Mourning Dove
Our third Christmas CD

Released in October 2003

01. Jesus Christ The Apple Tree

Elizabeth Poston

The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.

His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne’er can tell,
His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne’er can tell,
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

I’m weary with my former toil,
Her I will sit and rest awhile:
I’m weary with my former toil,
Her I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

03. Away In A Manger

arr: John Rutter

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to say
Close by me for ever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

05. Noël c’est l’amour

arr: Pierre Massie

Noël c’est l’amour
Viens chanter toi mon frère
Noël c’est l’amour
C’est un coeur éternel
Du temps de ma mère
Sa voix familière
Chantait douce et claire
Un enfant est né
La voix de ma mère
Amour et prière
La voix de ma mère
Qui m’a tant donné

Des lumières dans la neige
Mille étoiles du berger
Et les hommes en cortège
Vont chanter la joie d’aimer

Noël c’est l’amour
Dans les yeux de l’enfance
Noël c’est l’amour
Le plus beau le plus grand
Un monde commence
D’un peu d’espérance
D’un ange qui danse
Auprès d’un enfant

Noël c’est l’amour
Viens chanter toi mon frère
Noël c’est l’amour
C’est un cour éternel
Reviens moi mon frère
Et vois la lumière
La nuit de lumière
Qui descend du ciel
Et moi sur la terre
J’entends douce et claire
Ta voix ô ma mère
Qui chante Noël, chante Noël

07. London Waits

arr: William Llewellyn

Past three o’clock,
And a cold frosty morning;
Past three o’clock;

Past three o’clock,
And a cold frosty morning;
Past three o’clock,
Good morrow, masters all!
Past three o’clock,
None heeds the watchman’s warning,
London’s asleep, and heeds not my call,
Oh! Oh! London’s asleep, and heeds not my call.

Chorus:
Past three o’clock,
And a cold frosty morning;
Past three o’clock,
Good morrow, masters all!

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

Repeat chorus while singing…
The First Nowell, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay.

Seraph quire singeth,
Angel bell ringeth:
Hark how they rime it,
Time it, and chime it.

Repeat chorus while singing…
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas day in the morning.

Mid earth rejoices,
Hearing such voices
Ne’ertofore so well
Carolling Nowell

Repeat chorus while singing…
A Virgin most pure as the prophets do tell
Hath brought forth a baby as it hath befell.

Light out of starland
Leadeth, from far land
Princes, to meet him,
Worship and greet him.

Repeat chorus while singing…
Good Kind Wenceslaus looked out
On the Feast of Stephen.

Thus they: I pray you,
Up, sirs, nor stay you
Till ye confess him
Likewise, and bless him.

Repeat chorus

Past three o’clock;
And a cold frosty morning;
Oh! London’s asleep, and heeds not my call.

09. Mary’s Lullaby

John Rutter

See the child that Mary bore
On her lap so softly sleeping:
In a stable cold and poor,
Ox and ass their vigil keeping.

Chorus:
Sing lullaby, sing lullaby,
My own dear son, my child;
Lullaby, sing lullaby;
Lullaby, my little baby.

Flights of angels round his head
Sing him joyful hymns of greeting:
Peace on earth, goodwill to men.
Each to each the song repeating.

Chorus

Shepherds kneeling by his bed
Offer homage without measure;
Wise men, by a bright star led,
Bring him gifts of richest treasure.

Chorus

11. L’annonciation de L’ange Gabriel

Peter Phillips
arr: Lionel Pike

Seigneur envoyés ça bas
Le soulas,
Le Messie et nostre Père,
Faites la rédemption
En Sion,
Et la rendez tout’ entière.

Ie vous saluë humblement
Richement
Vierge de grace remplie,
Avec vous est le Seigneur
De bon heur
Sur toutes femmes bénies.

MARIE vous vous troublez,
Vous craindez;
Ie voy changer vostre face:
N’ayez, Vierge, n’ayez peur,
Du Seigneur
Vous avex gaigné la grace.

Et voicy qu’en vostre flanc
Un enfant
Conceurez, et serez Mère,
Il est arresté là-sus
Que Iesus.
Il soit dit par grand mystère.

13. Deck The Hall

arr: John Rutter

Deck the hall with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel
, Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Christmas carol,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Repeat verse one

See the flowing bowl before us,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
While I sing of beauty’s treasure,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lassies,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Laughing, quaffing all together,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

15. Mourning Dove

Pierre Massie

Coldest night, winter’s night,
Lonely star a guiding light,
Quiet night, silent night,
Manger softly glowing bright, glowing bright

Beneath the sky, was born to die,
For people poor as you and I,
The curse retrieve, a ghost conceived,
The child in Mary’s arms received

Coldest Night, winter’s night,
Lonely star a guiding light.

A child is born of Jesse’s thorn,
To save us all the were forlorn.
The angels say, where Jesus lay
In manger babe all wrapped in hay.

