Gaudeamus omnes

Background

The Gregorian introit Gaudeamus omnes is among the oldest melodies of the repertoire, and with minor adjustments is used for several different feasts in the Latin rite: the California missionary Narciso Duran went so far as to adapt it to all 52 Sundays in a choirbook preserved at Berkeley's Bancroft Library.

Settings by composers

Trent codex 92 (All Saints) SAT Choirbooks of Annaberg (1519)(Assumption) SATB Giacomo Battistini (Assumption) SATB William Byrd (Assumption) SATTB William Byrd (All Saints) SSATB or AATTB

Giovanni Paolo Cima (St Stephen) SATB Jacquet de Mantua (Assumption) SATTB Karl Kempter (Assumption) (with verse from Psalm 45) SSAATTBB Peter Philips (St Thomas) SATB.SATB Andrea Rota SATB.AATB (substituting "solemnitate" for "Assumptione"

Text and translations

The following variants appear on CPDL:

Latin text Gaudeamus omnes in Domino diem festum celebrantes Variant 1 (Assumption) in honorem beatae Mariae Virginis, de cujus Assumptione gaudent Angeli et collaudant Archangeli Filium Dei. Alleluja. Variant 2 (All Saints) sub honore Sanctorum omnium: de quorum solemnitate gaudent angeli, et collaudant Filium Dei. Ps. Exsultate iusti in Domino: rectos decet collaudatio. Gloria Patri... Variant 3 (St. Stephen) ob honorem sancti Stephani di cuius solemnitate gaudent angeli. Variant 4 (St Thomas) sub honore beati Thomae martyris di cuius passione gaudent angeli, et collaudant Filium Dei.

English translation by Mick Swithinbank Let us all rejoice in the Lord celebrating the feast Variant 1 (Assumption) in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary in whose assumption the angels rejoice, while the Archangels praise the Son of God. Alleluia. Variant 2 (All Saints) in honour of all the saints, in which solemnity the angels rejoice, while the Archangels praise the Son of God. Ring out your joy to the lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts. Glory be to the Father ... Variant 3 (St. Stephen) in honour of Saint Stephen in which solemnity the angels rejoice. Variant 4 (St. Thomas) in honour of Saint Thomas the martyr in whose suffering the angels rejoice, praising the Son of God.