ADVENT CAROL – DAY 9

Sibelius wrote five Christmas songs between 1897 and 1913. These were published as his Opus 1. This is the best known of the bunch, “En Etsi Valtaa Loistoa” (“I seek not power, glory or gold”), which he composed in 1909, on a text of Zacharias Topelius.

I seek not power, glory or gold,
I wish for the light of Heaven and peace on Earth.
Let Christmas bring happiness and put us in mind of heavenly things.
Neither power nor gold but peace on Earth.

May the wonder of Christmas come to both poor and rich;
Into Earth’s darkness bring the light of Heaven.
For you I yearn, you I await, Lord of Earth and Heaven,
Now bring sweet Christmas to poor and rich.

Since today is Sibelius’ birthday, I’m including it in my Advent calendar.

Also, one by contemporary Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara: