# In dulci jubilo

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Traditional Christmas carol

For the version by Mike Oldfield, see [In Dulci Jubilo / On Horseback](/source/In_Dulci_Jubilo_%2F_On_Horseback).

Not to be confused with [Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing](/source/Good_Christians_All%2C_Rejoice_and_Sing).

"In dulci jubilo" The melody as published in the 1582 Finnish music collection Piae Cantiones, which alternates the Latin with Swedish. Song Language German, Latin Tune: Zahn No. 4947

"**In dulci jubilo**" ([Latin](/source/Latin) for "In sweet rejoicing") is a traditional [Christmas carol](/source/Christmas_carol). In its original setting, the carol is a [macaronic](/source/Macaronic_language) text of German and Latin dating from the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages). Subsequent translations into English, such as [J. M. Neale's](/source/John_Mason_Neale) arrangement "**Good Christian Men, Rejoice**" have increased its popularity, and [Robert Pearsall](/source/Robert_Lucas_Pearsall)'s 1837 macaronic translation is a mainstay of the [Christmas](/source/Christmas) [Nine Lessons and Carols](/source/Nine_Lessons_and_Carols) repertoire. [J. S. Bach](/source/Johann_Sebastian_Bach)'s chorale prelude based on the tune ([BWV](/source/Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis) 729) is also a traditional [postlude](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/postlude) for Christmas services.

## History and translations

The original song text, a [macaronic](/source/Macaronic_language) alternation of [Medieval](/source/Middle_Ages) German and Latin, is thought to have been written by the [German mystic](/source/German_mystic) [Heinrich Seuse](/source/Heinrich_Seuse) circa 1328.[1] According to folklore, Seuse heard angels sing these words and joined them in a dance of worship.[2] In his biography (or perhaps autobiography), it was written:

Now this same angel came up to the Servant (Suso) brightly, and said that God had sent him down to him, to bring him heavenly joys amid his sufferings; adding that he must cast off all his sorrows from his mind and bear them company, and that he must also dance with them in heavenly fashion. Then they drew the Servant by the hand into the dance, and the youth began a joyous song about the infant Jesus ...[2]

The tune, [Zahn No.](/source/Zahn_number) 4947,[3] first appears in Codex 1305, a manuscript in [Leipzig University Library](/source/Leipzig_University_Library) dating from c. 1400, although it has been suggested that the melody may have existed in Europe prior to this date.[2] In print, the tune was included in *Geistliche Lieder*, a 1533 Lutheran hymnal by Joseph Klug. It also appears in [Michael Vehe](/source/Michael_Vehe)'s *Gesangbuch* of 1537. In 1545, another verse was added, possibly by [Martin Luther](/source/Martin_Luther). This was included in Valentin Babst's *Geistliche Lieder*, printed in Leipzig. The melody was also popular elsewhere in Europe, and appears in a Swedish/Latin version in the 1582 Finnish songbook *[Piae Cantiones](/source/Piae_Cantiones)*, a collection of sacred and secular medieval songs.[2]

The tune appears in several collections by [Michael Praetorius](/source/Michael_Praetorius), for voices only: *Musae Sionae* II (1607) no. 5, a motet à 8 for double choir; *Musae Sionae* V (1607) nos. 80–82 (for 2, 3 or 4 voices); *Musae Sionae* VI (1609) nos. 28, 29, 31 resp. 32, 33 all for 4 voices; and 5 part setting from *Musae Sionae VI* (1597). And a vocal–instrumental version from his collection *Polyhymnia Caduceatrix et Panegyrica* (1618–19), No 34: a festive multi-choir version with large instrumental support including trumpets and timpani. It can be executed by 7, 12, 16 or 20 voices in 5 choirs (three vocal, one chapel- and one instrumental choir) and general bass. The Praetorius settings were widely adapted in Protestant continental Europe.

A polyphonic arrangement for 8 voices was made by [Robert Lucas Pearsall](/source/Robert_Lucas_Pearsall) (1795–1856), this being later adapted for four voices, the most commonly performed version, by William Joseph Westbrook (1831–1894). A widely used arrangement in *Carols for Choirs*, Vol. 1[4] is Pearsall's edited by [Reginald Jacques](/source/Reginald_Jacques); the first two verses are in four-part harmony, the third and fourth verses are concatenated and in eight-part harmony. Carols for Choirs Vol. 4[5] contains simpler four- and three-part alternative arrangements.

