Christmas concert 2025 - Frid på jord

Program Christmas concert St. Vituskerk Hilversum by The Nationale Koren

While entering the church, live music can already be heard in the background

• From Weihnachtskantate - Lübeck - opening movement Adagio with on violin/viola:

Suzanne Kortlever, Asmahan Linders, Isa Scheffer, Samiwa Hoving

• Ibtisam Linders - recorder
• Leontine and Alphonsine Summerer - Laudamus to by Vivaldi
• Marwan Linders - Schafe können sicher weiden Bach
• Jaylen Hassan - The snowman - I'm walking in the air
• Nur Taya - Ave Maria by Rene Atkinson

Once in Royal David's City - John Rutter (*1945)

1. Solo: Jaylen Hassan

Once in Royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.

2. National Children's Choir

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

3. National Boys' Choir

And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.

4. Solo: Anne Kurstjens

For he is our childhood's pattern;
Day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.

5. National Women's Youth Choir

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

6. Tutti with audience: 

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.

National Children's Choir, Juniors and singing class

Gabriel's message - (Basque trad.)

The angel Gabriel came down,

With wings white as snow and radiating gold.

"Behold," he spoke, "blessed Mary,

the most exalted lady, gloria!"

Noël nouvelet - (French trad.)

Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici,

dévotes gens, rendons à Dieu merci!

Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet, Noël!

(Chantons Noël) pour le Roi nouvelet.

Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici!

Golden Winged Angel - Zoltán Bárdos (1899-1986)

Golden winged Angel, flying from afar

Messenger of heaven, shining like a star

Halleluia, Hosanna Gloria

Welcome baby Jesu, son of God on high

Solo trio: Daniëlle Swanepoel, Fenna Stoffer, Samiwa Hoving

Hear the shining Angel, singing the holy birth

Alleluia, welcome Jesu, son of God on high

Maria Cradle Song - Max Reger (1873-1916)

Maria sitzt im Rosenhag

Und wiegt ihr Jesuskind,

Durch die Blätter leise

Weht der warme Sommerwind.

Zu ihren Füßen singt

Ein buntes Vögelein:

Schlaf, Kindlein, süße,

Schlaf nun ein!

Hold ist dein Lächeln,

Holder deines Schlummers Lust,

Leg dein müdes Köpfchen

Fest an deiner Mutter Brust!

Schlaf, Kindlein, süße,

Schlaf nun ein!

Brightest and best - Malcolm Archer (*1952)

• Solo Philaine Baris

Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness and lend us your aid!

Star of the east, the horizon adoring,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

2. Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,

Fragrance of Edom, and off'rings divine?

Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,

Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

3. Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gifts would his favor secure:

Richer by far is the heart's adoration;

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Riu riu - (Spanish trad.)

Canción de Navidad (Christmas Carol)

Riu, riu, chiu, la guarda ribera Dios guardó el lobo a nuestra cordera	Riu, riu, chiu, the kingfisher God kept the wolf from our lamb.
Solo: Samiwa Hoving
El lobo rabioso la quiso morder Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender Quiso la hacer que no pudiese pecar Ni aun original esta virgen no tuviera.	The rabid wolf wanted to bite her, But God Almighty could defend her. He wanted to make her so that she couldn't sin, This virgin wouldn't even have the original sin.
Solo: Valentina Piris
Este que es nascido es el gran monarca Cristo Patriarca de carne vestido Hanos redimido con se hacer chiquito Aunque era infinito finito se hiciera.	The one who was born is the great monarch, Christ the patriarch made of flesh. He redeemed us by making himself a baby Though he was infinite, he made himself finite.
Solo: Julia Roijackers
Muchas profecías lo han propetizado, Y aún en nuestros días lo hemos alcanzado A Dios humanado vemos en el suelo, Y al hombre en el cielo porque él le quisiera	Many prophecies foretold him, And in our days, we have seen them fulfilled.  We see God made human on earth, And the man in heaven, because He so wanted it.

"Riu, riu, chiu" is, as far as we know, an imitation of a bird call. "La guarda ribera" is usually translated as "the riverbanks protect her" (which is somewhat strange, since ribera has no article, when in fact it would be expected). Some, however, suggest that "guarda ribera" is an ancient form of "guardarrío", a vernacular name for the kingfisher. Kingfishers defend their young by issuing warning calls when a predator approaches.

National Boys Choir and Boys Juniors

Uns ist geboren - Max Reger (1873-1916) (solo: Jonathan)

Uns ist geboren ein Kindelein,

ist klarer denn die Sonne,

das soll der Welt ein Heiland sein,

dazu der Engel Wonne.

Soloist: Jonathan Hoffman

Hätt' ich Flügel von Seraphim,

wie fröhlich wollt' ich fliegen

mit den Engeln schön dahin

zu Jesu meinem Geliebten.

