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About the Score

"Personent hodie" is a Christmas carol originally published in the 1582 Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, a volume of 74 Medieval songs with Latin texts. The text was likely re-written for the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28th) when young choristers and their "boy bishop" traditionally lead worship.

The carol is still often associated with Holy Innocents' Day. It became more prominent in England after being arranged for unison voices and orchestra in 1916 by Gustav Holst (1874–1934), where it is often used as a processional hymn in church and cathedral services. Holst's version often forms part of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. This version is Elizabeth Poston's 1965 "Boys' Carol", which translates the first line of the text as "Let the boys' cheerful noise/Sing today none but joys."

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