Edition notes: Source: Collected Works, 1956, ed. C. W. H. Lindenburg, vol, II. Notation here is at the original key with note values halved. Translation (some of it speculative, with the help of Quintus Translation Service), text underlay and musica ficta by John Hetland and the Renaissance Street Singers. 23 Nov. 2013.
O admirabile commercium!
Creator generis humani,
animatum corpus sumens,
de virgine nasci dignatus est:
et procedens homo sine semine,
largitus est nobis suam deitatem.
Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis:
Magnum nomen Domini Emanuel
quod annunciatum est per Gabriel.
Jocundare die theotoce,
tumula festo omnique mesto gaudio
hostes nunc arte virgo bona
mentis ab arce anime
feliciter ire pro nobis iter
nam si vera loquar protectrix
turris adamantina
es amica piis optima christicolis.
Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis:
Et vidimus gloriam ejus,
gloriam quasi Unigeniti a Patre.
Hodie apparuit in Israhel
per Mariam Virginem et per Joseph natus est.
Sunt impleta quae praedixit Gabriel.
Eya virgo Deum genuit
sicut divina voluit clementia,
Quasi unigeniti a Patre.
Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis:
cujus imperium super humerum ejus:
et vocabitur nomen ejus,
magni consilii Angelus.
Mitibus nos orbis post mala cel nolis.
Universalis ecclesia congaudeat his temporibus
cum angelis sic canentibus:
Eya, alleluia, Deo in excelsis gloria
et in terra pax hominibus.
Suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Sus, vallasus in orisus.
Requiescat ille parvulus, noe, noe. Amen.
English translation
O wondrous exchange!
The Creator of the human race,
taking on a living body,
deigned to be born of a virgin:
and becoming man without seed,
bestowed upon us his divinity.
The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us:
Great is the name of the Lord Emanuel
which was proclaimed by Gabriel.
Rejoice, mother of God, on a day
filled with every festive joy, bury
your enemies now, kind virgin, with skill
of mind as from the citadel of soul
you make a journey of salvation for us,
for if I am to speak truth, O protectress
and adamantine tower,
you are the best friend of devout Christians.
The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,
And we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only-begotten of the Father.
Today he has appeared in Israel,
born to the Virgin Mary and Joseph.
The things Gabriel predicted have come to pass.
Joy! a virgin has given birth to God
just as divine mercy willed,
As of the only-begotten of the Father.
A child has been born for us, and a son given to us,
whose kingdom is on his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
the Angel of the Great Council.
After worldly evils you assist us with gentle prayers.
Let the universal church rejoice in these times
with angels singing thus:
Joy! Alleluia! Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to humankind.
Receive our prayer.
Hush. In her lap, before her eyes,
may that little one rest. Noel, noel. Amen.
Latin text
English translation