Ich bin der König - Max Reger (1873-1916)

Ich bin der König vom Morgenland,

ich bin der König vom Morgenland,

hab' am Hute ein buntes Band,

hab' in der Hand einen goldenen Stern.

Ich bin der König vom Morgenland.

Äpfel und Nüsse ess ich gern,

liebe Leute, seid so gut,

werft mir welche in meinen Hut;

komm ich dann hin zum Jesusknaben,

soll er auch einen Apfel haben,

auch einen Apfel haben.

Bog si rodzi - (Polish trad.)

God is born

Soloist: Filip Domaradzki

Bóg się rodzi, moc truchleje, Pan niebiosów, obnażony, Ogień krzepnie, blask ciemnieje, Ma granice Nieskończony. Wzgardzony, okryty chwałą, Śmiertelny Król nad wiekami !

God is born and the night is shaken, The Lord of Heaven lies naked, Fire is frozen, light is veiled  The Eternal now has its limits. He was scorned, yet clothed with glory, Mortal King of the Ages!

Christemas - (English trad.)

1. Christmas hath made an end,
   Well-a-day! well-a-day!
   Which was my dearest friend,
     More is the pity!
   For with a heavy heart
   Must I from thee depart,
   To follow plow and cart
   All the year after.

2. Soloist: Marwan Linders

Lent is fast coming on,
Well-a-day! well-a-day!
That loves not anyone,
More is the pity!
For I doubt both my cheeks
Will look thin from eating leeks;
Wise is he then that seeks
For a friend in a corner.

National Women's Youth Choir

In dulci jubilo - John Rutter (*1945)

1. In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage shew:
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio,
Alpha es et O!

Solo trio: Catelijn van Berkel, Iris Holleman, Hilde van Zandbergen

2. O Jesu parvule,
My heart is sore for Thee!
Hear me, I beseech Thee,
O puer optime;
My praying let it reach Thee,
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te.

3. O patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Deeply we were stained.
Per nostra crimina:
But Thou for us hast gained
Coelorum gaudia,
Qualis gloria!

4. Ubi sunt gaudia,
If that they are not there?
There are Angels singing
Nova cantica;
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia.
Oh that we were there!

Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen - Joseph Rheinberger (1839-1901)

Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, o Herr! 

Es sehnt sich meine Seele nach dem Vorhof des Herrn.

Mein Herz frolockt in dem lebendigen Gott.

Denn der Sperling findet sein Haus,

Und die Taube obdach im Sturm,

Ich finde deine Altäre, o du mein König, Herr und Gott!

Selig sind, die in deinem Hause wohnen,

In alle Ewigkeit loben sie dich!

Barmherzigkeit und Wahrheit liebt Gott

Und denen die da wandeln in Unschuld, 

gibt er Gnade und Herrlichkeit!

All singers: 

Sanctus - Clemens non Papa (c. 1510-1555)

National Children's Choir

Wilkommen süsser Bräutigam - Vincent Lübeck (1654-1740)

Soloists: Alphonsine Summerer and Lieke van den Broek

Willkommen, süßer Bräutigam,

du König aller Ehren!

Willkommen, Jesu, Gottes Lamm,

ich will dein Lob vermehren;

ich will dir all mein Leben lang

von Herzen sagen Preis und Dank,

daß du, da wir verloren,

für uns bist Mensch geboren.

Adoramus to - Orlandus Lassus (1532-1594)

Adoramus te Christe - Di Lassus

Adoramus to Christe  et benedicimus tibi. 

Quia per sanctam crucem tuam  redemisti mundum. 

Adoramus to Christe  et benedicimus tibi.  

Adoramus te Christe.

Frid pa jord - Sofia Karlsson (*1975)

I stjärnfull natt de ljöd så klart Frid på jord, frid på jord Det klingade väl underbart Frid på jord, frid på jord.

In the starry night they sounded so bright Peace on earth, peace on earth It sounded so wonderful Peace on earth, peace on earth.

National Boys' Choir

Sound the trumpet - Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Sound the trumpet till around

You make the listening shores rebound.

On the sprightly oboy play.

All the instruments of joy

That skilful numbers can employ

To celebrate the glory of this day.

Corpus Christi Carol - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Lully, lullay, lully, lullay,

The falcon hath borne my make away.

He bare him up, he bare him down,

He bare him into an orchard brown.

In that orchard there was an hall

That was hanged with purple and pall.

And in that hall there was a bed:

It was hanged with gold so red.

And in that bed there lieth a knight,

His wounds bleeding by day and night.

By that bed side kneeleth a may,

And she weepeth both night and day.

And by that bedside standeth a stone:

Corpus Christi written thereon.

O holy night - Adolphe Adam (1803-1856), *arr. Philip Le Bas (1964) 

Solo: Syl Becht 

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;

it is the night of the dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!

O night divine! O night when Christ was born!

