Veni redemptor gentium

Office hymn for the octave before Christmas, attributed to St. Ambrose. The German paraphrase Nun komm der Heiden Heiland is by Luther.

View the Wikipedia article on Veni redemptor gentium.

• Note on authorship at Preces-latinae

Notes on selected settings

Anonymous (Trent MS 88) a 4 (strophic) Christoph Dalitz a 4 or a 3 (strophic) Sixt Dietrich SATB (verses 2 and 4) Carlotta Ferrari SATB (verse 1) Heinrich Finck SATB (verse 1) Jacob Handl a 5 (verse 1) Leonhard Paminger a 4 (strophic, one of 3 settings)

Michael Praetorius: several verses published in Hymnodia Sionia No. 1 verse 1, Veni redemptor gentium a 4 No. 7: verse 5, Egressus ejus a patre a 5 No. 8: verse 6, Aequalis aeterno patri a 4 No. 9: verse 7, Praesepe jam fulget tuum a 2 No. 10: verse 8, Deo patri sit gloria a 7 Johannes Schultz SSAATTBB (verse 1)

Johann Stahel (verses 1 and 3) Thomas Stoltzer a 4 ATTB (verse 2) a 5 SATTB (verse 3) André Vierendeels 1st setting SATB (verse 1) 2nd setting SATB (verse 1) 3rd setting TTTB (verse 1)

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Ambrosian chant — Veni redemptor  Latin Unison
• Anonymous — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin ATBB
• Anonymous — Veni Redemptor gentium 1  Latin SATB
• Christoph Dalitz — Veni redemptor gentium  2 
• Sixt Dietrich — Non ex virili semine  Latin SATB
• Carlotta Ferrari — Innario RPS  Latin SATB
• Heinrich Finck — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin SATB
• Jacob Handl — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin SATTB
• Leonhard Paminger — Veni redemptor gentium I  Latin SATB
• Michael Praetorius — Egressus ejus a patre  Latin SATTB
• Michael Praetorius — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin SATB
• Johann Hermann Schein — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin SATB
• Johannes Schultz — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin SATB.SATB
• Heinrich Schütz — Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, SWV 301  German Solo SSBB
• Johann Stahel — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin SATB
• Thomas Stoltzer — Alvus tumescit virginis  Latin SATTB
• Thomas Stoltzer — Non ex virili semine  Latin ATBB
• Remi Studer — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin SATB
• André Vierendeels — Veni redemptor gentium I  Latin SATB
• André Vierendeels — Veni redemptor gentium II  Latin SATB
• André Vierendeels — Veni Redemptor gentium III  Latin TTTB
• Matthias Zaphelius — Veni redemptor gentium  Latin SSATB

Text and translations

Latin text 1. Veni, Redemptor gentium; Ostende partum virginis; Miretur omne saeculum. Talis decet partus Deo. 2. Non ex virili semine, Sed mystico spiramine Verbum Dei factum est caro, Fructusque ventris floruit. 3. Alvus tumescit virginis. Claustr(um)/(a) pudoris permane(n)t; Vexilla virtutum micant, Versatur in templo Deus. 4. Procedat e thalamo suo, Pudoris aula regia, Geminae gigans substantiae Alacris occurrat viam. 5. Aequalis aeterno Patri, Carnis tropaeo accingere, Infirma nostri corporis Virtute firmans perpeti. 6. Praesepe iam fulget tuum, Lumenque nox spirat novum, Quad nulla nox interpolet Fideque iugi luceat. 7. Sit Christi rex piissime tibi Patrique gloria cum Spiritu Paraclito in sempiterne saecula. Amen.

English translation 1. Come, redeemer of the peoples, and show the birth from a Virgin; every age shall acclaim that such a birth befits God. 2. Not out of human seed, but out of godly breath the Word of God is made flesh and the fruit of the womb flourishes. 3. The virgin womb became pregnant yet remained a bastion of chastity; the standards of virtue shine [there], [and] God dwells in [such] temple. 4. Let him come from His chamber, [which is] the kingly dwelling of chastity, a giant of twofold substance intent on fulfilling [his] destiny. He comes from the Father, and to the Father he returns; his path [goes] all the way to the infernal regions [and] return to God's seat. 5. [You who are] an equal to the eternal Father, wear the girdle of flesh [and] invigorate the weakness of our body by [your] eternal virtue. 6. Your cradle shines already and the night breaths a new light, for no night shall intervene and endless faith shall glow. 7. To you, Christ, most pious, and to the Father be glory with the Spirit Paraclete throughout all ages. Amen. Glory to you, Lord, who are born of a virgin, with the Father and the holy Spirit, throughout all ages. Amen.

English translation Come, thou Redeemer of the earth, And manifest thy virgin-birth: Let every age adoring fall, Such birth befits the God of all. Begotten of no human will, But of the Spirit, thou art still The Word of God, in flesh arrayed, The Saviour, now to man displayed. The virgin womb that burden gained With virgin honour all unstained, The banners there of virtue glow, God in his temple dwells below. Forth from that chamber goeth he, That royal home of purity, A giant in twofold substance one, Rejoicing now his course to run. From God the Father he proceeds, To God the Father back he speeds, Runs out his course to death and hell, Returns on God's high throne to dwell. O equal to thy Father, thou! Gird on thy fleshly mantle now, The weakness of our mortal state With deathless might invigorate. Thy cradle here shall glitter bright, And darkness glow with new-born light, No more shall night extingush day, Where love's bright beams their power display. O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee Eternal praise and glory be, Whom with the Father we adore And Holy Spirit, evermore. Translation by Philip Schaff, from The New English Hymnal