I Saw A Swete Semly Syght
Our second Christmas CD

Released in October 2000
The title track written by Pierre Massie, placed first in the
2000 Amadeus Carol Competition

01. O Come, All Ye Faithful

English traditional carol (v.1) Arrangements: M. Dela (v.2), Sir David Willcocks/W. Llewellyn (v.3)

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
O come let us adore Him (x3)
Christ the Lord!

Adeste fideles
Laeti, triumphantes:
Venite, venite in Bethleem
Natum videte
Regem angelorum
Venite adoremus (x3)
Dominum!

Sing choirs of Angels
Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above
Glory to God
In the highest
O come let us adore Him (x3)
Christ the Lord!

03. D’où viens-tu bergère?

French traditional carol harm: André Bellefeuille

D’où viens-tu bergère, D’où viens-tu?
D’où viens-tu bergère, D’où viens-tu?
Je viens de l’étable de m’y promener
J’ai vu un miracle ce soir arrivé.

Qu’as-tu vu bergère. Qu’as-tu vu?
Qu’as-tu vu bergère. Qu’as-tu vu?
J’ai vu dans la crèche un petit enfant,
Sur la paille fraiche, mis bien tendrement.

 
Rien de plus bergère, Rien de plus?
Rien de plus bergère, Rien de plus?
Saint’ Marie sa mère, lui fait boir’ du lait,
Saint Joseph son père qui tremble du froid.
 
Rien de plus bergère, Rien de plus?
Rien de plus bergère, Rien de plus?
Y’-a le boeuf et l’âne qui sont pas devant,
Avec leur haleine réchauffent l’Enfant.
 
Rien de plus bergère, Rien de plus?
Rien de plus bergère, Rien de plus?
Y’-a trois petits Anges descendus du ciel,
Chantant les louanges du Père Éternel!
05. Dans cette étable

17th century French carol

Dans cette étable, que Jésus est charmant,
Qu’il est aimable dans son abaissement.
Que d’attraits a la fois ! Non, les palais des rois
N’ont rien de comparable aux beautés que je vois
Dans cette étable.

Que sa puissance paraît bien en ce jour,
Malgré l’enfance de ce Dieu plein d’amour!
L’esclave racheté et tout l’enfer dompté
Font voir qu’à sa naissance
rien n’est si redouté
Que sa puissance.

S’il est sensible, ce n’est qu’à nos malheurs;
Le froid horrible ne cause point ses pleurs.
Après tant de bienfaits, notre coeur, aux attraits
D’un amour si visible, se rendra désormais,
S’il est sensible.

Heureux mystère! Jésus souffrant pour nous,
D’un Dieu sévère apaise le courroux.
Pour sauver le pécheur, il naît dans la douleur,

Et sa bonté de père
éclipse sa grandeur.
Heureux mystère!

07. Sant Josep i la Mare de Deu

Catalan traditional carol arr: Père Jorda

Sant Josep i la Mare de Deu
Feren companyia bona
Partiren de Nazareth
Matinet a la bona hora.
Dondorondon
La Mare canta i el fillet dorm.

Fan a peu tot el cami
Reposant hi alguna estona
Quan arriben a Betlem
Ja tot om tanca les portes.
Dondorondon
la Mare canta i el fillet dorm.

 
No han trobat posada en lloc
Per quel els veuren massa pobres
S’en van a un barraconet
Fet de joncs i fet de boga.
Dondorondon
La Mare canta i el fillet dorm.
 
Sant Josep va a cercar foc
Pels voltants d’allai no en troba
Mentre ell es a cercar foc
Jesus neix dintre la cova.
Dondorondon
La Mare canta i el fillet dorm.
09. A spotless Rose

Herbert Howells
20th century melody; 14th century words

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.

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.

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.

11. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

English traditional carol arr: Sir David Willcocks

God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born upon this day
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray:

O tidings of comfort and joy! (x2)

From God our heav’nly Father a blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same

How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name:

O tidings of comfort and joy! (x2)

The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest storm and wind

And went to Bethlehem straightaway this blessed babe to find:

O tidings of comfort and joy! (x2)

But when to Bethlehem they came whereat this infant lay
They found him in a manger where oxen feed on hay
His mother Mary, kneeling, unto the Lord did pray:

O tidings of comfort and joy! (x2)

Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace

This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface:

O tidings of comfort and joy! (x2)

13. Riu, riu, chiu

16th century Spanish villancico

Estribillo (chorus):
Riu, riu, chiu, la garda ribera
Dios guardo el lobo de nuestra cordera
Dios guardo el lobo de nuestra cordera

El lobo rabioso, la quiso morder
Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender;
Quisole hazer que no pudiesse pecar

Ni aun original esta Virgen no tuviera.
Estribillo

Este qu’es nacido es el gran monarca
Christo patriarca de carne vestido;
Hanos radimido con se hazer chiquito:

Aunqu’era infinito, finito se hiziera.
Estribillo

Muchas profeçias lo han profetizado;
Y aun en nuestros dias lo hemos alcançado.

A Dios humanado vemos en el suelo

Y al hombre en el cielo porque el le quisiera.
Estribillo

Yo vi mil garçones que andavan cantando
Por aqui bolando haziendo mil sones,

Diziendo a gascones: “Gloria sea en el çielo

Y paz en el suelo, pues Jesus nasçiera.”
Estribillo

Este viene a dar a los muertos vida
Y viene a reparar de todos la caida.

Es la Luz del Dia Aqueste moçuelo
Este es el Cordero que San Juan dixera.
Estribillo

Mira bien que os quadre, que ansina looyera:
Que Dios no pudiera Hasxerla mas que madre;

El que era su Padre oy della nasçio
Y el que la crio su hijo se dixera.
Estribillo

Pues que ya tenemos lo que desseamos,
Todos juntos vamos, resentes llevemos;

Todos le daremos nuestra voluntad,
Pues a se igualar con el hombre viniera.
Estribillo

15. Past three a clock

English traditional carol arr: Charles Wood

Chorus:
Past three a clock and a cold and frosty morning
Past three a clock, Good morrow, masters all!

Born is a baby, Gentle as may be,
Son of th’ eternal Father supernal.

Chorus
 
Seraph quire singeth, Angel bell ringeth:
Hark how they rime it, Time it, and chime it.
Chorus
 
Mid earth rejoices hearing such voices
Ne’ertofore so well carolling Nowell.
Chorus
 
Light out of star-land, leadeth from far land
Princes, to meet him, worship and greet him.
Chorus
 
Myrrh from full coffer, incense they offer:
Nor is the golden nugget withholden.
Chorus
 
Thus they: I pray you, up, sirs, nor stay you
Till ye confess him, likewise, and bless him.
Chorus
17. Deck the Halls

Welsh traditional carol

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la…
‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la….
Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la….

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la….

See the blazing Yule before us, Fa la la….
Strike the harp and join the chorus, Fa la la….
Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la….

While I tell of Yuletide treasure, Fa la la….

Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la….
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, Fa la la….

Sing we joyous all together, Fa la la….

Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa la la….

19. Good King Wenceslas

14th century traditional carol arr: A. Parker/R. Shaw

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen.
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel.

When a poor man came in sight, Gath’ring winter fuel.

‘Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know’st it, telling.
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?’

‘Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence by Saint Agnes’ fountain.’

‘Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither.
Thou and I will see him dine when we bear them thither.‘

Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together

Through the rude wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.

‘Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger.
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer.’

‘Mark my footsteps, good my page, tread now in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage freeze thy blood less coldly.’

In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted.
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.

Therefore, Christian men be sure, wealth or rank possessing

Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing!

21. Mary walked through a wood of thorn

Philip Radcliffe

Mary walked through a wood of thorn ,
Kyrie eleison.
Mary walked through a wood of thorn,

Which seven long years no leaf had borne;

Jesus and Mary.

What bore Mary beneath her heart?
Kyrie eleison.

A little child without any smart

Mary bore beneath her heart,

Jesus and Mary.

