01. Carol of the Bells
Ukrainian Carol
Peter Wilhousky
Hark! How the bells; Sweet silver bells,
All seem to say “Throw cares away”.
Christmas is here, Bringing good cheer
To young and old, Meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong, That is their song,
With joyful ring, All caroling.
One seems to hear, Words of good cheer,
From ev’rywhere, Filling the air
O, how they pound, Raising the sound,
O’er hill and dale, Telling their tale,
Gayly they ring, While people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here!
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!
On, on they send, On without end
Their joyful tone, To every home
03. Les anges dans nos campagnes
French Traditional Carol
Les anges dans nos campagnes
Ont entonné l’hymne des cieux,
Et l’écho de nos montagnes
Redit ce chant mélodieux
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Bergers, pour qui cette fête?
Quel est l’objet de tous ces chants?
Quel vainqueur, quelle conquête
Mérite ces cris triomphants?
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Ils annoncent la naissance
Du libérateur d’Israël,
Et pleins de reconnaissance
Chantent en ce jour solennel.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
05. The Holly and the Ivy
English traditional carol
arranged by Walford Davies
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown;
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
the holly bears the crown.
Chorus:
O the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer;
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as any flower;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour.
Chorus
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To do poor sinners good.
Chorus
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas in the morn.
Chorus
The holly bears a bark,
As bitt’r as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
For to redeem us all.
Chorus
07. 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
Canadian Traditonal Melody
arranged by John Rutter
‘Twas in the moon of winter time,
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wond’ring hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your king is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped his beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus your king is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
Estennialon de tsonoue Iesous ahatonnia
Onnaouateoua d’oki n’onouandaskouaentak
Ennonchien skouatrihotat n’onouandilonrachatha
Iesous Iesous Iesous ahatonnia
09. Lute-book Lullaby
William Ballet
arranged by Geoffrey Shaw
Sweet was the song the Virgin sang,
When she to Bethlem Juda came
And was delivered of a son,
That blessed Jesus hath to name:
“Lulla, lulla, lulla, lullaby,
Lulla, lulla, lulla, lullaby
Sweet babe, sang she, my son,
And eke a Saviour born,
Who hast vouchsafed from on high
To visit us that were forlorn:
Lalula, lalula, lalulaby
Sweet babe, sang she,
And rocked him sweetly on her knee.
11. Away in a Manger
W.J. Kirkpatrick
arranged by William Llewellyn
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The starts 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 cradle til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with thee there
13. There is a Flower
John Rutter
There is a flow’r sprung of a tree,
The root thereof is callèd Jesse,
A flow’r of price; There is none such in paradise.
This flow’r is fair and fresh of hue,
It fadeth never, but ever is new;
The blessed branch this flow’r on grew
Was Mary mild that bare Jesu;
A flow’r of grace; Against all sorrow it is solace.
The seed hereof was Goddes sand,
That God himself sowed with his hand,
In Nazareth that holy land,
Amidst her arbour a maiden found;
This blessed flow’r, sprang never but in Mary’s bower.
When Gabriel this maid did meet,
With ‘Ave Maria’ he did her greet;
Between them two this flow’r was set
And safe was kept, no man should wit,
Till on a day, in Bethlem it could spread and spray.
When that fair flow’r began to spread
And his sweet blossom began to bed,
Then rich and poor of ev’ry land
They marvelled how this flow’r might spread
Till kinges three, that blessed flower came to see.
Angels there came from heaven’s tower
To look upon this freshele flow’r,
How fair he was in his colour
And how sweet in his savour;
And to be hold, how such a flow’r might spring in gold.
There is a flow’r sprung of a tree,
The root thereof is callèd Jesse,
A flow’r of price;
There is none such in Paradise.
15. Quittez pasteurs
French traditional carol
arranged by John Rutter
Quittez, pasteurs,
Vos brebis, vos houlettes,
Votre hameau
Et le soin du troupeau;
Changez vos pleurs
En une joie parfaite,
Allez tous adorer
Un Dieu, un Dieu, un Dieu qui vient vous consoler;
Un Dieu, un Dieu, un Dieu qui vient vous consoler.
Vous le verrez
Couché dans une étable,
Comme un enfant
Nu, pauvre languissant;
Reconnaissez
Son amour ineffable
Pour nous venir chercher.
Il est, il est, il est le fidèle berger;
Il est, il est, il est le fidèle berger.
Rois d’Orient
L’étoile vous éclaire;
A ce grand roi
Rendez hommage et foi.
L’astre brillant
Vous mène à la lumière
De ce soleil naissant.
Offrez, offrez, offrez l’or, la myrrhe et l’encens;
Offrez, offrez, offrez l’or, la myrrhe et l’encens.
Esprit divin
À qui tout est possible,
Percez nos coeurs
De vos douces ardeurs;
Notre destin
Par vous devient paisible;
Dieu prétend nous donner
Le ciel, le ciel, le ciel en venant s’incarner;
Le ciel, le ciel, le ciel en venant s’incarner.
