Mundi renovatio
 

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Mundi renovatio
Adam van/of St. Victor (V ca. 1146)
 

Latin and English text from: The liturgical sequences of Adam of St. Victor // from the text of M. Gautier // with translations into English in the original metres by Digby S. Wrangham (London, 1881). From the 14th? C onwards often an extra stanza is added, beginning Ignis volat, making the sequence easier to sing on another (more popular and simpler) tune. I omitted it for it appears to be apocryphal and is intrinsically and poetically not very interesting (see Blume, Analecta hymnica, vol. 54, p. 226.)

Nederlandse vertaling: J.W. Schulte Nordholt, Liedboek voor de Kerken, nr. 202 (= Hymnen, p. 196-201, met kleine wijzigingen).

The original melody from St. Victor (13th C) is complex for it repeats every element thrice iso twice. To make this possible the repetition has to be 'stretched' (prolonging the melodic material), kind of melodic modularity. The (re)solution of Jan van Biezen (see below) sounds quite convincing to me. It is suggested to sing this sequens with two groups (the indents below indicate an alternation). The '3-part harmony' by Adriaan Engels is also based on the transcription of Jan van Biezen.

Who was Adam of St. Victor ? separate page.

In Resurrectione Domini

Intra Octavam Paschae

Pasen

J.W. Schulte Nordholt

Easter

Digby S. Wrangham
 

Mundi renovatio
Nova parit gaudia;
     Resurgenti Domino
     Conresurgunt omnia.
Elementa serviunt,
Et auctoris sentiunt
Quanta sit solemnia.

Caelum fit serenius,
Et mare tranquilius;
Spirat aura levius,
Vallis nostra floruit.
      Revirescunt arida,
      Recalsecunt frigida
      Postquam ver intepuit.

Gelu mortis solvitur
Princeps mundi tollitur,
Et ejus destruitur
In nobis imperium;
     Dum tenere voluit
     In quo nihil habuit,
     Jus amisit proprium.

Vita mortem superat;
Homo jam recuperat
Quod prius amiserat
Paradisi gaudium:
     Viam praebat facilem,
     Cherubim versatilem
     Amovendo gladium.

Christus coelos reserat
Et captivos liberat
Quos culpa ligaverat
Sub mortis interitu.
     Pro tanta victoria
     Patri, Proli gloria
     Sit cum Sancto Spiritu!


 

Nu de Heer is opgestaan
loopt alom het leven uit,
breekt de nieuwe lente aan,
roert zich in het groene kruid.
Heel de aarde die ontwaakt,
looft Hem die haar heeft gemaakt
met een jubelend geluid.
 

Helder wordt de hemel weer,
stralend open overal,
en een zachte zon ziet neer
in ons liefelijke dal,
dat in prille schoonheid blinkt.
Overal in 't rond weerklinkt
vogellied en lof geschal.

Koning van de koude dood,
trotse vorst, al was weleer
uw geweld ook nog zo groot,
al waart gij der wereld heer,
nu heeft uit uw bar beleid,
heerst uw ongerechtigheid
over ons geslacht niet meer.

Nu de dood verslagen is,
en voorgoed teniet gedaan,
wordt vervuld het lang gemis
breekt het volle leven aan,
en de mens mag, God zij prijs,
het verloren paradijs
onbekommerd binnengaan.

Jezus Christus gaat vooraan
in zijn koningsheerschappij;
die de dood is doorgegaan
maakt ons allen waarlijk vrij.
Aan de Vader, Zoon en Geest
is de zege, het is feest.
Van zijn liefde zingen wij.
 

Spring's renewal of earth's plain
New-born joys to man supplies;
When the Lord doth rise again,
With Him also all things rise:
Elements upon him wait,
Feeling, as their source, how great
Should be his solemnities.

Heights of heaven serener be,
And more tranquil grows the sea;
Breathes the air more buoyantly,
And our vale fresh verdure shows;
What is dry once more revives,
What is cold new heat receives,
When with warmth the springtide glows.

Icy death dissolves to-day;
This world's prince is borne away,
And o'er us his hateful sway
Is destroyed for evermore:
Since he in possession sought
Him in whom he had not aught,
He hath lost his ancient power.

Death by life is triumphed o'er;
Man recovers now once more
All the bliss, which, lost of yore,
Paradise's joys afford:
Easy hath the way there proved,
Since the cherubim removed
Thence his ever-turning sword.

Christ re-opens heaven again,
Loosing every captive's chain,
Bound to undergo death's pain
For his foul iniquity.
Glory for such victory won
To the Father and the Son
With the Holy Spirit be! 

Mundi Renovatio