the christmas album

the christmas album
Ellen Hargis & Paul O’Dette
1. Tous les bourgeois de Châtres
Tous les bourgeois de Châtres
Et ceux de Montlhéry
Menèrent grande joie
Cette journée ici
Que naquit Jésus-Christ
Et la Vierge Marie
Près le boeuf et l’ânon
Don, don
Entre lesquels coucha
La, la
En une bergerie.
All the citizens of Châtres
And those of Montlhéry
Were all joyful
On this day
When Jesus Christ was born
And the Virgin Mary
Between the ox and ass
Don, don
Laid him down
La, la
In a stable.
Des anges de lumière
Ont chanté divers tons
Aux bergers, aux bergères
De cette région
Qui gardaient leurs moutons
Paisant sur la prairie,
Disant que le mignon
Don, don
Étoit né près de là
La, la
Jésus, la fruit de vie.
The angels of the light
Sang many songs
To the shepherds and shepherdesses
Of that region
Who watched over their sheep
Grazing in the field,
Saying that the darling boy
Don, don
Was born nearby,
La, la
Jesus, fruit of Life.
Ils prennent leurs houlettes
Avec empressement,
Leurs hautbois, leurs musettes
Et s’en vont promptement
Tout droit à Saint-Clément,
A travers la montagne,
Étant tous réjouis
Ravis
D’aller voir cet enfant
Naissant
Joseph et sa compagne.
They took up their crooks
With haste,
Their oboes, and their bagpipes,
And set off right away
Straight to St. Clément,
Across the mountains,
They rejoiced,
Ecstatic
To go see the baby
New-born
Of Joseph and his line.
De Saint-Germain la bande
Vint en procession
Et traversa la lande
Pour trouver l’Enfançon
Ayant ouï le son
Et la douce harmonie
Que faisaient les pasteurs
Chanteurs
Lesquels n’étoient pas las
La, la
De faire symphonie.
From Saint Germain the group
Went in procession,
And crossed the heath
To find the Infant,
Having heard the sound
And sweet harmony
Made by the shepherd
Singers,
They who never tired
La, la
To make music.
(continued)
1
Tous les bourgeois de Châtres (continued)
Bas, a joué des hymnes
De son beau tambourin
Car il était loué
A ceux de Saint-Germain;
La grand’ bouteille au vin
Ne fut pas oubliée,
Ratisson du rébec
Jouait
Car avec eux alla
La, la
Toute cette journée.
Softly they played hymns
Upon the tabor
Which was brought
From Saint-Germain;
The big bottle of wine
Wasn’t forgotten And the scraping rebec
Was played,
And just like that
La, la
The whole day passed.
Lorsqu’on vidait la coupe
Un nommé des Aveaux
Faisoit de bonne soupe
Avec force naveaux!
Les lapins et perdreaux
Alouettes rôties,
Carnards et cormorans,
Friands,
Gillot Barbaut porta
La, la
À Joseph et Marie.
When they had emptied their glasses
A fellow from Aveaux
Made a good soup
With plenty of turnips!
Rabbits, partidges,
Roasted larks,
Ducks, cormorants,
And delicacies
Were brought by Gillot Barbaut
La, la
To Joseph and Mary.
Messire Jean vicaire
De l’église d’Églis
Fit porter pour mieux braire
Du vin de son logis;
Messieurs les écoliers
Toute cette nuitée
Se sont mis à crier
Chanter
Ut, ré, mi, fa, sol, la
La, la
À gorge déployée.
Mssr. Jean, the vicar
Of the church of Egly,
In order to sing louder
Brought his own wine from home;
The schoolboys
All night long
Were made to shout and
To sing
Ut, re, mi, fa sol, la
La, la
With wide-open throats.
Or, prions tous Marie
Et Jésus, son cher fils
Qui’l nous donne la vie
Là sus en Paradis
Après qu’aurons vécu
En ce mortel repaire
Qu’ils nous veuillent garder
D’aller
Tous en Enfer, là-bas
La,la
En tourment et misère.
Now, let us pray to Mary
And Jesus, her dear Son,
That they might grant us life
Above in Paradise
When we have left
Our mortal bodies;
May they keep us
From going
All to Hell below
La, la
In torment and misery.
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2. Au Saint-Nau
Refrain:
Au Saint-Nau
Chanteray sans poinct m’y feindre
Y n’en daigneray ren craindre
Car le jour est feriau,
Nau, nau, nau!
Car le jour est feriau.
To Saint Noël,
I shall sing without hesitation,
And shall fear nothing,
Because today is a Feast-day,
Nau, nau, nau,
Because today is a Holiday.