17. Sans Day Carol
Cornish traditional carol
Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,
And Mary bore Jesus, who was wrapped up in silk:
Chorus:
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the green wood, it was the holly.
Holly, holly!
And the first tree in the green wood, it was the holly!
Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross:
Chorus
Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all:
Chorus
Now the holly bears a berry, as blood is it red,
Then trust we our Saviour, who rose from the dead:
Chorus
19. Ding Dong Merrily on High
French 16th century melody
arranged by Charles Wood
Ding dong! merrily on high in heav’n the bells are ringing.
Ding dong! verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,
And i-o, i-o, i-o, by priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
21. O Tannenbaum
German traditional carol
Arranged by John Rutter
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
how faithfully you blossom!
Through summer’s heat and winter’s chill
Your leaves are green and blooming still.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
how faithfully you blossom!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
with what delight I see you!
When winter days are dark and drear
You bring us hope for all the year.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
with what delight I see you!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
you bear a joyful message:
That faith and hope shall ever bloom
To bring us light in winter’s gloom.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
you bear a joyful message.
23. Ein Kind Geborn
German 16th century carol
Ein kind geborn in Bethlehem,
Alleluia;
Des freuet sich Jerusalem,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Hier liegt es in dem Krippelein,
Alleluia;
Ohn’ende ist die Herr schaft sein,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gelobt seist du, Herr Jesu Christ,
Alleluia;
Der du als Mensch geboren bist,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
25. Un flambeau Jeannette, Isabelle
French traditional carol
arranged by John Rutter
Un flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle,
Un flambeau, courons au berceau!
C’est Jésus, bonnes gens du hameau,
Le Christ est né, Marie appelle,
Ah! ah! que la mère est belle,
Ah! ah! que l’Enfant est beau!
C’est un tort quand l’Enfant sommeille,
C’est un tort de crier si fort.
Taisez-vous, l’un et l’autre d’abord!
Au moindre bruit, Jésus, s’éveille.
Chut! chut! chut! il dort a merveille,
Chut! chut! chut! voyez comme il dort!
Doucement dans l’étable close,
Doucement, venez un moment!
Approchez, que Jésus est charmant!
Comme il est blanc, comme il est rose!
Do! Do! que l’Enfant repose!
Do! Do! Do! qu’il rit en dormant!
27. Somerset Wassail
English traditional carol
arranged by John Rutter
Wassail and wassail, all over the town!
The cup it is white and the ale it is brown;
The cup it is made of the good ashen tree,
And so is the malt of the best barley:
For it’s your wassail, and it’s our wassail,
And it’s joy be to you, and a jolly wassail!
O master and mistress, are you all within?
Pray open the door and let us come in;
O master and mistress a sitting by the fire,
Pray think upon poor trav’llers, a trav’lling in the mire:
For it’s your wassail, and it’s our wassail,
And it’s joy be to you, and a jolly wassail!
O where is the maid with the silver headed pin,
To open the door, and let us come in?
O master and mistress, it is our desire
A good loaf and cheese, and a toast by the fire:
For it’s your wassail, and it’s our wassail,
And it’s joy be to you, and a jolly wassail!
The girt dog of Langport he burnt his long tail,
And this is the night we go singing wassail:
O master and mistress, now we must be gone;
God bless all in this house till we do come again:
For it’s your wassail, and it’s our wassail,
And it’s joy be to you, and a jolly wassail!
And it’s joy be to you …. a jolly Wassail!
02, Adam Lay Ybounden
Boris Ord
Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter
Thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple,
An apple that he took,
As clerkes finden
Written in their book.
Ne had the apple taken been,
The apple taken been,
Ne had never our lady
Abeen heavené queen.
Blessed be the time
That apple taken was,
Therefore we moun singen,
Deo gracias, Deo gracias, Deo gracias!
04. O little town of Bethlehem
English traditional carol
O little town of Bethlehem!
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in they 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 sins, 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!
06. Du Noël(2)
Anonymous
Graces au petit IESUS qui dela sus
A bien daigné venir ça bas
Rendre la vié
A nous ravie par son trespas.
Refrain:
Noé, Noé, Noé trois fois,
Resiouyssance, par la naissance
Du Roy des Roys.
Noé, Noé, Noé trois fois,
Resiouyssance, par la naissance
Du Roy des Roys.
Les messagers du Roy des cieux
A qui mieux mieux
Chantons un doux hymne de paix
Portent la grace
A nostre race
De ses mesfaictes
Refrain
Que n’ayie d’aisles pour voler
Comme eux par l’air
Pour porter par terre et par mers
Ceste nouvelle
Qui renouvelle
Tout l’Univers.
Refrain
08. Dans le silence de la nuit
French Traditional Carol
Dans le silence de la nuit.
Un Sauveur pour nous vient de naître;
Quoi que dans un sombre réduit,
Vous ne pouvez le méconnaître.
