?Gaudete! Christus est natus? is a medieval carol published in the 1582 collection of Finnish and Swedish sacred songs, Piae Cantiones. The carol is a song of praise comprising a two-line refrain, or burden, alternating with four-line verses. The Latin text of the burden, ?Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine. Gaudete!? translates as ?Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary. Rejoice!? Interestingly, Piae Cantiones provides no music for the verses, but a standard tune for the verses appeared in other songbooks of the time. Although verses would typically be sung by a solo voice or unison voices, this arrangement attempts to evoke something of the medieval technique of harmonies in parallel motion on the second, third and fourth verses. ©Copyright2011 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com