Adorna thalamum tuum

General information

Processional antiphon for Feast of the Purification.

Settings by composers

Giovanni Matteo Asola TTBB (Variant 2) William Byrd ATT Orlando di Lasso SATB

Francesco Soriano SATB.SATB Pandolfo Zallamella SATB (Variant 1)

Text and translations

Latin text Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion, et suscipe Regem Christum: amplectere Mariam, quae est coelestis porta: [amplectere Messiam gratulare huiusce matri:] ipsa enim portat Regem gloriae novi luminis. Subsistit Virgo, adducens manibus Filium ante luciferum genitum: quem accipiens Simeon in ulnas suas praedicavit populis Dominum eum esse vitae et mortis et Salvatorem mundi. Variant 1 Adorna thalamum tuum, Syon, et suscipe regem regum Christum: amplectere Mariam, quae novo lumine subsistens Virgo portat regem gloriae. Hunc accipiens Simeon exclamavit et dixit: Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine, Secundum verbum tuum in pace. Variant 2 Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion, et suscipe Regem Christum: Quem virgo concepit Virgo peperit quem genuit adoravit.

English translation Adorn thy bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the King: embrace Mary, who is the gate of heaven, [embrace the Messiah and congratlate this mother} who herself truly brings the glorious King of new light. She remains a virgin, though bearing in her hands a Son begotten before the daystar, whom Simeon, taking him in his arms, proclaimed to the people to be the Lord of life and death, and Saviour of the world. Variant 1 Adorn thy bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the king of kings: embrace Mary, who remaining virgin, in new light, carries the king of glory. Whom Simeon took in his arms, exclaimed, and said: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word". Variant 2 Adorn thy bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the King: He whom the Virgin conceived and bore, she also worshipped.