{{Short description|1975 single by Mike Oldfield}} {{Infobox song | name = In Dulci Jubilo | cover = In Dulci Jubilo (Mike Oldfield).jpg | alt = | caption = Netherlands single cover<br />(The UK version has no unique cover) | type = single | artist = Mike Oldfield | album = | A-side = "On Horseback" (double A-side) | released = {{start date|1975|11|14|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amadian.net/singles1.htm#In_Dulci_Jubilo |title=Singles - "In Dulci Jubilo" |publisher=Amadian |access-date=2010-08-19 |archive-date=2012-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620131737/http://www.amadian.net/singles1.htm#In_Dulci_Jubilo |url-status=dead }}</ref> | recorded = November 1974–October 1975 | studio = | venue = | genre = Progressive folk<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Maddy Shaw |date=14 December 2023 |title=In Dulci Jubilo: what are the lyrics to the Christmas carol? |url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/lyrics/in-dulci-jubilo-christmas-carol-history/ |access-date=2025-12-25 |website=Classic FM |language=en}}</ref> | length = {{duration|m=2|s=51}} | label = Virgin Records | writer = Traditional, {{Abbr|arr.|arranged}} by Mike Oldfield | producer = Mike Oldfield | prev_title = Don Alfonso | prev_year = 1975 | next_title = Portsmouth | next_year = 1976 | misc = {{External music video|header=Official video|{{YouTube|VCvz7uflMIU|"In Dulci Jubilo"}}}} {{Extra album cover | header = French single cover | type = single | cover = In Dulci Jubilo France.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = }} }} {{Infobox song | name = In Dulci Jubilo Christmas EP | cover = In Dulci Jubilo Xmas EP (Mike Oldfield).jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Mike Oldfield | album = Elements - The Best of Mike Oldfield | released = {{start date|1993|11|19|df=yes}} | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Folk | length = | label = Virgin Records | composer = | lyricist = | producer = Mike Oldfield | prev_title = Moonlight Shadow (Reissue) | prev_year = 1993 | next_title = Hibernaculum | next_year = 1994 }}
"'''In Dulci Jubilo'''"/"'''On Horseback'''" is a double A-side single and third overall by English musician Mike Oldfield, released in November 1975 by Virgin Records. It features an instrumental version of the German traditional Christmas carol "In dulci jubilo" and Oldfield's second version of the song following an earlier recording released as the B-side to his previous single, "Don Alfonso". The song "On Horseback" is the final and previously untitled section to "Ommadawn (Part Two)" from his third studio album ''Ommadawn'', released just one month before. The single is certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry for selling 200,000 copies in the UK.
== Songs == ==="In Dulci Jubilo"=== This is an instrumental version of the German traditional Christmas carol of the same name, known best in Britain as "Good Christian Men Rejoice". Oldfield had recorded an earlier version with Les Penning as the B-side to his previous single, "Don Alfonso", which did not chart. Oldfield felt a better version could be done, so he re-recorded it in October 1975 at The Manor Studio while keeping some of the backing tracks from the first version that were put down at his home studio in The Beacon, in November 1974. This version features Penning on two recorders and kortholt, William Murray on snare drum, and Oldfield on acoustic and electric guitars, bass, piano, and ARP string synthesiser.<ref name="boxed">''Boxed'' album liner notes, 1976, Virgin Records</ref> Most pressings from the 1970s and 1980s credit the song to R. L. Pearsall, with arrangements by Oldfield. Although Bach and Pearsall both wrote arrangements, the tune dates further back than either composer. Italian pressings of the single from 1975 credit it to J. S. Bach.
The song received radio airplay across Europe during the Christmas season. It reached number 3 in the Netherlands, number 4 in the UK,<ref name=everyhit>{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com/ |title=everyHit.com |publisher=everyHit.com |access-date=2009-02-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217183242/http://www.everyhit.com/ |archive-date=2007-02-17 }}</ref> and number 7 in Ireland.
==="On Horseback"=== "On Horseback" features Oldfield on vocals accompanied by a children's chorus, credited as the Penrhos Kids. It previously appeared as the untitled song at the end of "Ommadawn (Part Two)" from Oldfield's third studio album ''Ommadawn'', released just one month before. The album's liner notes refer to it as "the horse song on side two". Virgin Records recognised the song as a potential Christmas hit, and it was played on radio before it was issued as a single which prompted the label to release the single as a double A-side.
