En etsi valtaa, loistoa (Jean Sibelius)

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• CPDL #2800: .
  

Editor: Sebastian Göring (added 2001-06-12).   Score information: 100 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: A4 page format, only for US distribution

General Information

Title: En etsi valtaa, loistoa
Composer: Jean Sibelius

Number of voices: 4vv  Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Carols
Language: Finnish
Instruments: none
Published:

Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

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Note by Mick Swithinbank: "En etsi valtaa, loistoa" is a poem which Sibelius set in Finnish but which was a free translation of a Swedish original (quoted below). The most impressive-sounding of the various translations of the title which are in circulation is 'We ask for nothing rich or rare'. The German text which is included in the score on cpdl turns out to be quite a faithful translation of the Swedish version. I shall provide a reasonably literal English translation of the Finnish one. It is worth noting two errors in the Finnish text: in bar 10 of the first verse, sou should read suo (which also enables it to rhyme), and in bar 16 of the second verse, joulus should read joulu.
Note to the note: by Anders Stenberg acctually what Sibelius, as a Swedish speaking Finn, did set to music was the orginal Poem in swedish written by an other swedish speaking Finn; Zacharias Topelius.

Translation(s): English translation

I seek not power, glory or gold,
I wish for the light of Heaven and peace on Earth.
Let Christmas bring happiness and put us in mind of heavenly things.
Neither power nor gold but peace on Earth.

May the wonder of Christmas come to both poor and rich;
Into Earth's darkness bring the light of Heaven.
For you I yearn, you I await, Lord of Earth and Heaven,
Now bring sweet Christmas to poor and rich.

Translation by Mick Swithinbank

Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt
i signad juletid.
Giv mig Guds ära, änglavakt
och över jorden frid.
Giv mig en fest
som gläder mest
den konung jag har bett till gäst.
Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt,
giv mig en änglavakt.

Till hög, till låg, till rik, till arm,
kom, helga julefrid.
Kom barnaglad, kom hjärtevarm
i världens vintertid.
Du ende som ej skiftar om,
min Herre och min Konung, kom.
Till hög, till låg, till rik, till arm,
kom glad och hjärtevarm.