Jesus Christ is Ris'n Today / Surrexit Christus Hodie

Praise to God the Son, Our King. Alleluia!

Jesus Christ is Ris'n Today is based upon the 14th cen­tu­ry Bo­hem­i­an La­tin car­ol, Sur­rex­it Christ­us Ho­die (see below) by an unknown author. A popular setting of the Latin text (see 2nd video) was composed by Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654). An English translation of the first stanza set to the anonymous tune: Easter Hymn, first appeared in the Lyra Da­vid­i­ca (1708) of John Walsh. Stan­zas 2-3 were added by John Arnold (1720-1792)  in 1749, and William M. Reynolds (1812-1876) added the 4th in 1860. In 1739, Charles Wesley (1707-1788) wrote another version and set it to a different tune. It is included as Hymn #120 in the Office. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Jesus Christ is Risen Today is used at Easter.

Tune: Easter Hymn

JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY by John Arnold, John Walsh, William M. Reynolds (Public Domain)

1. Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

2. Hymns of praise then let us sing Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

3. But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

4. Praise to God the Father sing, Alleluia.
Praise to God the Son our King, Alleluia.
Praise to God the Spirit be, Alleluia.
Now and through eternity, Alleluia.

Surrexit Christus Hodie (with Alleluias) by Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654)

SURREXIT CHRISTUS HODIE by Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654)

Surrexit Christus hodie. Alleluia!
Humano pro solamine. Alleluia!
In hoc Paschali gaudio. Alleluia!
Benedicamus Domino. Alleluia!
Mortem qui passus pridie. Alleuia!
Miserrimo pro homine. Alleuia! 
Laudetur sancta Trinitas. Alleluia!
Deo dicamus gratias. Alleluia!


SURREXIT CHRISTUS HODIE (14th Cen­tu­ry, anonymous)

1. Surrexit Christus hodie
Humano pro solamine.
Mortem qui passus pridie
Miserrimo pro homine. 

2. Mulieres ad tumulum
Dona ferunt aromatum,
Album cernentes angelum
Anuntiantes gaudium.

3. Mulieres o tremulae,
In Galilaeam pergite,
Discipulis hoc dicite,
Quod surrexit rex gloriae.

4. Ubique praecedet suos,
Quos dilexit, discipulos.
Sit benedictus hodie,
Qui nos redemit sanguine. 

5. Ergo cum dulci melodo
Benedicamus Domino.
Laudetur sancta trinitas,
Deo dicamus gratias.

The Day of Resurrection

From Earth to Heavens Height

The Day of Resurrection is an Anthony G. Petti adaption of the John Mason Neale (1818–1866) translation of an 8th century Greek hymn by St. John of Damascus (c.676-c.749). The text is drawn from the first Ode of his "Golden Canon", traditionally sung with the lighting of the candles at the Easter Vigil. Also known as St. John Damascene, this Doctor of the Church is often referred to as the "Last of the Early Church Fathers". He is best known for his defence of the veneration of sacred images, statues and icons of which he wrote in On the Divine Images: "I do not worship matter; I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my sake, who willed to take His abode in matter; who worked out my salvation through matter. Never will I cease honoring the matter which wrought my salvation!" Neale's translation is set to the 1784 tune Ellacombe. In the Liturgy of the Hours, The Day of Resurrection is used at Easter.
 
Tune: Ellacombe

THE DAY OF RESURRECTION by John Mason Neale, 1853 (Public Domain)

1. The day of resurrection! Earth, spread the news abroad;
The Paschal feast of gladness, the Paschal feast of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth to heaven's height,
Our Savior Christ has brought us, the glorious Lord of Light.

2. Our hearts be free from evil, that we may see aright
The Savior resurrected in his eternal light,
And hear his message plainly, delivered calm and clear:
"Rejoice with me in triumph; Be glad and do not fear."

3. His love is everlasting; His mercies never cease;
The resurrected Savior, will all our joys increase.
He'll keep us in his favor, supply the holy grace
to all his pilgrim people who seek his heavenly place.

