Gaudete (Carol from Piae Cantiones)

Gaudete ('rejoice') is an anonymous composition whose chorus was first published in 1582 in the Piae Cantiones collection. The verses are taken from a medieval Czech song, Ezechielis Porta, and tell of the wonder of God's arrival on earth. This arrangement by the composer of Adiemus, Karl Jenkins, was written for the vocal group Tenebrae and can be performed unaccompanied or with percussion. The percussion parts are available for free download from Boosey & Hawkes website.