This edition was prepared by Ross Jallo — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Aeterne gratias tibi
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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Aeterne gratias tibi by Michael Praetorius — Lyrics
1. Aeterne gratias tibi
dicamus omnes conditor,
Quod inter hostes plurimos,
Ecclesiam servas tamen.
2. Ut inter arma gentium,
Herodis et Satellites
Interque tetros dogmatum
Furores et deliria.
3. Servas Mariam virginem
Domumque castae Elisabeth,
Quae praedicavit munus tuum,
Datumque Christum nuntiat.
4. Non Pontifex, non Principes,
etsi sciunt oracula
vatum, venisse noverant,
salutis autorem novae.
5. Sed dulcis haec Elizabeth,
et virginis congressio,
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About Aeterne gratias tibi
Michael Praetorius’s Aeterne gratias tibi is a richly woven sacred work for SATTB choir. The polyphony creates a full yet clear texture, with the voices often moving in imitation, bringing the Latin text to life. The hymn expresses eternal gratitude to the Creator for preserving the Church through times of conflict, heresy, and disbelief. It highlights key figures like the Virgin Mary and Elizabeth, who announce God’s grace and the coming of Christ. The composer masterfully depicts the text’s themes of divine protection and revelation, culminating in the recognition of Christ’s divinity even before his birth, as foreshadowed by Elizabeth and recognised in the womb by John the Baptist. This setting offers a profound musical reflection on faith and divine providence.
