This edition was prepared by Douglas Walczak — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Altitudo
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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Altitudo by Anonymous — Lyrics
1. Altitudo, quid hic jaces
Intam vilistbulo?
!ui creasti coeli faces,
Alges in praesepio:
Tam ardenter, quem amasti,
Paradiso exulem,
Paradiso exulem.
Alleluia.
2. Fortitudo infirmatur,
Parva fit immensitas,
Laboratur, alligatur,
Nascitur etternitas.
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About Altitudo
This striking Latin hymn, Altitudo, is set for SATB voices. Attributed to an anonymous composer, it belongs to the sacred tradition, likely sung as a hymn. The text expresses profound awe at the divine nature, questioning how the Creator of the heavens lies in a manger, cold and vulnerable. It reflects on the immense power made weak, the infinite becoming small, and eternity being born, all out of love for humanity exiled from paradise. The music captures the tender yet profound themes of the text, with the refrain "Alleluia" underscoring the joy and wonder of the Nativity.
