Ascendens Christus in altum

General information

Responsory for Matins at Ascension.
Source of text is Ephesians 4:8.

Settings by composers

• Jacob Handl SATB
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina TTBB
• Tomás Luis de Victoria SATTB

Text and translations

Latin text Ascendens Christus in altum, alleluia. Captivam duxit captivitatem, alleluia. Dedit dona hominibus, alleluia. Ascendit Deus in jubilatione, et Dominus in voce tubae, alleluia. Dedit dona hominibus, alleluia.

English translation Christ, ascending on high, led captivity captive, alleluja. He gave gifts to men, alleluja. God rose in jubilation, and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet, alleluja. He gave gifts to men, alleluja.