There have been a number of translations of the Latin/German poem into English. The most popular that keeps the macaronic structure is Pearsall's 1837 translation, which retains the Latin phrases and substitutes English for German.[6] A 2008 survey by *[BBC Music Magazine](/source/BBC_Music_Magazine)* found this to be the second most popular choral Christmas carol with British cathedral organists and choirmasters.[7]

Alternatively, a looser translation produced in 1853 by [John Mason Neale](/source/John_Mason_Neale) titles the work "Good Christian Men, Rejoice".[8] This translation is often criticised; [Thomas Helmore](/source/Thomas_Helmore) made a mistake when transcribing the [mensural notation](/source/Mensural_notation) of *Piae Cantiones* which led to the repeated "News, news" and "Joy, joy" phrase.[8] In 1921, H. J. Massé wrote that it was an example of "musical wrong doing ... involving the mutilation of the rhythm of that grand tune *In dulci jubilo* to the English words *Good Christian Men Rejoice*. It is inconceivable that anyone of any real musical culture should have lent himself to this tinkering with a perfect tune for the sake of fitting it perforce to works of inferior merit."[9] He goes on to cite a more appropriate English translation from 1567 by [John Wedderburn](/source/John_Wedderburn_(poet)) as a more "worthy effort".[9] [Jeremy Summerly](/source/Jeremy_Summerly) in his radio documentary series *A Cause for Caroling* is more complimentary, saying that the mistaken repeated note is what makes that version of the tune memorable.[10]

Still another English translation, made in the 19th century by Arthur T. Russell and featured in several [Lutheran](/source/Lutheran) hymnals, renders the work as "Now Sing We, Now Rejoice".[11]

## Tune

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/c/j/cjku1be2v2m91n4bqlx4b7lgd72j0bh/cjku1be2.mp3).

Source[12]

## First verse textual comparison

German/Latin text by Heinrich Seuse, c. 1328[13] English literal translation Translation by Wedderburn, c. 1567[14] Translation by Pearsall, 1837[15] Good Christian Men Rejoice by Neale, 1853[16] In dulci jubilo, Nun singet und seid froh! Unsers Herzens Wonne Leit in praesepio; Und leuchtet wie die Sonne Matris in gremio. Alpha es et O! In sweet rejoicing, now sing and be glad! Our hearts' joy lies in the manger; And it shines like the sun in the mother's lap. You are the Alpha and Omega! Now let us sing with joy and mirth, In honour of our Lordes birth, Our heart's consolation Lies in præsepio, And shines as the sun, Matris in gremio. Alpha is and O, Alpha is and O. In dulci jubilo, Let us our homage shew! Our heart's joy reclineth In praesepio; And like a bright star shineth Matris in gremio. Alpha es et O! Good Christian men, rejoice With heart, and soul, and voice; Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ was born to-day: Ox and ass before Him bow, And He is in the manger now. Christ is born today! Christ is born today.

## Influence in music

Autograph manuscript of "In dulci jubilo", BWV 608, from the *[Orgelbüchlein](/source/Orgelb%C3%BCchlein)* of [J. S. Bach](/source/Johann_Sebastian_Bach)

[In dulci jubilo (BWV 608)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:In_dulci_jubilo.mid)

For organ, from the *Orgelbüchlein* (MIDI rendition)

*Problems playing this file? See [media help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Media).*

[Dieterich Buxtehude](/source/Dieterich_Buxtehude) set the melody as a [chorale](/source/Chorale)-[cantata](/source/Cantata) in 1683 for soprano, alto and bass accompanied by two violins and [continuo](/source/Figured_bass) (BuxWV 52) and as a [chorale prelude](/source/Chorale_prelude) for organ (BuxWV 197) c. 1690.[17][18]

[Johann Sebastian Bach](/source/Johann_Sebastian_Bach) set this melody several times: as a chorale in BWV 368; and then for organ in [BWV 608](/source/BWV_608) as a [double canon](/source/Canon_(music)) in his *[Orgelbüchlein](/source/Orgelb%C3%BCchlein)* and in BWV 729 and [BWV 751](/source/Johann_Michael_Bach#Works) as a chorale prelude. Commentators agree, however, that BWV 751 is too simple and undeveloped to be the work of Bach.[19] Since the 1984 rediscovery of the [Neumeister Collection](/source/Neumeister_Collection), BWV 751 has been attributed to [Johann Michael Bach](/source/Johann_Michael_Bach). Bach also used the opening phrase of the melody as a fugal subject for two other choral preludes, BWV 703 (*Gottes Sohn ist kommen*) and BWV 724 (*Gott durch deine Güte*). BWV 729, written by Bach to accompany congregational singing in [Arnstadt](/source/Arnstadt), is traditionally performed as the first organ [voluntary](/source/Voluntary_(music)) at the end of the Festival of [Nine Lessons and Carols](/source/Nine_Lessons_and_Carols) at [King's College, Cambridge](/source/King's_College%2C_Cambridge). This voluntary was first introduced to the service in 1938 by organ scholar [Douglas Guest](/source/Douglas_Guest).[20]

[Franz Liszt](/source/Franz_Liszt) included the carol in his piano suite *[Weihnachtsbaum](/source/Weihnachtsbaum_(Liszt))* in the movement entitled "Die Hirten an der Krippe" (The Shepherds at the Manger). [Norman Dello Joio](/source/Norman_Dello_Joio) uses the theme as the basis of his *Variants on a Medieval Tune* for wind ensemble. [Ronald Corp](/source/Ronald_Corp) composed a setting of "In dulci jubilo" for unaccompanied SATB choir in 1976.

[Gustav Holst](/source/Gustav_Holst) included both "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" (Neale version, 1853) and "[God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen](/source/God_Rest_You_Merry%2C_Gentlemen)" in his 1910 choral fantasy *Christmas Day*, with accompaniment for orchestra or organ.

[Thomas Pynchon](/source/Thomas_Pynchon) uses the carol as the choral centrepiece of the Advent episode in his 1973 novel, *[Gravity's Rainbow](/source/Gravity's_Rainbow)*. The singing, presided over by a nameless Jamaican countertenor, is described as "the War's evensong" (p. 130)[*[full citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include)*], and culminates thus:

climaxing now with its rising fragment of some ancient scale, voices overlapping three- and fourfold, up, echoing, filling the entire hollow of the church—no counterfeit baby, no announcement of the Kingdom, not even a try at warming or lighting this terrible night, only, damn us, our scruffy obligatory little cry, our maximum reach outward—*praise be to God!*—for you to take back to your war-address, your war-identity, across the snow's footprints and tire tracks finally to the path you must create by yourself, alone in the dark. Whether you want it or not, whatever seas you have crossed, the way home... (p. 136)[*[full citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include)*]

## Recordings

An instrumental arrangement of the Pearsall version by English musician [Mike Oldfield](/source/Mike_Oldfield), "[In Dulci Jubilo](/source/In_Dulci_Jubilo_%2F_On_Horseback)", reached number 4 in the [UK singles chart](/source/UK_singles_chart) in January 1976.[21]

## See also

- [List of Christmas carols](/source/List_of_Christmas_carols)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["'In Dulci Jubilo' string quartet/quintet by trad. arr. Glynn Davies"](http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/show_score.pl?scoreid=45183). Sibelius Music. Retrieved 24 July 2008.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hcc_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hcc_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-hcc_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-hcc_2-3) ["In Dulci Jubilo – Notes on the Carol"](http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Notes_On_Carols/in_dulci_jubilo.htm). Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 24 July 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Zahn, Johannes](/source/Johannes_Zahn) (1890). *[Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder](/source/Die_Melodien_der_deutschen_evangelischen_Kirchenlieder)*. Vol. III. Gütersloh: [Bertelsmann](/source/Bertelsmann). pp. [244–245](https://archive.org/details/1508285990bsb11304501/page/n249).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Reginald Jacques](/source/Reginald_Jacques); [David Willcocks](/source/David_Willcocks) (1961), *Carols for Choirs 1*, Oxford University Press

