Ein Kindelein so löbelich

General information

Originally the second stanza of Der Tag der ist so freudenreich, a 15th century version of 14th century Christmas song called 'Dies est laetitiae'. In later settings Ein Kindelein so löbelich appears more frequently on its own. There was also a period when it was fashionable to couple this stanza with Joseph, lieber Joseph mein

Settings by composers

• Hieronymus Praetorius SSAATTBB (with Joseph, liebe appended)
• Michael Praetorius
  • a 3 SSB
  • a 5 SSATB or SATTB
  • a 8 SSAATTBB
• Antonio Scandello SSST
• Samuel Scheidt SATB
• Leonhard Schröter SATB

Text and translations

German text Ein Kindelein so löbelich ist uns geboren heute, von einer Jungfrau säuberlich, zu Trost uns armen Leuten. Wär uns das Kindelein nicht geborn so wärn wir allzumal verlorn. Das Heil ist unser aller. Eia, du süsser Jesu Christ, das du Mensch geboren bist, behüt uns vor der Hölle.

English translation So lovely a child is born to us today, neatly of a virgin, as succour for we lowly people. Had the child not been born we were entirely bereft. This salvation is our everything. Hail, sweetest Jesus Christ, For your birth in human form shelters us from perdition.

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