A Dictionary of Hymnology/Chorus novae Hierusalem

Chorus novae Hierusalem. St. Fulbert of Chartres. [Easter.] As St. Fulbert d. cir. 1029, this hymn dates from about the beginning of the 11th cent. It is found in an 11th cent. MS. in the Brit. Mus. (Vesp. D. xii. f. 72 b), and from this is printed in the Latin Hys. of the Anglo-Saxon Church, 1851, p. 159. It is also in an 11th cent MS. at St Gall (No. 387). Its English use was extensive. It is given in the Sarum Brev. as the hymn at first Vespers of the Octave of Easter, and so for all Sundays to the Feast of the Ascension (Hymn. Sarisb., 1851, pp. 90, 91); in York, the same, with the addition, "When the Sunday Office is said"; in St. Alban's through Easter week at Terce. It is also in the Aberdeen Brev.

The text is also in the following works : Daniel, 1., No. 191, iv. p. 180, with various readings; Monc, No. 162; Card. Newman's Hymni Eccl., 1838 and 1865. Bigge's Annotated H. A. & M., 1867, p. 139, and others.

The second stanza, "Quo Christus invictus Leo" (in H. A. & M., "For Judah's Lion bursts His chains"), is based upon a mediaeval belief, thus preserved in the words of Hugh of St Victor, "Quum leaena parit, suos catulos mortuos parit, et ita custodit tribus diebus, donec veniens pater corum exhalet ut vivificentur. Sic Omnipotens Pater Filium suum tertiâ die suscitavit a mortuis." [W. A. S.]

Translations in C. U.:—

1. Ye choirs of New Jerusalem, Your sweetest notes employ. By R. Campbell, from the Sarum Brev., written for and 1st pub. in his Hys. and Anthems, &c. (St. Andrew's), 1850, pp. 75-6, in 6 st. of 4 l. In 1858 it was included, with a slight alteration in st. ii., l. 3, and the omission of st. vi. in the Scottish Episco. Coll., No. 77. This was partly rewritten, and a doxology was added thereto by the compilers of H. A. & M., and given in their "trial copy," 1859, No. 78, and then in their 1st ed, 1861, This is the form of the hymn which is in most extensive use. In Mr. Shipley's Annus Sanctus, Campbell's text is given from his MS.

2. Thou New Jerusalem on high. By J. M. Neale, from the Sarum Brev., given in his Mediaeval Hys., 1851. In revising it for the Hymnal N., 1854, Dr. Neale rendered it, "Ye choirs of New Jerusalem, To sweet new strains," &c. This was repeated in his Mediaeval Hys., 2nd ed. 1863, with st. ii. rewritten, and is the form of the hymn in C. U.

3. Wake, choir of our Jerusalem. By J. A. Johnston, in the English Hymnal, 2nd ed. 1856, and repeated in the 3rd ed., 1861.

4. O choir of New Jerusalem. By R. F. Littledale, from the Sarum Brev., written for and 1st pub. in the People's H., 1867, and signed "D. L."

5. Ye choirs of New Jerusalem, Your sweetest praises bring. By R. C. Singleton, written in 1867, and pub. in his Anglican H. Bk., 1868.

Translations not in C. U.:—

1. Ye choirs of New Jerusalem, Begin, &c. J. D. Chambers, i., 1857.

2. Quire of the New Jerusalem. W. J. Blew, 1852-55.

3. The choir of New Jerusalem. J. Keble, 1857-66.

4. Sing, New Jerusalem. J. W. Hewett, 1859.

5. Jerusalem, thy song be new. Lord Braye. In Mr. Shipley's Annus Sanctus, 1884.

[J. J.]