Rejoice, all nations!
Current version
Here is the version in the Byzantine Catholic Hymnal (2007):
This setting of Christos rodilsja, Boh vopolitilsja is taken from the Metropolitan Cantor Institute's Byzantine Catholic Hymnal for Nativity and Theophany (2007). The English translation is by Father Joseph Radvansky.
This hymn was reviewed as part of the Hymnal Project of the Metropolitan Cantor Institute. See the discussion page.
Discussion
This is one of the most carol-list of our spiritual songs for Christmas; it is well-known and brisk.
There are a few minor problems:
- The are bad (or at least marginal) accents throughout: REjoice all nations; ACcepts God's will
- To rhyme properly, "Isaiah" has to be pronounced in the English fashion, as "Eye-zigh-uh." I certainly wouldn't want our lectors to start announcing, "A reading from the Prophecy of Eye-zigh-uh!" But it also doesn't seem right to force parishes to choose one pronunciation or the other.
Overall, I am inclined to include this one in the new hymnal "as is."
August 10, 2019: Cantor Michael Nagrant suggested adusting the first lline to "Nations rejoice, for God has become man", and I have decide to make this change for now.
Thoughts or suggestions?
Please leave a comment on this blog entry: Christmas Songs Old and New.