At the Lamb's high feast

if you do not hear the tune, click here.

1.
At the Lamb's high feast we sing
praise to our victorious King,
who has washed us in the tide
flowing from his pierced side.  Alleluia.

2.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, Paschal bread.  
With sincerity and love
eat we manna from above. Alleluia.

3.
Mighty victim from the sky,
hell's fierce powers beneath you lie.  
You have conquered in the fight,
you have brought us life and light. Alleluia.

4.
Now no more can death appall,
now no more the grave enthrall.  
You have opened paradise,
and in you your saints shall rise. Alleluia.

5.
Easter triumph, Easter joy,
this alone can sin destroy.  
From sin's power, Lord, set us free,
newborn souls in you to be. Alleluia.

Words:  Ad coenam Agni providi, ca. 4th c.;
                    tr. Robert Campbell, Hymns and Anthems for..., St. Andrews, 1850, alt.
   Tune:  Folk Song, 15th. c., (Sonne Der Gerechtigkeit) Kirchengeseng, 1566

            The date of the original Latin text is placed anywhere between the fourth and ninth centuries. Under Pope Urban VIII, the text was revised and appeared in the Roman Breviary. It was this latter version, Ad regias agni dapes, that Robert Campbell translated in 1849. The second, third, and last of the eight quatrains have been omitted. The hymn is widely used in the Roman, Ambrosian, Mozarabic, and Anglican rites. It was sung as a vesper (sunset) hymn from Easter Eve until Ascension. It was also the custom of the early church to baptize catechumens (persons newly instructed in church membership) on Easter Eve in anticipation of their first Communion on Easter. Some translations relate specifically to these people, i.e., "The Lamb's high banquet we await."

            The tune, "Sonne Der Gerechtigkeit," originated as a fifteenth-century folk song, Der reich Mann geritten aus. It was first printed in 1556 by Georg Forster, a Nürnberg physician and musician. In 1566 it appeared with a sacred text, Mensch, erheb dein Herz zu Gott, in the Kirchengeseng of the Bohemian Brethren. This vigorous melody with its lilting, folk-dance rhythm exemplifies the rich musical heritage that the Bohemian Brethren, under the creative hymnic leadership of Michael Weisse (ca. 1480-1534), contributed to German hymnody. Edward W. Klammer first paired this text and tune for the Worship Supplement to the Lutheran Hymnal (1969).

from The Hymnal Companion

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