Then roses sprang from out the thorn;
Kyrie eleison.

As the Christ child through the wood was born,

Roses sprang from out the thorn;
Jesus and Mary.

23. As I lay upon a night

Words and melody from the Selden M.S. Bodleian Library, Oxford

Chorus:
As I lay upon a night,
For sooth I saw a seemly sight
I beheld a bird so bright,
A child she bare upon her knee.

Her looking was so lovely,
Her semblance was so sweet;

Of all my care and sorrow
She may my balys beat.
Chorus

All by her sat a guardian,
That said all in his saw,

He seemed by his semblance
A man of the old Law.

Chorus

‘Thou wondrest,’ he said solemly ‘
At what thou dost behold,

And so y-wis did I truly;
Til tales were to me told.’

Chorus

25. Jesu Swete

Brian Chapple 20th century melody, 14th century words

Jesu swete, sone dear
On poorful bed liest thou here
And that me grieveth sore

For thy cradle is as a bere

Ox and asse be thy fere

Weep I may therefore.

Jesu swete, be not wroth
Though I n’ave clout ne cloth

Thee on for to folde ne to wrap
For I n’ave clout ne lap
But lay thy feet to my pap

And wite thee from the cold,

And wite thee from the cold.

02. I sing of a maiden

Martin Shaw

I sing of a maiden that is makeless
King of all kings to her son she ches

He came all so still, where his mother was
As dew in April that falleth on the grass

He came all so still, to his mother’s bow’r
As dew in April that falleth on the flower

He came all so still, where his mother lay
As dew in April that falleth on the spray

Mother and maiden was never none but she;
Well may such a lady God’s mother be.

04. Coventry Carol

15th century English carol Modern arrangement by Martin Shaw

chorus:
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child
By by, lully lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day

This poor youngling for whom we do sing
By by lully lullay?

Chorus

Herod, the King in his raging
Charged he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight

All young children to slay.

Chorus

That woe is me poor child for thee!
And ever morn and day
For thy parting neither say
Nor sing
By by, lully lullay!
Chorus

06. Balulalow

Paul Johnson Scottish traditional words

I come from hevin which to tell
The best nowells that e’er befell

To you thir tythings trew I bring

And I will of them say and sing.

This day to you is born ane child
Of Marie meik and Virgin mild

That bliss it bairn bening and kind
Sall you rejoyce baith hart and mind.

Lat us rejoyis and be blyth
And with the Hyrdis go full swyth

And see what God of His grace hes done
Throu Christ to bring us to his throne.

My saull and life stand up and see
Wha lyis in ane cribbe of tree

What Babe is that, sa gude and fair
It is Christ, God’s Son and Air

O my deir hart, yung Jesus sweit
Prepair thy creddill in my spreit

And I sall rock thee in my hart

And never mair fra thee depart.

Bot I sall praise thee evermoir
With sangis sweit unto thy gloir

The kneis of my hart sall I bow

And sing that rycht Balulalow.

08. I saw a swete semly syght

Pierre Massie

I saw a swete semly syght
A blisful birde, a blossom bright

That murnyng made and mirth of mange
Lullaby, lullaby.

A maydin moder, mek and myld
In credil kep a knave child
That softly slepe, softly slepe.

Sho sat and sange lullay, lullow
Sho sat and sange lully, lullay

Baw, baw my barne
slepe softly, softly, softly now.

I saw a swete semly syght
A maydin moder, mek and myld

Lullay, lullow, my barne slepe softly now.

10. Veni, veni, Emmanuel

Plain chant arr: J. Rutter/P. Massie

Veni, veni, Emannuel,
Captivum solve Israel

Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei filio.

Chorus:
Gaude! Gaude! Emannuel
Nascetur pro te Israel.

Veni, O Iesse virgula,
Ex hostis tuos ungula

De specu tuos Tartari
Educ, et antro barathri.

Chorus

Veni, Veni, O Oriens,
Solare nos adveniens:

Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.