Ne furiau in grant émoy, nau, nau
Y ne sais pas qu’o pit estre
Les aultres bergers et moy, nau, nau
En menant nous brebis paistre
Dau forfat qu’Adam fist contre son maistre
Quant dau fruict voguist repaistre
Don gle fist péché mortiau.
We were all downcast,
I did not know why,
The other shepherds and I,
Leading our sheep to pasture.
It was because of Adam’s sin against God,
When he ate of the fruit
Thus committing mortal sin.
Y m’assis sur le muguet, nau, nau
En jouant de ma flageole
Et mon compagnon Huguet, nau, nau
Respondit de la pibole
Arrivit un Ange dau Ceau qui vole,
Disant joyeuse parole,
Dont y fust joyoux et beau.
I sat down upon the green
Playing my flageolet,
And my friend Huguet
Responded with his musette,
An Angel flew down from Heaven
Announcing joyous tidings;
Thus were we made happy and gay.
“Réveillez-vous pastoureaux, nau, nau
Et fasez joyeuse chère,
En Bethléem est l’Agneau, nau, nau
Naquin de la Vierge mère
Qui l’a my dedon ine manjouère
Voure o ly pouet d’ litière
Don l’estable quemmuneau.”
“Wake up, shepherds,
And be of good cheer!
In Bethlehem is born the Lamb
Of a virgin Mother;
She has laid him in a manger;
For his bed, poor straw,
In a common stable.”
Quand y vis quio bel Infont, nau, nau
Y mis le geneil en terre;
Tot le corps m’allait tremblont, nau, nau
Mon coeur n’était pouet en serre
Y l’y dis: “Toy qui mets fin à la guerre,
Vrai Dieu, y te veil requerre
Predon de tot mes défauts.”
When I saw the lovely babe
I fell to my knees;
My whole body trembled
And my heart pounded;
I said to Him, “You who would end all war,
True God, I beg of you
To pardon all my sins.”
Or, prions tous à geneil, nau, nau
Jésus-Christ, à voix doulcette
Que l’ nous fasse boun accueil, nau nau
Et que notre paix set faite
Au grand jour que sonnera la trompette
Qu’en son Paradis nous mette
Au royaume paternau.
Now let us all pray on our knees
To Jesus Christ, in sweet voices,
That He will make us welcome,
And that our peace be assured;
On that great day of judgment,
May he place us in his Paradise,
In His Father’s realm.
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4. Wachet auf, ruft uns
die stimme
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne
Wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem!
Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde;
Sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde:
Wo seid ihr, klugen Jungfrauen?
Wacht auf, der Bräutgam kömmt,
Steht auf, die Lampen nehmt!
Alleluja!
Macht euch bereit
Zu der Hochzeit,
Ihr müsset ihm engegen gehn!
“Awake!”, the watchmen’s voices
Call from the high tower,
“Awake, city of Jerusalem!”
This is the midnight hour;
They call out to us with clear voices
“Where are you, wise virgins?
Awake, the bridegroom comes!
Arise, take your lamps,
Alleluia!
Make yourselves ready
For the wedding;
You must go to meet him!”
Zion hört die Wächter singen,
Das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen,
Sie wachet und steht eilend auf.
Ihr Freund kommt vom Himmel prächtig,
Von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit mächtig,
Ihr Licht wird hell, ihr Stern geht auf.
Nun komm, du werter Kron,
Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn,
Hosianna!
Wir folgen all zum Freudensaal,
Und halten mit das Abendmahl.
Zion hears the watchmen singing,
Her heart leaps for joy,
She wakes and rises in haste.
Her friend comes in splendor from Heaven,
Strong in grace, powerful in truth,
Her light is bright, her star is risen.
Now come, you worthy crown,
Lord Jesus, Son of God,
Hosanna!
We all follow to the hall of joy,
And share in the Supper.
Gloria sei dir gesungen,
Mit Menschen- und englischen Zungen,
Mit Harfen un mit Cymbeln schon.
Von zwölf Perlen sind die Pforten
An deiner Stadt und wir Konsorten
Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron.
Kein Aug hat je gesehn,
Kein Ohr hat je gehört
Solche Freude.
Des sind wir froh, io, io,
Ewig in dulci jubilo.
Gloria be sung to you
By men and angels
With fair harps and with cymbals.
Of twelve pearls are the gates
Of your city; and we are of the company
Of angels high around your throne.
No eye has ever seen,
No ear has ever heard
Such rejoicing.
Thus we rejoice
Forever in sweet jubilation.
6. Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen
Est ist ein Ros’ entsprungen
Aus einer Wurzel zart,
Wie uns die Alten sungen,
Von Jesse kam die Art
Und hat ein Blümlein bracht
Mitten im kalten Winter,
Wohl zu der halben Nacht.
A spotless rose is blowing
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit:
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter,
And in the dark midnight.
Das Röslein das ich meine,
Davon Jesaias sagt,
Hat uns gebracht alleine
Marie, die reine Magd.
Aus Gottes ewgem Rat
Hat sie ein Kind geboren,
Wohl zu der halben Nacht.
The rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest maid:
For through our God’s great love and might
The blessed babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter’s night.
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7. In dulci jubilo
In dulci jubilo
Nun singet und seid froh:
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Leit in praesepio,
Und leuchtet als die Sonne
Matris in gremio
Alpha es et O.
In sweet jubilation
Now sing and rejoice:
Our heart’s delight
Lies in a manger,
And shines like the sun
In his mother’s bosom.
You are Alpha and Omega.
O Jesu parvule,
Nach dir ist mir so weh:
Tröst mir mein Gemüte,
O puer optime:
Durch alle deine Güte,
O princeps gloriae,
Trahe me post te.
O little Jesus,
I so long for you;
Comfort my soul,
O peerless boy;
By all your goodness,
O prince of glory,
Draw me to you.
O Patris caritas,
O nati lenitas!
Wir wären all verloren
Per nostra crimina,
So hat er uns erworben
Coelorum gaudia,
Eya wärn wir da!
O love of the Father,
O leniency of the Son!
We were all lost
Through our sins
Until you gained for us
The joys of heaven:
O that we were there!
Ubi sunt gaudia,
Nirgends mehr denn da.
Da die Engel singen
Nova cantica,
Und die Schellen klingen
In regis curia:
Eya wärn wir da!
Joys are there
As in no other place
There the angels sing
New songs,
And the bells ring out
In the court of the king:
O that we were there!
9. Canzonetta Spirituale
sopra alla nanna
Hor ch’è tempo di dormire
Dormi figlio e non vagire
Perchè tempo ancor verrà
Che vagir bisognerà;
Deh ben mio deh cor mio
Fa la ninna ninna na.
Now it is time to sleep,
Sleep, my son, and do not cry,
For we shall see in time
The need for weeping.
Oh my heart, my heart,
Go to sleep.
Chiudi quei lumi divini
Come fan’ gl’altri bambini
Perchè tosto oscuro velo
Priverà di lume il cielo;
Deh ben mio deh cor mio
Fa la ninna ninna na.
Close these divine eyes,
As the other children do,
For a dark veil
Will hide the sky from you,
Oh my heart, my heart,
Go to sleep.
(continued)
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Canzentta Spirituale sopra alla nanna (continued)
Over prendi questo latte
Dalle mie mammelle intatte
Perchè ministro crudele
Ti prepara aceto e fiele;
Deh ben mio deh cor mio
Fa la ninna ninna na.
Or, take this milk
From my virgin breast,
For the cruel minister
Is preparing vinegar and gall for you.
Oh my heart, my heart,
Go to sleep.
Amor mio sia questo petto
Hor per te morbido letto
Pria che rendi ad alta voce
L’alma al padre su la croce.
Deh ben mio deh cor mio
Fa la ninna ninna na.
My love, may this bosom
Now be a soft bed for you,
Before your soul cries out
To your Father on the cross.
Oh my heart, my heart,
Go to sleep.
Posa or queste membra belle,
Vezzosette e tenerelle,
Perchè puoi ferri e catene
Gli daran acerbe pene.
Deh ben mio deh cor mio
Fa la ninna ninna na.
Now rest these lovely limbs,
So charming, so tender;
For shackles and chains
Will cause them bitter pains.
Oh my heart, my heart,
Go to sleep.
Queste mani e questi piedi
Ch’hor con gusto e gaudio vedi
Ahimè com’ in varii modi
Passeran acuti chiodi
These hands, these feet
At which you now look with pleasure and joy
Alas, in so many ways
Will be pierced by sharp nails.
Questa faccia gratiosa
Rubiconda hor più che rosa
Sputi e schiaffi sporcheranno
Con tormento e grand’ affanno,
This charming face,
Ruddier than the rose,
They will besmirch with spitting and slapping,
With torment and great sorrow.
Ah con quanto tuo dolore,
Sola speme del mio core,
Questo capo e questi crini
Passeran acuti spini,
Oh, with such pain,
Sole hope of my heart
Will this head and this hair
Be pierced by sharp thorns.
