Wow! I love this band. The young Steeleye Span performing a cappella in Latin a top of the charts hit song “Gaudete” from their 1972 album “Below the Salt“. It’s spectacular and unlike any other Christmas song/Carol I know of.
The chorus translated is:
Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary — rejoice!
Of the Virgin Mary — rejoice!
For the full translation and more information see the wikipedia: Gaudete
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Chorus:
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Tempus adest gratiae Hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina laetitiae Devote reddamus.
(Chorus)
Ezechielis porta Clausa pertransitur
Unde lux est orta salus invenitur.
(Chorus)
Deus homo factus est naturam erante,
Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante.
(Chorus)
Ergo nostra contio Psallat iam in lustro,
Benedicat Domino Salus Regi nostro.
(Chorus)