Puer natus est nobis

Contents

"Puer natus est nobis" (A child is born for us) is a Gregorian chant, the introit for Christmas Day.[1][2] Thomas Tallis wrote a Christmas mass on the chant.

Text

The text of the antiphon is taken from Isaiah 9:6, while the psalm verse is verse 1 from Psalm 98, "Sing a new song to the Lord".[2]

Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis : cuius imperium super humerum eius : et vocabitur nomen eius, magni consilii angelus. Cantate Domino canticum novum : quia mirabilia fecit.

A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us: Whose government is upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called, the Angel of Great Counsel. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because He hath done wonderful things.[3]

Musical settings

The melody was used by composers as a Cantus firmus, an example being the 1554 Missa Puer natus est nobis by Thomas Tallis.[4]

References

  1. 1.Roden, Timothy J.; Wright, Craig; Simms, Bryan R. (2009). "Chants Beginning the Mass on Christmas Day". Anthology for Music in Western Civilization. Vol. I: Media Update. Cengage Learning. pp. 8–9. ISBN 978-0-49-557274-9.
  2. 2.[2.2]"Puer natus est nobis". gregorien.info (in German). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  3. 3."Puer natus est nobis". toddtarantino.com. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  4. 4.Cummings, Robert. Puer natus est nobis, introit at AllMusic Retrieved 23 December 2017.