Cold wind blow, snow on snow,
In a cradle long ago.
Little child, meek and mild,
Virgin sings a lulaby

The angels bright, appeared in light,
To say the son is born this night.
Humility, felicity,
With sorrow sadness, joyful gladness,
Mourning dove, high above,
Singing praises of God’s love.
Little child, meek and mild,
Sweetly, silent, softly, baby sleep!

17. Quelle est cette odeur

arr: Sir David Willcocks

Quelle est cette odeur agréable,
Bergers qui ravit tous nos sens?
S’exhale t’il rien de semblable
Au milieu des fleurs du printemps?
Quelle est cette odeur agréable
Bergers qui ravit tous nos sens?

Mais quelle éclatante lumière
Dans la nuit vient frapper nos yeux!
L’astre de jour, dans sa carrière,
Fût-il jamais si radieux?
Mais quelle éclatante lumière
Dans la nuit vient frapper nos yeux.!

A Bethléhem, dans une crèche,
Il vient de vous naître-un Sauveur;
Allons, que rien ne vous empêche
D’adorer votre Rédempteur.
A Bethléhem, dans une crèche,
Il vient de vous naître-un Sauveur.

Dieu tout puissant, gloire éternelle
Vous soit rendue jus-qu’aux cieux.;
Que la paix soit universelle
que la grâce abonde en tous lieux.
Dieu tout puissant, gloire éternelle
Vous soit rendue jus-qu’aux cieux.

19. Wexford Carol

arr: John Rutter

Good people all, this Christmas-time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass;
From every door repelled alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but an humble ox’s stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God’s angels did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
‘Prepare and go.’ the angels said.
‘To Bethlehem, be not afraid;
For there you’ll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.’

With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God’s angel had foretold,
They did our saviour Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.

Good people all, this Christmas-time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.

21. Dors ma colombe

arr: Pierre Massie

Dors ma colombe, dors le soir tombe
Chante la vierge à l’enfant Dieu
Dors moi je veille. Quand on sommeille
On voit s’ouvrir le grand ciel bleu
Chantez beaux anges, bercez l’enfant
Qui dans ses langes, rit en rêvant.
Chantez beaux anges, bercez en choeur
Sous vos louanges, l’enfant vainqueur.

Dors ! l’humble étable, est charitable
Et t’offre un nid dont j’ai bien soin.
La nuit est fraîche, mais dans la crèche
Comme on a chaud parmi le foin !
Chantez beaux anges, bercez l’enfant
Qui dans ses langes, rit en rêvant
Chantez beaux anges, bercez en choeur
Sous vos louanges, l’enfant vainqueur.

23. Salve Puerule

M.A. Charpentier

Salve puerule,
Salve te nellule,
O nate parvule quam nobus es;
O nate parvule quam nobus es;
Tu cealum deferis,
Tu mundo nasceris,
Nobis te ut miseris assimiles;
Nobis te ut miseris assimiles.

O suma bonitas!
Excelsa deitas
Vilis humanitas fit hodie,
Vilis humanitas fit hodie,
Aeternus nascitur
Immensus capitur
Et rei tegitur sub specie,
Et rei tegitur sub specie.

02. Personent hodie

arr: Pierre Massie

Personent hodie
Voces puerulae,
Laudantes iucunde
Qui nobis est natus,
Summo Deo datus,
Et de vir vir vir,
Et de vir vir vir,
Et de virgineo ventre procreatus.

In mundo nascitur,
Pannis involvitur,
Praesepi ponitur
Stabulo brutorum,
Recto supernorum,
Perdidit, dit, dit,
Perdidit, dit, dit,
Perdidit spolia princeps infernorum

Magi tres venerunt;
Munera offerunt;
Parvulum inquirunt,
Stellulam sequendo,
Ipsum adorando,
Aurum thus, thus, thus,
Aurum thus, thus, thus,
Aurum thus et myrrham ei offerendo

Omnes clericuli,
Pariter pueri,
Cantent ut angeli:
Advenisti mundo,
Laudes tibi fundo.
Ideo, o, o,
Ideo, o, o,
Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!

04. The Infant King

arr: Sir David Willcocks

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now reclining,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Angels are watching, stars are shining
Over the place where he is lying:
Sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now asleeping,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Soon will come sorrow with the morning,
Soon will come bitter grief and weeping:
Sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now adozing,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Soon comes the cross, the nails, the piercing,
Then in the grave at last reposing:
Sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
Lullaby is the babe awaking?
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not stir the Infant King.
Dreaming of Easter, gladsome, morning,
Conquering death, its bondage breaking:
Sing lullaby!

06. I Wonder as I Wander

arr: John Rutter

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus, the Savior, did come for to die.
For poor ornery people like you and like I.:
I wonder as I wander, Out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus, ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wisemen and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing:
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing;
Or all of God’s angels in heaven to sing,
He surely could have it, ‘Cause he was the King.

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus, the Savior, did come for to die.
For poor ornery people like you and like I.:
I wonder as I wander, Out under the sky.