Chorus

Veni, clavis Davidica,
Regna re clude caelica

Fac iter tutum superum,
Et claude vias inferum.

Chorus

12. O little town of Bethlehem

English traditional carol arr: H. Walford Davies

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary and gather’d all above.
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.

O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth

And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!

O holy Child of Bethlehem descend to us we pray.
Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell

O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.

14. Carol of the Drum

Katherine K. Davis

Come they told me, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
Our newborn King to see! Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we’ll bring, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

To lay before the King! Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
Rum-pa-pum-pum, Rum-pa-pum-pum
So to honour Him, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
When we come.

Baby Jesus, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
I’m a poor boy, too, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

I have no gift to bring, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
That’s fit to give a King, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum Rum-pa-pum-pum, Rum-pa-pum-pum
Shall I play for you, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

On my drum?

Mary nodded, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
Ox and ass kept time, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
I played my drum for Him, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
I played my best for Him, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
Rum-pa-pum-pum, Rum-pa-pum-pum
Then He smiled at me, Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum!

Me and my drum!

16. Stille Nacht

German traditional carol (v.1) arr: M. Dela (v.2), J. Rutter (v.3)

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht.

Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar,

Holder Knabe im lokkigem Haar

Schlaf in himmlische Ruh,
Schlaf in himmlische Ruh!

O nuit de paix! Sainte nuit!
Dans le ciel l’astre luit,

Dans les champs tout repose en paix,

Mais soudain dans l’air pur et frais

Le brillant choeur des anges

Aux bergers apparait.

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiance beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

18. Pan fo’r stormydd garwa’n curo

Raymond Williams

Pan fo’r stormydd garwa’n curo arglwydd lôr
Tyred a gostega ymchwydd gwyllt y môr

Fel y gallom ninnau uwch terfysgoedd byd

Glywed uwch y tonnau lais dy gariad drud.

Pan fo’r nos heb seren a phob bron yn brudd
Tyred Di â’r awen wna ein nos yn ddydd

Fel y gallom weled lwybrau’r nefoedd wen

A chael nerth i gerdded atat Ti, Amen.

20. Noël de la paix

French 18th century carol arr: Jacques Chailley

O divin Enfançon
Qui vins au monde naître

Pour nulle autre raison
Que pour la paix y mettre.

Refrain:
La paix, c’est toi qui nous la donne
La paix, offerte à tous les hommes
Donne la paix

Ce viellard tout riant
Cette douce Marie

Cet âne patient
Et ce boeuf, tout nous crie:

Refrain

Les anges pour refrain
De leur douce musique

N’ont parmi l’air serein
Que ce cri pacifique:

Refrain

Colombe qui portez
Cette branche d’olive

Vierge, solicitez
Que bientôt nous arrive:
Refrain

22. Joy to the World!

G. F. Handel Words by I. Watts, after Psalm 98

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;

Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,

And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,

And wonders and wonders of His love.

24. Il est né le divin enfant

French traditional carol arr: Pierre Massie

Refrain:
Il est né le divin enfant
Jouez hautbois, resonnez musette!
Il est né le divin enfant
Chantons tous son avenement!

Depuis plus de quatre mille ans
Nous le promettaient les prophètes

Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,

Nous attendions cet heureux temps.

Refrain

Ah! Qu’il est beau, qu’il est charmant!
Ah! Que ses graces sont parfaites!

Ah! Qu’il est beau, qu’il est charmant!

Qu’il est doux ce divin Enfant!

Refrain

Une étable son logement,
Un peu de paille est sa couchette,

Une étable son logement,

Pour un Dieu quel abaissement!

Refrain

26. We wish you a Merry Christmas

English traditional carol
Arr: Sir David Willcocks, for the Stairwell Carollers

We wish you a Merry Christmas,(x3) And a Happy New Year.

Chorus:
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 
Now bring us some figgy pudding,(x3) And bring some out here.
Chorus
 
For we all like figgy pudding,(x3) So bring some out here.
Chorus
 
And we won’t go till we’ve got some,(x3) So bring some out here.
Chorus