Repertoire

Orientis partibus

Original Text

English Translation

Orientis partibus adventavit asinus
pulcher et fortissimus sarcinis aptissimus

Hey, sir asne, hey!

Hic in collibus Sichan
iam nutritus sub Ruben
transiit per Iordanem saliit in Bethlehem

Saltu vincit hinnulos
dammas et capreolos
super dromedarios velox madianeos

Aurum de Arabia thus et myrrham de Saba
tulit in ecclesia virtus Asinaria

Dum trahit vehicula multa cum sarcinula
illius mandibula dura terit pabula

Cum aristis hordeum comedit et carduum
triticum e palea
segregat in area

Amen dicas, asine, iam satur de gramine
Amen, amen itera aspernare vetera

In eastern lands the ass arrived
handsome and strong, fit for burden

Get up, Sir Ass, get up.

Here in the hills of Sichan,
already suckled below the Ruben
he crosses the Jordan, he enters Bethlehem

In his leaps he conquers the mules,
the fallow deer and roebucks
and surpasses the fast camels of the Medes

Gold from Arabia, incense and myrrh from Saba
this gallant ass brought to the church

While he pulls carts, many with heavy loads
his jaws grind tough fodder

He eats barley, beards and all, and spiny thistles
the wheat from the chaff
he separates on the threshing floor

You say "amen" ass, all filled with grass
"Amen, amen" once again, spurning the past.

This piece was performed by the SFBC in Psallite! A Candlelight Christmas on December 4, 2004, and in In Dulci Jubilo: A Candlelight Christmas Concert on December 14, 2002.