Ah, ch’in questo divin petto
Amor mio, dolce e diletto
Vi farà piaga mortale
Empia lancia e disleale.
Oh, in this divine breast,
My love, my delight,
A wicked, traitorous spear
Will cause mortal wounds.
Dormi dunque figlio mio,
Dormi pur Redentor mio,
Perchè poi con lieto viso
Ci vedrem in Paradiso.
Sleep, therefore, my son,
Sleep, then, my Savior,
For later, with joyful faces,
We shall meet again in Paradise.
Hor che dorme la mia vita
Del mio cor gioia compita,
Tacia ogn’ un con puro zelo,
Tacian sin la terra e’l Cielo.
Now that you are sleeping, my life,
My heart’s perfect joy,
Let all be silent with pure zeal,
Let Heaven and earth be silent.
E fra tanto, io, che farò?
Il mio ben contemplerò,
Ne starò col capo chino
Sin che dorme il mio Bambino.
And meanwhile, what shall I do?
I shall gaze upon my love,
And remain here with bowed head
While my child sleeps.
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11. Sweet was the song
the virgin sung
Sweet was the song the virgin sung
When she to Bethle’m Judah came
And was delivered of her son
That blessed Jesus hath to name.
Lullaby, sweet babe, quoth she,
My son and eke a savior born.
Which hath vouchsafed from on high
To visit us that were forlorn.
Lullabye, sweet babe, sung she
And rocked him featly on her knee.
12. All hail to the days
When Christmas’s tide comes in
like a bride,
With holly and ivy clad,
Twelve days in the year much mirth
and good cheer
In every household is had.
The country guise is then to devise
Some gambols of Christmas play,
Whereat the young men do the best
that they can
To drive the cold winter away.
All hail to the days that merit more praise
Than all the rest of the year,
And welcome the nights that double delights
As well for the poor as the peer!
Good fortune attend each merry
man’s friend,
That doth but the best that he may;
Forgetting old wrongs with carols and songs
To drive the cold winter away.
This time of the year is spent in good cheer,
And neighbors together do meet,
To sit by the fire, with friendly desire,
Each other in love to greet;
Old grudges forgot, are put in the pot,
All sorrows aside they lay,
The old and the young doth carol his song,
To drive the cold winter away.
Thus none will allow of solitude now,
But merrily greets the time,
To make it appear of all the whole year,
That this is accounted the prime.
December is seen apparel’d in green,
And January, fresh as May,
Comes dancing along, with a cup
and song,
To drive the cold winter away.
To mask and to mum kind neighbors
will come
With wassails of nut-brown ale,
To drink and carouse to all in the house,
As merry as bucks in the dale;
Where cake, bread, and cheese is brought
for your fees
To make you the longer stay;
At the fire to warm will do you no harm,
To drive the cold winter away.
15. ‘Tis Christmas now
And as for Venus, let her be
Part of our recreation.
A wench or so in jollity
Was never yet damnation.
Then dance and sing, etc.
‘Tis Christmas now, ‘tis Christmas now,
When Cato’s self would laugh,
And smoothing forth his wrinkled brow
Give liberty to quaff,
To dance, to sing, to sport and play,
For every hour’s a holiday.
And from the rising of the sun
To the setting, call off cares.
‘Tis time enough when Twelfth is done
To think of our affairs.
Then dance and sing, etc.
As for the twelve days, let them pass
In mirth and jollity.
The time doth call each lad and lass
That will be blithe and merry,
To dance, to sing, etc.
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16. Figlio dormi
Figlio dormi, dormi figlio,
China’l ciglio
Caro figlio,
Ricciutella della mamma
Del mio petto dolce fiamma.
Mio bambino piccinino,
Fà la nanna, fà la ninna, figlio,
Ninna la nanna, ninna nanna,
Amoroso mio tesoro.
Ninna la nanna ninna nanna,
Dolce vago riciutello,
Vezzosetto vago e bello.
Sleep, my son, sleep,
Close your eyes,
Dear son,
Your little curls are sweet flames
On mama’s bosom.
My little baby,
Go to sleep, go to sleep, my son,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
My beloved treasure,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
Sweet delightful curly head,
Lovely, charming, and pretty.
Chiama’l sonno, frena il pianto,
Nel mio canto
Dolce figlio,
Lagrimuccie deh cessate
E nel sonno vi frenate.
Mio bambino piccinino,
Fà la nanna, fà la ninna, figlio,
Ninna la nanna, ninna nanna,
Lagrimuccie perle elette,
Ninna la nanna ninna nanna,
Sù le guancie alabastrine
Margarite peregrine.
