Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2009
November 29: First Sunday in Advent
Welcome to the second year of Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings! The 2009 edition begins with my favorite Christmas hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Originally written in Latin as "Adeste Fideles" (probably by John Francis Wade between 1740 and 1743), it was translated into English by Frederick Oakeley in 1841.
I also included this hymn last year, and like last year, I've chosen to play this hymn in the key of F (fCFAC tuning on the banjo). I really prefer the way it sounds in the lower tuning.
O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
Performed by Greg Barlow on banjo
Words: John Francis Wade, circa 1740-1743; translated by Frederick Oakeley, 1841.
Music: ADESTE FIDELES, John Francis Wade, circa 1740-1743.
English
O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant,
O Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold Him, Born the King of angels!
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
God of God, Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, Begotten not created.
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation!
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all Glory in the highest!
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning.
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing.
Refrain
Latin
Adeste Fideles laeti triumphantes,
Veníte, veníte in Bethlehem.
Natum vidéte, Regem Angelorum:
Refrain
Veníte adoremus, Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum
Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine,
gestant puellae viscera
Deum verum, genitum non factum:
Refrain
Cantet nunc io chorus Angelórum
cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria in excelsis Deo:
Refrain
Ergo qui natus, die hodierna
Jesu, tibi sit glória
Patris aeterni Verbum caro factum:
Refrain