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Adeste Fideles O Come All Ye Faithful |
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Introduction
The Englishman, John Francis Wade, wrote both the words and the music, Adeste Fideles. The Musical score was first published in 1782 in Samuel Webbe's An Essay on the Church Plain Chant in 1782. John Francis Wade first included it in his own 1751 publication of Cantus Diversi. The lyrics were first published in 1760. We have seen it listed in some pamphlets and on the net as an ancient Latin hymn. Hogwash! The authors of those pages did not do their homework! You may also find it on the net called the Portuguese Hymn. However, it is not Portugese. It is definitely English, despite the original Latin verses. The major reason O Come All Ye Faithful has been called the Portugese Hymn is because it was sung in the Portuguese Embassy in London where the famous Vincent Novello was organist. He ascribed the melody to John Redding. He called it "Air by Redding, 1860". I have seen some Christmas pamphlets with Reddings name given as composer. However since he lived a century after the original manuscripts, and since I do not believe in reincarnation, I leave credit to John Francis Wade! Though he was English, he never translated the song into his native language. That was left for Frederick Oakely to do a century later. The version that we sing today has actually been worked over by several translators.
Alan Highstreet, a junior at CVC, has put together the following page for your enjoyment.
--Bill Drennon, advanced computing teacher, CVC
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O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of angels; Refrain O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, Lo, he shuns not the Virgin's womb; Son of the Father, begotten, not created; Refrain Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; Refrain See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze; We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps; Refrain Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger, We would embrace Thee, with love and awe; Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly? Refrain Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Refrain |
Translator from Latin into English ( Verses 1-3 & 6 ): Frederick Oakely, 1841... It was first published in Murray's Hymnal in 1852. Frederick Oakeley was born on September 5, 1802, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. Frederick Oakeley was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and was ordained in 1828. In 1832, he became prebendary of Lichfield Cathedral; in 1837, he began preaching at Whitehall, and at Margaret Street Chapel, London, in 1839. In 1845, he switched from the Church of England to the Roman Catholicism; he became canon at Westminster Cathedral in 1852. For many years he worked among the poor of Westminster. His poetry collections include Lyra Liturgica: Reflections in Verse for Holy Days and Seasons (1865). He died on January 29, 1880 in Islington, Middlesex, England.
verses 4 & 5 translated by: William Thomas Brooke (1848-1917).
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