O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,

with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

there came the wise men from Orient land.

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger;

in all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.

Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

National Women's Youth Choir

Ceremony of Carols - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Procession (Hodie)

Hodie Christus natus est:
hodie Salvator apparuit:
hodie in terra canunt angeli:
laetantur archangeli:
hodie exsultant justi dicentes:
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia!

Wolcum Yole!

Wolcum,
Wolcum be thou hevenè king,
Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum, born in one morning,
Wolcum for whom we sall sing!

Wolcum be ye, Stevene and Jon,
Wolcum, Innocentes every one,
Wolcum, Thomas marten one,
Wolcum be ye, good Newe Yere,
Wolcum, Twelfthe Day both in fere,
Wolcum, seintes lefe and dare,
Wolcum Yole, Wolcum!

Candelmesse, Quene of Bliss,
Wolcum bothe to more and lesse.
Wolcum,
Wolcum be ye that are here, Wolcum Yole,
Wolcum all and make good cheer.
Wolcum all another yere,
Wolcum Yole. Wolcum!

There is no Rose

There is no rose of such vertu
As is the rose that bare Jesu.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

For in this rose conteined was
Heaven and earth in little space,
Resmiranda, Resmiranda.

By that rose we may well see
There be one God in persons three,
Pares forma, pares forma.

The aungels sang the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis,Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gaudeamus, Gaudeamus,

Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth.
Transeamus, Transeamus, Transeamus!

That younge child 

Solo: Lotte Cornel

That yongë child when it gan weep
With song she lulled him asleep:
That was so sweet a melody
It passèd all minstrelsy.

The nightingale sang also:
Her song is hoarse and nought thereto:
Whose attendeth to her song
And leaveth the first then doth he wrong.

Balulalow 

Solo: Josefien Garcia Weenink

O my deare hert, young Jesu sweit,
Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee to my stag,
And never mair from thee depart.

But I sall praise thee evermoir
With sangës sweit unto thy gloir;
The knees of my deer sall I bow,
And sing that richt Balulalow!

As dew in Aprille

I sing of a maiden
That is makèles:
King of all kings
To her son she ches.

He came al so silent
There his moder was,
As dew in Aprille
That falleth on the grass.

He came al so silent
To his moder's bour,
As dew in Aprille
That falleth on the flour.

He came al so silent
There his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille
That falleth on the spray.

Moder and mayden
Was never none but she;
Well may such a lady
Goddes mother be.

This little Babe

This little Babe so few days old,
Is come to rifle Satan's fold;
All hell doth at his presence quake,
Though he himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmèd wise
The gates of hell he will surprise.

With tears he fights and wins the field,
His naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot are babish cries,
His arrows looks of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns Cold and Need,
And feeble Flesh his warrior's steed.

His camp is pitchèd in a stall,
His bulwark but a broken wall;
The crib his trench, haystalks his stakes;
Of shepherds he makes his muster;
And thus, as sure his foe to wound,
The angels' trumps alarum sound.

My soul, with Christ join thou in fight;
Stick to the tents that he hath pight.
Within his crib is surest ward;
This little Babe will be thy guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
Then flit not from this heavenly Boy!

Deo gracias

Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Adam lay i-bounden, bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter thought he not too long.

Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
And all was for an appil, an appil that he tok,
As clerkès finden written in their book.

Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Ne had the appil takè ben, the appil takè ben
Ne haddè never our lady a ben hevenè quene.

Blessèd be the time that appil takè was.
Therefore we moun singen.
Deo gracias!

Recession (Hodie)

Hodie Christus natus est,
hodie Salvator apparuit,
hodie in tera canunt angeli,
laetantur archangeli:
hodie exsultant justi dicentes,
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia!

All singers:

Laudate pueri - Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)

Laudate, pueri, Dominum

Praise the Lord, O children!

Laudate nomen Domini.

Praise the name of the Lord!

Sit nomen Domini benedictum

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula.

From now on and forever!

Gaudete

Chorus:
Gaudete, gaudete Christus est natus
Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete
From Mary, the virgin, rejoice!
Gaudete, gaudete Christus est natus
Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is born
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete
From the virgin Mary, rejoice!

Solo: Sifra de Jong
Tempus adest gratiae
The time of grace has come
Hoc quod optabamus
which we longed for.
Carmina laetitiae
Songs of joy
Devote reddamus
Let us offer [those] reverently.

Solo: Fedja Voornveld
Deus homo factus est,
God has become human
Natura mirante
While nature marvels.
Mundus renovatus est
The world has been renewed
a Christo regnante
Through Christ who reigns.

Solo: Joelle Ocheng
Ergo nostra concio
So let our meeting
psallat iam in lustro
already singing songs of praise in the cleansing(s),
Benedicat domino
praising the Lord;
salus regi nostro
hail our King!

We wish you happy holidays!