Singen und Wiegen: Das Weihnachtslied ´Ecce Mundi Gaudia´ im Wienhäuser Liederbuch

Abstract

This article discusses the song ‘Ecce mundi gaudia’ in the Wienhäuser Song Book (c. 1500, Wienhausen) in its literary and cultural context. The song derives from a group of Christmas carols found in manuscripts belonging to women connected with the Devotio Moderna movement in a triangle Zwolle (The Netherlands) – Cologne – Wienhausen (Germany). In all instances well-known material about Jesus’ infancy or youth is embedded within an existing Latin frame. Unlike simkilar songs, the Wienhäuser song 'Ecce mundi gaudia' has a second refrain containing words typically found in lullabies, which might indicate a Christmas cradling tradition. Several sources witness that cradling could end up in a dance around the Christmas cradle, even in church. Probably the Wienhäuser song ‘Ecce mundi gaudia’ accompanied a tradition of cradling at Christmas in Wienhausen.