From the recording Winter and the Sacred Tree - A Live Concert Recording
In this suite, we explored the first half of the 13th century conductus Nobilis Humilis and interwove that theme into a new composition. We relied upon Harold Gleason’s edition, published in 1942, Examples of Music Before 1400 though the original manuscript is housed in Upsala C233. Harp arrangement: Karoline Hausted // Words for In the Winter Night: Karoline Hausted // Spoken word arrangement: Mark Davis
Magnus Erlendsson was an earl of the Orkney Islands who was made saint when Christianity was being established in the North, and whose story is told in the Norse sagas. Nobilis Humilis is a hymn composed in that era celebrating St. Magnus.
Many ancient Norse symbols, idols, words and place names have survived or have been given new meanings in the Christian world. One example is the word Yule, which is known to be associated with the ancient Winter Solstice festivals. Nobilis Humilis/In The Winter Night is in honor of both past and present. It is a bringing together of the layers of the season, speaking to the age-old life-and-death dependency upon the return of the sun - transitioned into the activities of today’s Yule feast.
Lyrics
Nobilis Humilis, Magne martyr stabilis
Habilis, utilis, comes venerabilis…
The winter sky is darkening, the tide is closing in
Over forest, hill and dale soars the Northern wind
Every shifting shape and ghostly creature’s
on the run
Good hearts stay awake in vigil
waiting for the sun
While lighting candles in the house
we listen for the sound
Of sacred bells to break
and turn the darkness around
On this the longest nights of all
our song and dance will shine
Holding hands around the tree; a circle of light
In the winter night the valley bells chime
The wolf and raven ride
The Evergreen shines
Until the sun again
Above the mountain rim will rise
In the pale moonlight I can see my own shadow
Making tireless attempts to catch me in the snow
I hang a gift on every branch of fir that I pass
Asking all good spirits to help me safe across
Far away in the woods there stands an Evergreen
A well of water at its roots; a gathering of dreams From its endless deep
pours out the bending Milky Way
The shimmering of candles
that we burn ‘til light of day
In the winter night the valley bells chime
The wolf and raven ride
The Evergreen shines
Until the sun again
Above the mountain rim will rise