On 27 July 2012 at the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony Oldfield performed renditions of ''Tubular Bells'', "Far Above the Clouds" and "In Dulci Jubilo" during a segment about the NHS. This rendition appears on the soundtrack album ''Isles of Wonder''.
The piece was also used as the theme tune to the BBC cookery show ''Fanny Cradock Cooks for Christmas''.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
== Music video == A music video was made for this song, and is featured on the DVD ''Elements – The Best of Mike Oldfield''. The video splits the screen up to 9 thumbnail frames, each showing Oldfield or Les Penning playing a different instrument. The music video was directed by Bruce Gowers.
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Chart (1975) ! Peak<br/>position |- {{single chart|Flanders|4|artist=Mike Oldfield|song=In dulci jubilo|access-date=8 April 2013}} |- | Irish Singles Chart<ref>[http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement Irish Charts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |date=2 June 2009}}</ref> | align=center| 7 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|3|artist=Mike Oldfield|song=In dulci jubilo|access-date=8 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Mike Oldfield|song=In dulci jubilo|access-date=8 April 2013}} |- {{single chart|UK|4|date=19760117|artist=Mike Oldfield|song=In dulci jubilo/On Horseback|access-date=8 April 2013}} |}
== Certifications == {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=In Dulci Jubilo|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=17771-1738-1|access-date=7 January 2022}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
== Track listing ==
=== UK seven-inch single === * "''In Dulci Jubilo''" (J. S. Bach / M. Oldfield) – 2:49 * "On Horseback" (music: M. Oldfield; lyrics: M. Oldfield / W. Murray) – 3:25 Virgin VS-131
The UK edition has "''In Dulci Jubilo''" marked as side "A".<ref>{{discogs master|38121|Mike Oldfield: "In Dulci Jubilo"}}</ref> It was also issued in other European countries, excluding France.<ref name="rainer">{{cite web |url=http://www.argiers.com/rainer/singles.html |title=Mike Oldfield's Tubular World |publisher=Rainer Muenz |access-date=2009-02-27}}</ref>
=== UK twelve-inch promo single === * "An Excerpt From ''Ommadawn'' - Part I" (M. Oldfield) – 7:18 * "An Excerpt From ''Ommadawn'' - Part II" (M. Oldfield) – 3:25 Virgin VDJ-9
Side 2 is "On Horseback". Issued in a generic cover for promo records.<ref name="rainer"/>
=== USA seven-inch single === * "Theme From Ommadawn" (Oldfield) * "On Horseback" (music: M. Oldfield; lyrics: M. Oldfield / W. Murray) – 3:25 Virgin (dist. CBS) ZS8-9505
Also issued in Canada.<ref name="rainer"/>
=== Canada seven-inch single === * "Theme From Ommadawn" (Oldfield) * "In Dulci Jubilo" (J. S. Bach / M. Oldfield) – 2:49 Virgin (dist. CBS) ZS8-9509
Re-issue with alternate B-side.<ref name="rainer"/>
=== France seven-inch single === * "Ommadawn" (Oldfield) – 3:28 * "In Dulci Jubilo" (J. S. Bach / M. Oldfield) – 2:49
Virgin (dist. CPF Barclay) 640079 : 1st ed. 1975<br /> Virgin (dist. Polydor) 2097 930: 2nd ed. 1977
This single has been re-issued in 1977 with another picture sleeve. The B-side has been called "In Dulce Jubilo", and credited to "R.L. Pearsall, arrt Mike Oldfield". The A-side is an edited version of the end of ''Ommadawn'' part 1. This may not be the same excerpt from ''Ommadawn'' used on North American singles.
=== EP === # "In Dulci Jubilo" (J. S. Bach / M. Oldfield) – 2:49 # "Wonderful Land" (Jerry Lordan) – 2:48 # "Portsmouth" - (traditional, arr. Oldfield) 2:01 # "Vivaldi Concerto In C" – 3:52 Released in 1993 on CD.
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Mike Oldfield}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:In Dulci Jubilo On Horseback}} Category:1975 singles Category:1993 singles Category:British Christmas songs Category:Mike Oldfield songs Category:Music videos directed by Bruce Gowers Category:Virgin Records singles