Hey, Sir Donkey, You Must Sing

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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