En etsi valtaa, loistoa (Jean Sibelius)

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• CPDL #2800:

Editor: Sebastian Göring (submitted 2001-06-12).   Score information: A4, 100 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Only for US distribution.

Possible error(s) identified. Error summary: 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. -Mick Swithinbank See the discussion page for full description.

General Information

Title: En etsi valtaa, loistoa
Composer: Jean Sibelius

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Secular, Carol

Language: Finnish
Instruments: a cappella
Published:

Description: The Finnish text in this score ("En etsi valtaa, loistoa") is a free translation of a poem in Swedish (quoted below) by Zacharias Topelius, and it was the Swedish version that Sibelius actually set, Topelius and Sibelius both being Swedish-speaking Finns. (Thanks to Anders Stenberg for this information). 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 above is quite a faithful translation of the Swedish version. I have provided a reasonably literal English translation of the Finnish one. -Mick Swithinbank

Should the score because of the information from Mick and Anders Stenberg be moved to "Giv mig ej glans"? -Martin Schubert

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Original text and translations

Swedish text Original Swedish text set by Sibelius 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. Giv mig ett hem på fosterjord, en gran med barn i ring, en kväll i ljus med Herrens ord och mörker däromkring. Giv mig ett bo med samvetsro, med glad förtröstan, hopp och tro. Giv mig ett hem på fosterjord och ljus av Herrens ord. 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.

Finnish translation by Zacharias Topelius En etsi valtaa, loistoa, en kaipaa kultaakaan, mä pyydän taivaan valoa ja rauhaa pääle maan. Se joulu suo, mi onnen tuo ja mielet nostan Luojan luo. Ei valtaa eikä kultaakaan, vaan rauhaa pääle maan. Luo köyhän niinkuin rikkahan saa, joulu ihana! Pimeytehen maailman tuo taivan valoa! Sua halajan, sua odotan, sa Heramaan ja taivahan, nyt köyhän niinkuin rikkahan luo suloinen joulu tuo!

German translation (singable, as in score above) Gib mir nicht Glanz, nicht Gold, nicht Pracht in sel'ger Weihnachtszeit; schenk Gottes Ehre, Engelwacht und Frieden weit und breit! Gib mir ein Fest, das tief ihn freut, den König, den zu Gast ich bat! Gib mir nicht Glanz, nicht Gold, nicht Pracht, gib mir der Engel Wacht! Zu hoch und niedrig, reich und arm der Weihnachtfriede komm, komm kinderfroh, komm herzenswarm zur Winterzeit der Welt! Du Einz'ger, der nicht ändert sich, o du, mein Herr und König, komm! Zu hoch und niedrig, reich und arm komm froh und herzenswarm!

English translation by Mick Swithinbank 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. English translation The following verse translation is by Ida Kaskinen (1924), revised by Alexandra Glynn 2008, used with the latter's permission. I seek no gold or majesty, no pearl or shining gem, but Lord above, I pray to Thee for peace on earth to men. O Lord divine, my heart is Thine! Oh, let my thoughts to Thee incline! I seek no pearl or shining gem but peace on earth to men. Among the children, in our home, give blessed harmony. The light that on the shepherds shone, oh, let it shine on me! O word of light, O truth and might, oh, shed thy blessing glad and bright. O word of grace and pardon free: give peace and harmony. Let Christmas come to rich and poor, its brilliant light unfold and with the wealth of God allure to heaven's streets of gold. I long for Thee, I wait for Thee, O Lord, I need Thy charity! May rich and poor alike abide in peace at Christmastide.