08. El noi de la mare

arr: Enrique Ribo

Qué li darem an el Noi de la Mare?
Qué li darem que li sàpiga bo?
Panses I figues I nous I olives
Panses I figues I mel I mató

Qué li darem al fillet de Maria?
Qué li darem al formos infanto?
Li darem panses amb unes balances
Li darem figues amb un panero

Tam pa tam tam que les figues són verdes
Tam pa tam tam que ja maduraran’
Si no maduran el dia de Pasqua
Maduraran el en dia del Ram

 

10. Once As I Remember

arr: Charles Wood

Once, as I remember
At the time of Yule,
After mid December,
When it bloweth cool,
I o’erheard a Mother
Was a singing ‘Sweet Jesu,
Lalullaylu, Lalullayly, Lalullaylu, Lullay lalu.’

Near as man was able,
On my knee fell I,
In the Bethlem stable
Where the babe did lie,
And the Virgin mother
Was a singing ‘Sweet Jesu,
Lalullaylu, Lalullayly, Lalullaylu, Lullay lalu.’

Ox and ass around him,
Courtier like, did stand:
Fair white linen bound him,
Spun by Mary’s hand,
White the Virgin mother
Was a singing ‘Sweet Jesu,
Lalullaylu, Lalullayly, Lalullaylu, Lullay lalu.’

Ev’r among and o’er us
Angelquire ‘gan sing
Antiphons in chorus
To the newborn King.
Then the Virgin mother
Fell a singing ‘Sweet Jesu,
Lalullaylu, Lalullayly, Lalullaylu, Lullay lalu.’

12. Ubi Caritas

Maurice Duruflé

Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor
Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur
Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero

14. Quem pastores laudavere

arr: John Rutter

Quem pastores laudavere,
Quibus angeli dixere,
Absit vobis iam timere,
Natus est rex gloriae.

Ad quem magi ambulabant,
Aurum, thus, myrrham portabant,
Immolabant haec sincere
Nato regi gloriae.

Christo regi, Deo nato,
Per Mariam nobis dato,
Merito resonet vere
Laus, honor et gloria, et gloria.

16. Blessed be That Maid Mary

arr: Sir David Willcocks

Blessed be that Maid Mary;
Born He was of her body;
Very God ere time began
Born in time the Son of Man.

Chorus:
Eya! Jesus hodie
Natus est de Virgine.

In a manger of an ass
Jesu lay and lulled was;
Born to die upon the Tree
Pro peccante homine.

Chorus

Sweet and blissful was the song
Chanted of the angel throng:
“Peace on earth,” alleluia,
“In excelsis gloria!”

Chorus

Fare three kings from far-off land,
Incense, gold and myrrh in hand;
In Bethlehem the Babe they see,
Staellae ducti lumine.

Chorus

Make we merry on this fest,
In quo Christus natus est;
On this Child, I pray you, call
To assoil and save us all.

Chorus

18. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day

arr: Sir David Willcocks

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance:

Chorus:
Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love

Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man’s nature
To call my true love to my dance:

Chorus

In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance:

Chorus

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance:

Chorus

20. What Child is This

arr: John Rutter

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

22. I Saw a Fair Maiden

Peter Warlock

I saw a fair maiden
Sitten and sing:
She lulled a little child,
A sweetë lording.

Chorus:
Lullay mine liking,
My dear son, mine sweeting;
Lullay my dear heart,
Mine own dear darling.

That same lord is He
That made allë thing;
Of allë lordis He is lord
Of allë kingës king.

Chorus

There was mickle melody
At that childës birth:
All that were in Heaven’s bliss
They made mickle mirth.

Chorus

Angelys bright they sung that night
And saiden to that child,
“Blessed be thou and so be she
That is both meek and mild.”

Chorus

Pray we now to that Child,
And to His mother dear,
Grant them His blessing
That now maken cheer.

Chorus

24. The Gloucester Wassail

arr: R. Vaughan Williams

Wassail! Wassail! all over the town,
Our bread it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the green maple tree;
In the Wassail bowl, we’ll drink unto thee.

Here’s a health to the ox and to his right eye,
Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie,
A good Christmas pie as e’er I did see,
In the Wassail bowl, we’ll drink unto thee.

Here’s a health to the ox and to his right horn,
Pray God send our master a good crop of corn
A good crop of corn as e’er I did see,
In the Wassail bowl, we’ll drink unto thee.

Here’s a health to the ox and his long tail,
(Wassail! all over the town!)
Pray God send our master a good cask of ale,
(Wassail! all over the town!)
A good cask of ale as e’er I did see,
In the Wassail bowl, we’ll drink unto thee.

Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best
Then I pray that your soul in heaven may rest
But if you do bring us a bowl of the small
May the Devil take butler, bowl and all.

Then here’s to the maid in the lily white smock
Who tripp’d to the door and slipp’d back the lock
Who tripp’d to the door and pull’d back the pin
For to let these jolly Wassailers in.