We learned a new Advent hymn today. The words are by St. Ambrose (397) and the music was written in 1524. The tune is easy to learn without being facile, really very singable. The harmony, rich in interior movement, is luscious. Of course it is — J.S. Bach wrote it.
Virgin’s Son, here make Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.
Not by human flesh and blood;
By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh,
Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.
Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.
From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell
High the song of triumph swell!
Thou, the Father’s only Son,
Hast over sin the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?
Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin overcloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.
Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.
If you go to Youtube (type Savior of the Nations Come in the search engine) you can see many renditions of this ancient Advent hymn which is new to me today!
A Living Pencil 
Search box. That being said, the tune doesn’t seem that hard to learn to me, but like quite enough songs, the bass part doesn’t stick out enough for me to be able to stick to it extremely well while singing with all the parts. Or maybe I don’t know it well enough. Or both. Or, actually and, I never really learned properly how to sing parts, so oh well. Hope while there’s breath (and after, for singing).
That is a favorite of ours! We, sadly, don’t have “learning occasions” as you do. We either know it or we don’t ; ) I think we did a version of it in choir one year at Prov.My new Advent fave is a new tune for _Lo! He Comes with Clouds Desending_ . The text is familiar but the melody is new to me… dil Rachel has ony known it by this new tune, so it must have some age to it. Tune name is Helmsley… I still love our new hymnal!
Gorgeous! Thanks for posting, Carol. We processed yesterday to ‘Come thou Long Expected Jesus’ sung to Hyfrydol. Glory, glory, glory. I’m ready for some Christmas, indeed — it has been so good to linger in the not-yet-ness of Advent, hasn’t it??ps – to the commenter above – Helmsely is where it’s at! 🙂 What a phenomenal tune…
Brilliant! Wonderful words to meditate and take to the heart of worship today. Bless you sweet friend and a very merry Christmas in your wintry western wonderland.
This is a new favorite of mine too. Where has it been all my life???