Sleep is calling, tears are restrained
At my song,
Sweet son,
Little tears, oh cease,
And give in to sleep.
My little baby,
Go to sleep, go to sleep, my son,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
Pearly little tears,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
On his alabaster cheeks
Are like wandering daisies.
Luci vaghe, luci belle,
Vive stelle
Del mio figlio,
Non più crude al sonno omaì
Serenate i vostri rai.
Mio bambino piccinino,
Fà la nanna, fà la ninna, figlio,
Ninna la nanna ninna nanna,
Pupilluccie lusinghiere,
Ninna la nanna, ninna nanna,
Pupilluccie ritrosette,
Ritrosette pupillette.
Lovely eyes, charming eyes,
My son’s
Bright stars,
Be cruel to sleep no more,
But ever calm your rays.
My little baby,
Go to sleep, go to sleep, my son,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
Beguiling little eyes,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
Restless little eyes,
Restless little eyes.
Sguardi amati, dolci sguardi,
Vivi dardi
Del mio figlio,
Voi col pianto mi piagate
E nel sonno mi beate,
Mio bambino piccinino,
Fà la nanna, fà la ninna, figlio,
Ninna la nanna, ninna nanna,
Tirannucci miei bramati.
Ninna la nanna ninna nanna,
Deh chiudetevi innocenti,
Tirannucci miei cocenti.
Beloved gaze, sweet gaze,
My son’s
Keen arrows,
You wound my with tears
And bless me in sleep.
My little baby,
Go to sleep, go to sleep, my son,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
My greedy little tyrants,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
Oh, close now, you innocent eyes,
My bright little tyrant eyes.
(continued)
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Figlio dormi (continued)
Here is Sleep who assails him,
He spreads his wings
Over my son,
Sweet Sleep, it is your duty,
You embrace him, you charm him.
My little baby,
Go to sleep, go to sleep, my son,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
Beguile him, oh my songs,
Go to sleep, go to sleep,
My sweetest comfort,
My richest treasure.
Ecco il sonno che l’assale,
Spiega l’ale
Su’l mio figlio,
Dolce sonno à te si spetta
Tu lo stringi, tu l’alletta.
Mio bambino piccinino,
Fà la nanna, fà la ninna, figlio,
Ninna la nanna, ninna nanna,
Lusingatelo ò miei canti,
Ninna la nanna ninna nanna,
Mio dolcissimo ristoro,
Mio ricchissimo tesoro.
22. Quoy? vous dormez?
Quoy? vous dormez, quand la nuit est si belle?
L’éclat du jour n’a rien d’égal
à sa clarté.
Venez-en voir la beauté,
Vos yeux seront charmez d’une
splendeur nouvelle.
What? you sleep, when the ;night is so beautiful?
The brightness of the day has nothing
to equal its brilliance.
Come see the beauty;
Your eyes will be charmed by a
new splendor.
Jésus naissant vient nous donner la paix,
Écoutez dans les Airs les témoins de sa gloire,
Ils redisent cent fois “la paix, la paix, victoire,
Victoire, victoire, victoire, victoire à jamais”.
The new-born Jesus comes to give us peace;
Listen to the songs, witnesses of his glory,
They repeat a hundred times “Peace, peace, victory,
Victory, victory, victory, victory forever”.
24. Froids Aquilons
Froids Aquilons, qui ravagez nos plaines,
Ne troublez plus icy la paix des Élemens;
Mon Jésus dort, silence, silence,
fâcheux Vents:
De peur de l’éveiller retenez vos haleines,
Vos fracas & vos siflements.
Cold Winds, who ravage our plains,
Do not trouble more the Elements,
My Jesus sleeps; silence, silence,
troublesome Winds,
For fear of waking him, withhold your breath,
Your noise, and your whistling sounds.
Vous dont le chant a réjoüy l’Étable,
Tircis & Coridon, qu’heureux est vôtre sort,
Pour un moment, silence, Jésus dort:
Dés qu’il s’éveillera par un Air agréable,
Reprenez un si bel accord.
You whose song entertained the stable,
Tircis and Corydon, how happy is your fate!
For one moment, silence, silence; Jesus sleeps:
So that he may wake to a pleasing song,
Play again in sweet harmony.
25. What Are You Doing
New Year’s Eve?
Maybe it’s much too early in the game,
Ah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same:
What are you doing New Year’s,
New Year’s Eve?
Maybe I’m crazy to suppose
I’d ever be the one you chose
Out of the thousand invitations
You’ll receive.
Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night,
Welcoming in the new year,
New Year’s Eve.
Ah, but in case I stand one little chance,
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year’s,
New Year’s Eve?
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