Tune Type: Christmas Carol
Alternative Titles: ‘Tu scendi dalle stelle’, ‘From Starry Skies Thou Comest’, ‘From Starry Skies Descending’, ‘You Came a Star from Heaven’, ‘You Come Down from the Stars’
Context: This carol was written in the 1700s in Bovino, Italy, by Saint Alphonses Liguori. (Interesting fact: this priest founded the Redemptorists.). My understanding is that there was a traditional song written in Neapolitan entitled ‘For Jesus’ Birth’, beginning ‘Quanno nascette ninno‘ (‘when the child was born’) and sometimes referred to as the “Carol of the Bagpipers” (Canzone d’i zampognari). In 1732, the priest Alphonses took the melody of ‘For Jesus’ Birth’ but wrote new lyrics; his beginning words are “You come down from the stars” and his new title was “Little Song To Child Jesus”. Apparently Alphonses’ rewrite became hugely popular, and is still a core part of the Italian tradition.
There are many English language translations of this song. I sing an Irish language version translated by Dónal Ó Cuill.
Lyrics – Italian:
1. Tu scendi dalle stelle, O Re del Cielo, e vieni in una grotta, al freddo e al gelo. O Bambino mio Divino Io ti vedo qui a tremar, O Dio Beato Ahi, quanto ti costò l'avermi amato! 2. A te, che sei del mondo il Creatore, mancano panni e fuoco; O mio Signore! Caro eletto Pargoletto, Quanto questa povertà più mi innamora! Giacché ti fece amor povero ancora!
Lyrics – Gaeilge (aistrithe ag Dónal Ó Cuill):
1. Do tháinig Tú ar talamh A Rí ó Neamh anuas Is tháinig Tú sa gcró beag Sa ngeimhreadh feanntach fuar Is tháinig Tú sa gcró beag Sa ngeimhreadh feanntach fuar Ó, a Íosa, Leinbhín Diaga Tá Tú anseo ar crith os mo chomhair A Dhia Ró-naofa Mhóir Nár mhór an ní go fíor é Grá a thabhairt dom shórt Nár mhór an ní go fíor é Grá a thabhairt dom shórt 2. Tá éadach agus tine In easnamh ort a stór A Chruthaitheoir na Cruinne A Dhia, a Shlánaitheoir A Chruthaitheoir na Cruinne A Dhia, a Shlánaitheoir A Chara, Ró-dhil, a Naí bhig íon Más bocht í an choir Is móide mo ghrá Is Tú an ghrá ró-mhór, Do dhein díot fhéin an grá ‘S Tú dealbh de shíor is de ghnáth Do dhein díot fhéin an grá ‘S Tú dealbh de shíor is de ghnáth 3. Id’ shuan c’é taoi, a Leanbh Go suaimhneach síoch go fóill Is buan do chroí ar faire Anois is go deo na ndeor Is buan do chroí ar faire Anois is go deo na ndeor Och, a Uainín álainn íon-ghlain Cad iad do smaointe? Lig dom do rún A Chroí dhochuimsithe mhóir Cén lá a gheobhaidh mé bás Ar do shon, má ‘sé sin atá ‘ndán? Cén lá a gheobhaidh mé bás Ar do shon, má ‘sé sin atá ‘ndán
Lyrics – English (translator unknown, hit me up if you can find the source):
1. From starry skies descending Thou comest, glorious King A manger low Thy bed In winter's icy sting O my dearest Child most holy Shudd'ring, trembling in the cold Great God, Thou lovest me What suff'ring Thou didst bear That I near Thee might be 2. Thou art the world's Creator God's own and true Word Yet here no robe, no fire For Thee, Divine Lord Dearest, fairest, sweetest Infant Dire this state of poverty The more I care for Thee Since Thou, o Love Divine Will'st now so poor to be
Melody:
(The text below the title on the right refers to the source of the melody. The text below the title on the left refers to the source of the lyrics. If there is no text below the title on the left, the text on the right is the source of both the music and the lyrics.)
Sources:
de Barra-Cusack, Fionnuala. Ceol Na Nollag: Carúil Nollag Agus Roinnt Amhrán. Baile Átha Cliath: Cló Chaisil, 2002.
Wikipedia contributors, “Tu scendi dalle stelle,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tu_scendi_dalle_stelle&oldid=1193933635 (accessed January 9, 2024).