Intonent hodie
This song is from the 1100s and would have been sung on St. Nicholas Day, December 6. The song describes three of St. Nicholas' stories. Scholars have suggested that the more famous carol, Personent hodie from 1582, is based on the earlier Intonent hodie.
Recording by Anonymous 4, Legends of Nicholas: Medieval Chant and Polyphony, Harmonica Mundi, 2005.
Length: 1:57
| Intonent hodie voces ecclesie. Dies letitie refulsit in mundo ergo letabundo corde jubilemo et ore jucundo. |
Let the voices of the church sing out today. Thus this joyful day shone forth in a rejoicing world with a jubilant heart and merry mouth. |
| Sanctus hic inclitus domino subditus in cunis positus; ubera vitabat, corpus macerabat et ter in sabbato puer jejunabat. |
This famous saint, the lord's subject, was placed in a cradle; he avoided the breast, denied his flesh, and thrice on Saturday the little boy fasted. |
| Parenti misero submerso puero mari pestifero dedit quod petivit, preces exaudivit, submersum puerum patris custodivit. |
To the wretched parent, his boy drowned in the dangerous sea he granted what was asked; he heard his prayers, and gave the drowned boy back to his father. |
| Tribus virginibus victu carentibus [auri egentibus] reddidit honorem, subtraxit errorem reddens virginibus virgineum florem. |
To the three virgins lacking food and needing money he restored honor, saving them from error, giving back to the maidens the flower of virginity. |
From Harmonia Mundi, HMU 907232, 2005; text translation: S. Hellauer and M. Smith.
MP3 files and used CDs available from amazon.com.
Source: "This medieval carol is basically the first song ever written about Santa Claus," Classic FM, December 8, 2021