4. Now let the heavens be joyful, and earth the song begin.
The whole world keep high triumph, and all that is therein.
Let all things in creation their notes of gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen, our joy that hath no end.

At the Lamb's High Feast / Ad Coenam Agni Providi (Ad Regias Agni Dapes)

Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest

At the Lamb's High Feast is a Geoffrey Laycock adaptation of the 1849 translation by Robert Campbell (1814-1868) of the 6th century Latin hymn, Ad Coenam Agni Providi. Among the oldest of the Ambrosian chants, in 1623 it was revised by Pope Urban VII (1568-1644) and has henceforth been known as Ad Regias Agni Dapes (see below) in the Roman Breviary where it is sung at Vespers from Easter Sunday until Ascension. Raised a Presbyterian, Campbell would after a period in the Episcopal Church of Scotland join the Roman Catholic Church. Much of his life, both as a Protestant and a Catholic was dedicated to the education of Edinburgh's poorest children. At the Lamb's High Feast is set to the 1678 tune, Salz­burg by Ja­kob Hintze (1622-1702). In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used at Easter.

Tune: Salzburg

AT THE LAMB’S HIGH FEAST WE SING by Robert Campbell, 1849 (Public Domain)

1. At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,
Praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from his piercèd side;
Praise we Him, whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast,
Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.

2. Where the Paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal Victim, paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we Manna from above.

3. Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce powers beneath Thee lie;
Thou hast conquered in the fight,
Thou hast brought us life and light;
Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthral;
Thou hast opened Paradise,
And in Thee Thy saints shall rise.

4. Paschal triumph, Easter joy,
Only sin can this destroy;
From sin’s death do Thou set free
Souls reborn, O Lord, in Thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Father, to Thee we raise;
Risen Lord, all praise to Thee,
Ever with the Spirit be.

Ad Coenam Agni Providi

AD COENAM AGNI PROVIDI (6th Century)

1. Ad coenam Agni providi,
stolis salutis candidi,
post transitum maris Rubri
Christo canamus principi.

2. Cuius corpus sanctissimum
in ara crucis torridum,
sed et cruorem roseum
gustando, Dei vivimus. 

3. Protecti paschae vespero
a devastante angelo,
de Pharaonis aspero
sumus erepti imperio.

4. Iam pascha nostrum Christus est,
agnus occisus innocens;
sinceritatis azyma
qui carnem suam obtulit.

5. O vera, digna hostia,
per quam franguntur tartara,
captiva plebs redimitur,
redduntur vitae praemia!

6. Consurgit Christus tumulo,
victor redit de barathro,
tyrannum trudens vinculo
et paradisum reserans.

7. Esto perenne mentibus
paschale, Iesu, gaudium
et nos renatos gratine
tuis triumphis aggrega.

 8. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui morte victa praenites,
cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Ad Regias Agni Dapes (Singing starts at 0:35)

AD REGIAS AGNI DAPES (1623)

1. Ad regias Agni dapes,
Stolis amicti candidis,
Post transitum maris Rubri,
Christo canamus Principi.

2. Divina cuius caritas
Sacrum propinat sanguinem,
Almique membra corporis
Amor sacerdos immolat.

3. Sparsum cruorem postibus
Vastator horret Angelus:
Fugitque divisum mare,
Merguntur hostes fluctibus.

4. Iam Pascha nostrum Christus est,
Paschalis idem victima:
Et pura puris mentibus
Sinceritatis azyma.

5. O vera caeli víctima,
Subiecta cui sunt tartara,
Soluta mortis vincula,
Recepta vitæ praemia.

6. Victor subactis inferis,
Trophaea Christus explicat,
Caeloque aperto, subditum
Regem tenebrarum trahit. 

7. Ut sis perenne mentibus
Paschale Iesu gaudium,
A morte dira criminum
Vitæ renatos libera.

8. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In sempiterna saecula. Amen.