Hey, Sir Donkey, You Must Sing

Mom, who sings, used to put on an annual Christmas concert at the beginning of December. She started gathering carols all over the world in January, and by the end of the year, she and two or three other musician friends would put on their magnificent concert at the little Evangelical church in which I was raised.

A favorite number, which I believe recurred a couple of times, was Orientis Partibus, a song in praise of the donkey who carried the Holy Family (and, in the original, who also brought the wise men's gifts to Bethlehem). In performance, the part of the donkey was played by the crumhorn, which makes a funny bleating sound after each plea for the donkey to sing. Mom hammed it up, eventually pulling a carrot from behind her back to dangle in front of the "donkey," who, after so much initial recalcitrance, finally does "sing" a crumhorn solo.  It was funny and charming. A crowd-pleaser that's occasionally been reprised at a Christmas sing-along her friend throws each year. 

I didn't know there was a whole Feast of the Ass, with variation on the Mass dismissal, attached to the song, however.

At the end of Mass, the priest, having turned to the people, in lieu of saying the ‘Ite missa est‘, will bray thrice; the people instead of replying ‘Deo Gratias’ say, ‘Hinham, hinham, hinham.’ 

 The feast was yesterday, and Deacon Kandra tells the tale. Or should I say tail? 

Here's a traditional version, with lyrics close to the original Latin.  And here's a performance I like. 

Mom and her friends sang a variation in which each verse implored the donkey to sing.

Rising from his modest birth

Sir Donkey's known now for his worth

So handsome, and so very strong

He labor burdens all day long. 

Hey, Sir Donkey, you must sing

Merriment to us you bring!

Your reward is oats and hay

For taking Jesus on his way. 

Slow of foot was he to move

If standing still doth him behoove

He'd only move upon a prick

In his hind quarters with a stick 

Hey, Sir Donkey, you must sing

Merriment to us you bring!

Your reward is oats and hay

For taking Jesus on his way.

And...rats, I can't recall the culminating verse (s?), and google is no help. Maybe it will come to me.

Update:  Well, 2 out of 6 ain't bad? I can't believe how many verses had "floated away down a dark mythological river whose name begins with an L" as Billy Collins would say. Mom sent me this: 

Rising from his modest birth

Sir Donkey’s known now for his worth

So handsome and so very strong

He labored weary all day long.

Refrain:  Hey, Sir Donkey your must sing

Merriment to us you bring

Your reward is oats and hay

For taking Jesus on his way

  

Donkey great from Israel’ plain

To thee doth great strength appertain

As when you wandered from afar

Following Bethlehem’s royal star

Refrain

He trots through towns o’re hill and dale

His back a seat for Mary frail

All manner of God’s creatures see

Sir Donkey transport for the three. 

Refrain

LO, what large ears on his head

This donkey by St.Joseph led

He carried Mary and Jesu

Far from the soldiers who pursue.

Refrain

Slow of foot is he to move

If standing still doth him behoove

He’d only more upon a prick

In his hindquarters with a stick

Refrain

Carrot is now produced for last verse

Gleaming gold from Araby

Myrrh and incense all may see

Sir Donkey praise with one accord

Virtuous CONSORT of the Lord

Refrain:  Tune now played by crumhorn with embellishments and ornamentation