This is among the oldest Christmas traditional songs. It is of German origin with words by Heinrich Suso (1295 - 1366), who set it to a fourteenth century melody and entitled his effort In Dulci Jubilo. Suso was a Dominican priest and mystic and was said to have been inspired to write the words down when he heard angels singing them. His text was written with lines alternating in Latin and German, in so-called macaronic style. Several English translations of it appeared in the Renaissance era, but the most commonly used one today was made by hymnographer John Mason Neale (1818 - 1866) in 1853 for a collection of hymns entitled Carols for Christmastide. The melody to Good Christian Men is stately and joyous, bright and almost rapturous, not sounding like the often austere thematic creations associated with medieval music. Though it may come across as a bit repetitious throughout its three verses, this melody exhibits enough color and spirit to carry the listener along. The text advises "Good Christian Men" to rejoice at the revelation that "Christ is born today." Those with an interest in Christmas carols ought to find this one of strong appeal. ~ Robert Cummings, All Music Guide
