Venite Adoremus for Choir and Orchestra

Experience the majesty, mystery, and wonder of the Nativity with Venite Adoremus, a new 5 movement work for choir, soprano, bass, and orchestra. The work centers around the text “Venite Adormeus” (O Come Let’s Us Adore Him), tells the story of the Nativity according to the Gospel of Luke, as well includes a more intimate portrait of the birth in two a cappella settings: the Shepherds carol by Margaret Deland and the traditional O Magnum Mysterium (O Great Mystery). It was commissioned for the annual Christmas Festival at Dallas Baptist University.

I. Adeste Fidelis
II. Shepherd’s Carol
III. And there was in the same country
IV. O Magnum Mysterium
V. By the splendor of the heavens

Key Features:

  • Language: Latin and English or English only (at the choice of the conductor)
  • Forces: SATB choir, soprano, baritone or bass solo
  • Choice of performing forces:
    • Keyboard Only (organ or piano)
    • Chamber Orchestra (13+players)
      Fl. Ob, Horn, 2-Bb Tpt.,+ hp. + timp + 1 perc. + Str.
    • Full Orchestra (27+ players)
      2.2.2.2 – 4.3.3.1 + hp. + timp + 1 perc. + Str
  • Length: Approx. 20 Minutes
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  1. Adeste Fidelis
    (O Come, All Ye Faithful)

Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.

Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes
Venite, venitein Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum.

Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come, ye o come ye to Bethlehem.
Come, and behold him, Born the King of angels.

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

  • Traditional Hymn
  1. Shepherd’s Carol

With twist of thin, blue smoke,
Only their fire’s crackling flames
The tender silence broke–
Save when a young lamb raised his head,
Or, when the night wind blew,
A nesting bird would softly stir,
Where dusky olives grew

And all their gentle sleepy flock
Looked up, then slept again,
Nor knew the light that dimmed the stars
Brought endless Peace to men–
Nor even heard the gracious words
That down the ages ring–
The Christ is born! the Lord has come.

With finger on her solemn lip,
Night hushed the shadowy earth,
And only stars and angels saw
The little Saviour’s birth;
Then came such flash of silver light
Across the bending skies,
The wondering shepherds woke, and hid
Their frightened, dazzled eyes!

  • Margaret Deland
  1. And there were in the same country

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them:

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

  • Luke 2
  1. O magnum mysterium

(O great mystery)

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
iacentem in praesepio!

Portare Dominum Christum. Alleluia!

Domine, audivi auditum tuum et timui;
consideravi opera tua et expavi
in medio duorum animalium.

O greatest, most holy embodiment,
our affirmation, now come to live with us,
oh that these animals should see the new-born Lord
Now lying in a manger low!

Most Blessed Virgin whose vessel pure was worthy
to bear Emmanuel, God’s son. Alleluia.

Lord most high, I see you, and wonder fills my heart with awe,
when I consider your blessed birthing has transpired
amid a meek and humble animals’ stable.

  1. ‘By the splendor in the heavens

‘By the splendor in the heavens, and the hush upon the sea,
And the majesty of silence reigning over Galilee,–
We feel Thy kingly presence, and we humbly bow the knee
And lift our hearts and voices in gratefulness to Thee.

Thy messenger has spoken, and our doubts have fled and gone
As the dark and spectral shadows of the night before the dawn

  • James Whitcomb Riley

Venite adoremus, O come, let us adore him,
Venite adoremus, O come, let us adore him,
Venite adoremus, Dominum. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

  • Traditional
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