All My Heart This Night Rejoices

Carol for SSATB a cappella (2015), 3’

Text: Paul Gerhardt (trans. Catherine Winkworth) (English)

Winner of the 2nd Annual New England Carol Contest

Premiered on January 3, 2016, Portland, ME; Choral Art Society, Music Director, Robert Russell.

Program Notes

“Fröhlich soll mein herze springen” is a hymn text written by the 17th-century German theologian, Paul Gerhardt. It was translated as “All My Heart This Night Rejoices” by the inimitable 19th-century English translator of German, Catherine Winkworth.

My setting is a carol mostly in name only. While not hugely challenging to perform it is far too elaborate for congregational singing. For one thing, while the piece is generally in a rollicking 6/8 meter, there is considerable rhythmic flexibility and syncopation throughout. More significantly, there is only one verse repeat. The 2nd verse repeats the material of the 1st, but the remaining three verses diverge considerably.

Verse Three introduces an ostinato in the soprano voice on the familiar “Lully, lu” lullaby refrain to bring in a note of tenderness associated with the baby Jesus. The lower three voices carry on with the verse proper, lending a significant variation in tone from the first two verses. Verse Four opens with three treble voices, soon joined by the men who support with a pedal point in the bass and a varied “Lully” refrain in the tenor.

The final verse modulates up a fourth to the key of Eb and contains a soaring soprano descant. The piece ends up back in the home key of Bb, with soft echoes of “Lully” in the alto voice.

All My Heart This Night Rejoices
Paul Gerhardt (trans. Catherine Winkworth)

6. Ye who pine in weary sadness,
        Weep no more,
        For the door
Now is found of gladness.
Cling to Him for He will guide you
        Where no cross
        Pain or loss,
Can again betide you.

7. Hither come, ye heavy-hearted;
        Who for sin
        Deep within,
Long and sore have smarted;
For the poison'd wounds you're feeling
        Help is near,
        One is here
Mighty for their healing!

8. Hither come, ye poor and wretched;
        Know His will
        Is to fill
Every hand outstretched;
Here are riches without measure,
        Here forget
        All regret,
Fill your hearts with treasure.

9. Blessed Saviour, let me find Thee!
        Keep Thou me
        Close to Thee,
Cast me not behind Thee!
Life of life, my heart Thou stillest,
        Calm I rest
        On Thy breast,
All this void Thou fillest.

10. Thee, dear Lord, with heed I'll cherish,
        Live to Thee,
        And with Thee
Dying, shall not perish;
But shall dwell with Thee for ever,
        Far on high
        In the joy
That can alter never.

1. All my heart this night rejoices,
        As I hear,
        Far and near,
Sweetest angel voices;
"Christ is born," their choirs are singing,
        Till the air
        Everywhere
Now with joy is ringing.

2. For it dawns, — the promised morrow
        Of His birth
        Who the earth
Rescues from her sorrow.
God to wear our form descendeth,
        Of His grace
        To our race
Here His Son He lendeth:

3. Yea, so truly for us careth,
        That His Son
        All we've done
As our offering beareth;
As our Lamb who, dying for us,
        Bears our load,
        And to God
Doth in peace restore us.

4. Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
        Soft and sweet,
        Doth entreat,
"Flee from woe1 and danger;
Brethren come, from all doth grieve you
        You are freed,
        All you need
I will surely give you."

5. Come then, let us hasten yonder;
        Here let all,
        Great and small,
Kneel in awe and wonder.
Love Him who with love is yearning;
        Hail the Star
        That from far
Bright with hope is burning!