This was first published in TCW on April 12, 2020
TODAY we have two Easter Sunday hymns for the price of one because they share the same theme and the same tune, and even in part the same writer.
The first is Jesus Christ is Risen Today, originally 11 verses written in Latin by an unknown author in 14th century Bohemia under the title Surrexit Christus hodie. The first translation into English was in 1708 by an Irish cleric and administrator, John Baptist Walsh (c 1750-1825), for his Lyra Davidica, or a Collection of Divine Songs and Hymns. He paired it with a tune called Easter Hymn, the composer of which is not known. He used only the first three verses. In 1740 the great Charles Wesley wrote a fourth verse. In 1749 both tune and words were revised by John Arnold for his Compleat Psalmodist.
These are the words:
1 Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
2 Hymns of praise then let us sing Alleluia!
unto Christ our heav’nly King, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
3 But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
now above the sky he’s King, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
4 Sing we to our God above Alleluia!
praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
praise him, all ye heav’nly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
Here it is sung by the choir of King’s College, Cambridge.
This is a performance on a vintage reed organ by Rodney Jantzi.
Rather confusingly, the year before Charles Wesley wrote the fourth verse for Jesus Christ is Risen Today, he wrote a full hymn based on it, which he called Hymn for Easter Day with the first line Christ the Lord is Risen Today. It appeared in in Hymns and Sacred Poems by Wesley and his brother John in 1739. As I have noticed before there did not seem to be any law of copyright in those days and writers simply helped themselves to words and tunes. Wesley’s hymn had 11 verses but it was later shortened to six.
These are the words:
1 Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
2 Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
3 Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
4 Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
5 Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
6 King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!
Here is a sumptuous 2016 arrangement by John Rutter:
For the sake of completeness I should add that both hymns are less often sung to the tune Llanfair composed in 1817 by Robert Williams (1782-1818). Williams, who was blind, was a basket weaver on the Isle of Anglesey, and a musician of great repute in Wales.
