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A hymn of glory let us sing

The Venerable Bede
translated from the Latin (Hymnum canamus gloriae) by various translators

Hymnary text authority (Webb translation) (46 instances)
Hymnary text authority (Rundle-Charles translation) (50 instances)
Hymnary text authority (Chambers translation: Sing we triumphant hymns of praise; 8 instances)
Cyber Hymnal™ page (Webb translation)

Text based on a translation
by Benjamin Webb		   Text based on a translation
by Elizabeth Rundle-Charles		   The Latin Text
1 A hymn of glory let us sing;
New songs thro'out the world shall ring:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ, by a road before untrod.
Ascendeth to the throne of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2 The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And with His followers they see
Jesus' resplendent majesty.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 To whom the angels, drawing nigh,
"Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
This is the Savior," thus they say;
"This is His noble triumph-day."
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4 "Again shall ye behold Him so
As ye today have seen Him go.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
In glorious pomp ascending high
Up to the portals of the sky."
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

5 Oh, grant us thitherward to tend
And with unwearied hearts ascend,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Unto Thy kingdom's throne, where Thou,
As is our faith, art seated now.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

6 Be Thou our Joy and strong Defense,
Who art our future Recompense:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
So shall the light that springs from Thee
Be ours through all eternity.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

7 O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to Thee let earth accord,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit One.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
   

1 A hymn of glory let us sing;
New hymns throughout the world shall ring;
By a new way none ever trod,
Christ mounteth to the throne of God.


2 The apostles on the mountain stand,
The mystic mount, in Holy Land;
They, with the Virgin mother, see
Jesus ascend in majesty.


3 The angels say to the eleven:
"Why stand ye gazing into heaven?
This is the Saviour—this is He!
Jesus hath triumphed gloriously!"


4 They said the Lord should come again,
As these beheld Him rising then,
Calm soaring through the radiant sky,
Mounting its dazzling summits high.


5 May our affections thither tend,
And thither constantly ascend,
Where, seated on the Father's throne,
Thee, reigning in the heavens, we own!


6 Be Thou our present joy, O Lord!
Who wilt be ever our Reward:
And as the countless ages flee,
May all our glory be in Thee!
    


This is the text of the hymn as it appears 
in the Hymnale Secundum Usum Insignis 
Ac Praeclarae Ecclesiae Sarisburiensis 
(1850) (copied from this blog):



Hymnum canamus gloriae,
Hymni novi nunc personent,
Christus novo cum tramite
Ad Patris ascendit thronum.

Apostoli tunc mystico
In monte stantes chrismatis
Cum matre clara virgine,
Iesu videbant Gloriam.

Quos alloquentes angeli,
Quid astra stantes cernitis?
Salvator hic est, inquiunt,
Iesus triumpho nobili;

Sicque venturum asserunt,
Quemadmodum Hunc viderunt,
Summa polorum culmina
Scandere Iesum splendida.

Da nobis illuc sedula
Devotione tendere,
Quo te sedere cum Patre
In arce regni credimus.

Tu esto nostrum gaudium,
Qui es futurus præmium,
Sit nostra in Te gloria,
Per cuncta semper sæcula.

Gloria Tibi, Domine,
Qui scandis supra sidera,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna sæcula. 

Amen.

Here is a fairly different translation by John D. Chambers; it's set to LASST UNS ERFREUEN in several recent Catholic hymnals:


1 Sing we triumphant hymns of praise
  To greet our Lord these festive days,
  Alleluia, alleluia!
  Who by a road before untrod
  Ascended to the throne of God,
  Alleluia, alleluia,
  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
 
2 In wond'ring awe his faithful band
  Upon the Mount of Olives stand,
  Alleluia, alleluia!
  And with the virgin mother see
  Their Lord ascend in majesty,
  Alleluia, alleluia,
  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

3 O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
  All praise to you let earth accord,
  Alleluia, alleluia!
  Who are, while endless ages run,
  With Father and with Spirit, One.
  Alleluia, alleluia,
  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
  
4 To God the Father let us sing,
  To God the Son, our risen king,
  Alleluia, alleluia!
  And equally let us adore
  The Holy Spirit evermore,
  Alleluia, alleluia,
  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text and tune: The Hymnary.org database shows two major variants: the most frequently published (and probably oldest) translation is that by Elizabeth Rundle-Charles, in 51 hymnals, most frequently set in recent years to DEO GRACIAS. The second most frequent is by Benjamin Webb; it is most frequently set to LASST UNS ERFREUEN. Occasionally Webb shares the attribution with Neale.I see no pressing reason not to use the Webb version and the Charles version, setting each to their most frequent tunes. The main question remaining, I think, is whether to omit any stanzas, and if so, which. I'm also planning to include a composite text set to ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE, to provide a second text to sing to that tune, and this 1885 Catholic version (translator unidentified).

Webb version to LASST UNS ERFREUEN (four stanzas)

Rundle-Charles version to DEO GRACIAS (first stanza only); harmonization ©?.