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [David Willcocks](/source/David_Willcocks); [John Rutter](/source/John_Rutter) (1980), *Carols for Choirs 4*, Oxford University Press

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** *Carols for Choirs 1 – Recorded by the King's College Choir and the Cambridge Singers*, Oxford University Press

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Bleak Midwinter named best carol"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7752029.stm). [BBC News](/source/BBC_News). 27 November 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hcc2_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hcc2_8-1) ["Good Christian Men, Rejoice"](http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/good_christian_men_rejoice.htm). Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 24 July 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-masse_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-masse_9-1) Henri Jean Louis Joseph Massé, "Old Carols" in *[Music & Letters](/source/Music_%26_Letters)*, Vol. 2, No. 1 (January 1921), Oxford University Press, p. 67.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Jeremy Summerly](/source/Jeremy_Summerly) (13 December 2013). ["Forging a Tradition"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03kvd5f). *A Cause for Caroling (omnibus)*. [BBC Radio 4](/source/BBC_Radio_4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Now Sing We, Now Rejoice"](http://www.hymnary.org/text/now_sing_we_now_rejoice).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["BWV 368"](https://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0368.htm), Luke Dahn (2018) bach-chorales.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["In Dulci Jubilo"](http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/in_dulci_jubilo-original.htm). Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 26 November 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Edith Rickert, *[Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400–1700](http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/in_dulci_iubilo.htm)* (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 206–7

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Pearsall: 'In Dulci Jubilo'"](http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/in_dulci_jubilo-Pearsall.htm). Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 18 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Good Christian Men Rejoice"](http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/good_christian_men_rejoice.htm). Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 26 November 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Snyder, Kerala J. (2007), *Dieterich Buxtehude: organist in Lübeck*, University of Rochester Press, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-58046-253-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-58046-253-2)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Buxtehude, Deiterich](/source/Dieterich_Buxtehude) (2006), *Chorale preludes BuxWV 177–224*, Dover, pp. 54–55, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-486-45287-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-486-45287-5)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Williams, Peter (1980), *The Organ Music of J.S. Bach, Volume II: BWV 599–771, etc.*, Cambridge Studies in Music, Cambridge University Press, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-521-31700-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-521-31700-2)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2008"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101105081101/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/chapel/festival-nine-lessons-2008.pdf) (PDF). [King's College](/source/King's_College%2C_Cambridge), [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge). Archived from [the original](http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/chapel/festival-nine-lessons-2008.pdf) (PDF) on 5 November 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Mike Oldfield search"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070217183242/http://www.everyhit.com/). EveryHit. Archived from [the original](http://www.everyhit.com) on 17 February 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2010.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [In dulci jubilo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:In_dulci_jubilo).

- [Free scores of "In dulci jubilo"](https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/In_dulci_jubilo) in the [Choral Public Domain Library](/source/Choral_Public_Domain_Library) (ChoralWiki), several settings and translations

- [Search "In dulci jubilo"](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aimslp.org+In+dulci+jubilo) at [International Music Score Library Project](/source/International_Music_Score_Library_Project) (IMSLP)

- ["In dulci jubilo"](https://ingeb.org/spiritua/nunsinge.html), ingeb.org

- [Animated score, several versions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gK3yH1mGcE) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier))

v t e Hymn tunes by Zahn number 58 159 192 198 294–295 297a–c 345–346 350 352 423 533, 547–549 624 983 1174 1217–1222 1576 1689a 1706 1743 1887–1889 1947 1951 1976–1978 2029a 2164 2293 2459 2460b–2465 2561 2585 2778 3449 3498 3986 4297a 4360–4361 4427–4429a 4430 4431–4432a 4434–4435 4437–4438 4440–4441a 4442–4443 4457 4486 4947 5142 5385a 5403–5404a 5629 6283 6288 6424 6543 6551 6634–6635 6923 7012 7173 7246 7247 7377 7445a–b 7568 7663 7971 8013–8018a 8032 8244 8303 8326 8359 8405a 8584 8652

Authority control databases International GND National France BnF data Other MusicBrainz work 2 3

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