Many years ago, way back in 2016, I released a version of ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ - an ancient melody long-associated with Christmas (original title: ‘Veni, Veni, Emmanuel’), and one which has proven hugely popular for decades.
There’s something about it’s deeply minor tonality which embeds a sense of wintriness, coldness and reflection - important elements of Christmas, which can often be overlooked in favour of the iconography of presents, tinsel, trees and roaring fires, alongside the mostly-saccharine, inane twentieth-century musical accompaniments which all seem to be firmly embedded in our ears earlier and earlier with each passing year. Yes, yes…bah, etc.
Anyway…
I decided it was high-time for a new Christmas tune, and I was keen to find something similarly old. The older the better. I spent a pleasant few hours trawling through years of releases of Carols From Kings, with the aim of finding something Latin-titled (a sure sign of age?!)
So, here it is:
‘Quem pastores laudavere’
I hope you’ve been able to listen to the audio already by clicking the play button at the top of the post (just like my monthly Not A Podcast voicenotes), but in case that’s not working, you can listen to a private stream on Bandcamp here:
This medieval melody, popularised predominantly in the sixteenth century, is perhaps most well-known because of the version attributed to the German composer Michael Praetorius.
In fact, the title is often shortened to 'Quempas', a generic term for Christmas songs in a German caroling tradition.
Numerous translations exist from the original Latin text, with the English title often a variation on 'He Whom The Shepherds Praised', although a later translation by Imogen Holst with an arrangement by John Rutter translates the title as 'Shepherds Left Their Flocks A-Straying'.
Either way, I guess it's about shepherds.
It will be released later this week in the run-up to Christmas, but it was important for me to give my subscribers here on Substack the very first exclusive listen before it goes to all the usual places.
I know many of you are reading my weekly posts, and I am so very grateful, nay shocked, even (!), that so many people are interested in what I have to say, write, play and share.
Thank you for being here. I have plenty planned for this place in 2025 and beyond, and it is my real hope that this place - The Cut Through - can become a place of engagement and community in which like-minded people can share things through my music, my writing, my thoughts, my ethos, and my approach.
I hope you enjoy this early Christmas gift!
Text
Quem pastores laudavere,
Quibus angeli dixere:
Absit vobis iam timere,
Natus est Rex gloriae.
Ad quem magi[reges] ambulabant,
Aurum, thus, myrrham portabant,
Immolabant haec sincere
Leoni victoriae [ or nato Regi Gloriae].
Christo regi, Deo nato
Per Mariam nobis dato
Merito resonet vere
Laus, honor et gloria.
- - -
Thou whom shepherds worshipped, hearing
Angels tell their tidings cheering,
‘Sirs, away with doubt and fearing!
Christ the King is born for all;’
Thou to whom came wise men faring,
Gold and myrrh and incense bearing,
Heartfelt homage thus declaring
To the King that’s born for all:
Bending low in adoration
Thee we greet, for our salvation
Given by wondrous incarnation,
King of Glory born for all.
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