Christmas Music: Adeste Fideles
Ancienne hymne chrétienne, datant selon toute vraisemblance du XIIIe siècle, Adeste Fideles demeure encore très populaire aujourd’hui, et figure parmi les cantiques de Christmas religieux les plus interprétés durant la période des fêtes. Toutefois, l’origine de ce chant demeure incertaine, et bien qu’il subsiste quelques indices laissés ici et là, aucun d’entre eux ne permet cependant de retracer le nom de son auteur. Certains attribuent cette œuvre à un prêtre franciscain, du nom de Saint Bonaventure, lequel aurait apparemment composé le texte original en latin. Or, des manuscrits authentiques datant du XVIIIe siècle, et signés de la main de John Francis Wade, laissent croire qu’il pourrait en être l’auteur. En effet, parmi les écrits de ce compositeur originaire de Douai en France, on y retrouve la mélodie et les paroles d’Adeste Fideles.
However, referring to the oldest manuscript, dated 1640, where the first traces of this Christmas carol appear, John Francis Wade cannot surely be the author, since the latter lived between 1711 and 1786. What's more, a man named Marcus Antonius de Fonseca, master of the chapel of the king of Portal, claimed in turn that this work belonged to him. And to confuse the issue even more, Christoph Willibald Gluck, a French composer of German origin, also claimed, at another time, to be the author. In short, there is no certainty or proof as to the composer of this hymn, which is nevertheless so popular.
Recorded by many artists, Adeste Fideles counts among its most popular performers some illustrious opera singers, including Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti. In addition, there are Frank Sinatra, Connie Francis, Bing Crosby, The Everly Brothers, Nat King Cole, and more recently, Celine Dion.
Youtube videos
Christmas in Vienna
Il Divo
Enya
Luciano Pavarotti at Montreal Cathedral
Lyrics (Latin version)
Adeste faithful to the triumphants,
Come, come to Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.
In grege relicto humiles ad cunas,
Vocati pastores approperant,
And our ovanti gradu festinemus.
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.
Æterni Parentis splendorem æternum,
Velatum sub carne videbimus,
Deum infantem pannis involutum.
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.
Pro nobis egenum et fœno cubantem
Piis foveamus amplexibus;
Sic nos amantem quis non redamaret?
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.
