Unless stated otherwise, my source for hymn texts and tunes is The Lutheran Service Book.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Saint-Saëns: Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: V. Duo (soprano & bass)
In looking into the Latin Vulgate recently, I found the source of the text for the fifth movement of Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12. Of course, sections of the text are repeated, but it's basically: "Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini! Deus Dominus, et illuxit nobis. Deus meus es tu, et confitebor tibi. Deus meus es tu, et exaltabo te." This comes from parts of Psalm 118:26-28: "26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! 28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you."