
Virgo peperit nobis Salvatorem;
te laudamus, Deus noster.
(Circumcision, Purification, Office antiphons)
English translation
O wondrous exchange!
The Creator of the human race
deigned to be born of a Virgin,
and born as a man without man's aid,
bestowed upon us his divinity.
The root of Jesse has blossomed;
a star has risen out of Jacob;
the Virgin has borne us the Savior;
we praise thee, O our God. Translation by St Ann choir