A lesser-known fact about this well-known collection of late-medieval songs, whose complete name is Piae Cantiones ecclesiasticae et scholasticae veterum episcoporum (Pious ecclesiastical and school songs of the ancient bishops), is that it originated in Finland. In 1582, Jaakko Suomalainen, a Protestant clergyman and the headmaster of the cathedral school at Turku, collected 74 Latin and Swedish/Latin songs that were being sung at the school, and sent the collection to Germany for publication. Thirteen more songs were added in the 1625 edition.

These songs were regularly sung in Finnish schools until into the 19th century.

Jesu dulcis memoria (Jesus, Sweet Remembrance) is one of only two four- voice songs in the 1582 collection. The text is attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

Jesus, sweet remembrance,

Giving true joys to the heart,

Jesus, sweetness of hearts,

Fount of life, light of minds,

Exceeding all joy.

But above honey and all things

His sweet presence,

Nothing more pleasing is sung,

Nothing gladder is heard,

Than Jesus, son of God.

Divinum mysterium (The Divine Secret), a meditation on the Eucharist, is one of the oldest songs in the collection, dating to the 10th century. It was first developed as a trope - additional text and music - on the Sanctus of the Mass.

Holy, holy, holy!

The divine secret is now revealed.

The unfaithful are detestable,

While the strong hope of the faithful

Strengthens their belief.

The bread is first divided

and consecrated

Then the body of Christ is offered

And eaten in the form of bread.

How this is accomplished,

And the wine also, when it is blessed,

Is truly the blood of Christ.

We all believe together

That this is truth, not falsehood.

Father, Son and the Spirit, our consolation,

Kindly give us our nourishment,

So that we may sing with

The people of Heaven. Amen.

Christ will make it happen.

Ramus virens olivarum (The Green Branch of an Olive Tree) is a historical song celebrating the conversion of the people of Finland to Christianity. Beginning with the metaphor of Noah’s Ark, the Englishman Bishop Henry arrives in Finland on his way to Uppsala. Henry and King Eric of Sweden battle demons, but Henry is martyred.

The green branch of an olive tree

Brought by the dove,

Twofold kind of living things

Is held in Noah’s ark.

(Refrain) Therefore, Finnish people,

Rejoice in this gift,

Because you are made Catholic,

By the sound of God’s word.

Mountain tops are hidden,

The force of the sea then withdrawn,

The cloud of sin is dispersed,

A sign of God’s grace. (Refrain)

Just so is shown to Finland

By our teacher,

That the faith of Christ is established,

Leaving the land of England. (Refrain)

The charge of Uppsala

He ruled in the kingdom of Sweden,

Raised through Eric

In the worship of faith. (Refrain)

Joyful they seek to reach

The land of the Finns,

They repel the worship of demons,

They found the palm tree. (Refrain)

King Eric to the region

Of his homeland turning,

This holy bishop Henry

Was a companion of his exile. (Refrain)

May Christ pray the Father on our behalf

And preserve peace in our fatherland.

May he be praised among a multitude

Of worshippers strong in the faith. (Refrain)

Zachaeus arboris ascendit (Zachaeus Climbed a Tree) is a roundelay in which two equal voices exchange the melody from phrase to phrase. It is in a much older style than the four-part songs in the collection, and it may have been intended as an instructional model for improvised polyphony for the students at the Turku cathedral school.

Zachaeus climbed a tree

To see Jesus, the Lord of Heaven.

Zachaeus invited Jesus into his home

And served him lovingly.

He examined his heart:

“If I have gained something by deceit,

I shall repay it fourfold.

I shall give the poor half of my property

Gifts like that appease God.”

We also rejoice in such a convocation

And wish to praise the Lord of Lords.

Christ, we wish to thank you forever,

You who even now do nourish us.

Puer natus in Bethlehem is a strophic hymn from the 13th century based on the Introit for Christmas Day. Before the tune found its way into Piae Cantiones, German composers, including Michael Praetorius, had already adapted it as Ein Kind geborn in Bethlehem. The version in the original 1582 edition is for two voices; we are performing the four-voice version from the 1625 edition of the collection.

A child is born in Bethlehem,Exult, rejoice, Jerusalem!Alleluia.

The Son of God the Father

In the highest has taken flesh,

Alleluia.

We rejoice in this birth

And bless the Lord.Alleluia.

We praise the Holy TrinityAnd give thanks to God.

Alleluia.

The Angel Gabriel announcedThe Virgin has conceived the Son.Alleluia.