Refrain:
L’Enfant, des enfants le plus beau,
vous appelle avec allégresse.
A son berceau. A son berceau.
Portez les dons de la tendresse.
A son berceau. A son berceau.
Portez les dons de la tendresse.
Pour le salut du genre humain,
Il nait d’une Vierge féconde;
L’effet de son pouvoir divin
Est de donner la vie au monde.
Refrain
Unissons-nous en ce grand jour;
Offrons au Souverain des anges
Le pur encens de notre amour,
L’humble tribut de nos louanges.
Refrain
10. Venezuelan Carol
Venezuelan Traditional Carol
Adorar al niño
Corremos pastores,
Adorar al niño
Corremos pastores,
Que est en el portal
Llevemosle flores,
Que est en el portal
Llevemosle flores.
Adoro el misterio
De la Trinidad,
Adoro el misterio
De la Trinidad,
Que son tres personas
Y es un Dios no más,
Que son tres personas
Y es un Dios no más.
Una palomita
Annunció a Maria
Una palomita
Annunció a Maria
Que en su seno santo
El encarnaría
Que en su seno santo
El encarnaría.
12. Noël nouvelet
French Traditional Carol
arranged by J.Rutter/P. Massie
Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici.
Dévotes gens, crions à Dieu merci!
Chantons Noël, pour le roi nouvelet.
Noël nouvelet. Noël chantons ici.
L’ange disait: “Pasteurs, partez d’ici.
L’âme en repos et le coeur réjoui;
En Bethléem trouverez l’agnelet.
Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici.
En Bethléem étant tous réunis.
Trouvent l’enfant, Joseph, Marie aussi.
La crèche était au lieu d’un bercelet,
Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici.
Bientôt les rois, par l’étoile éclaircis
De l’Orient dont ils étaient sortis
A Bethléem vinrent un matinet
Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici
Voici mon Dieu, mon Sauveur Jésus Christ,
Par qui sera le prodige accompli
De nous sauver par son sang vermeillet!
Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici
Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici.
14. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Mendelssohn
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born king.
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled”.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born king”.
Christ, by highest heav’n adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord.
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’Incarnate Deity;
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born king”.
Hail the heav’n born prince of peace,
Hail the sun of righteousness.
Light and life to all, He brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born king”.
16. How Far is it to Bethlehem
English traditional melody
arranged by David Willcocks
How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far.
Shall we find the stable room lit by a star?
Can we see the little child, is he within?
If we lift the wooden latch may we go in?
May we stroke the creatures there, ox, ass, or sheep?
May we peep like them and see Jesus asleep?
If we touch his tiny hand will he awake?
Will he know we’ve come so far just for his sake?
Great kings have precious gifts, and we have naught,
Little smiles and little tears are all we brought.
For all weary children Mary must weep.
Here on his bed of straw sleep, children, sleep.
God in his mother’s arms, babes in the byre,
Sleep, as they sleep who find their heart’s desire.
18. Qui creavit celum
Pierre Massie
Qui creavit celum,
Nascitur in stabulo,
Rex qui regit seculum,
Lully, lully, lu
Inter animalia,
Iacent mundi gaudia
Dulcis super omnia
Lully, lully, lu
Lactat mater Domini,
Osculatur parvulum,
Et adorat Dominum,
Lully, lully, lu
Roga, mater, filium,
Ut det nobis gaudium,
In perenni gloria,
Lully, lully, lu
20. Entre le boeuf et l'âne
French traditional carol
Entre le boeuf et l’âne gris,
Dort, dort, dort le petit fils,
Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,
Volent alentour de ce grand Dieu d’amour.
Entre les roses et les lis,
Dort, dort, dort le petit fils,
Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,
Volent alentour de ce grand dieu d’amour.
Entre les pastoureaux jolis,
Dort, dort, dort le petit fils,
Mille anges divins, mille séraphins
Volent alentour de ce grand dieu d’amour
22. Patapan
Provençal traditional carol
Guillô, prand ton tamborin!
Toi, pran tai fleûte, Robin!
Au son de cés instruman:
Turelurelu! patapatapan!
Au son de cés instruman
Je diron, Noei gaiman!
C’étó lai môde autre foi
De loüé le Roi dé Roi.
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu! patapatapan!
Au son de cés instruman
Ai nos an fau faire autan.
Ce jor le Diale at ai cu,
Randons an graice ai Jésu
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu! patapatapan!
Au son de cés instruman
Fezon lai nique ai satan
L’homme et Dei son pu d’aicor
Que lai fleûte et le tambor.
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu! patapatapan!
Au son de cés instruman
Chanton, danson, sautons-an
24. The Lamb
John Tavener
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee;
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and he is mild.
He became a little child.
I, a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little lamb, God bless thee!
Little lamb, God bless thee!
26. All and Some
Anonymous
Chorus:
Nowell sing we, both all and some.
Now Rex pacificus is ycome.
Exortum est in love and lysse.
Now Christ his gree he gan us gysse.
And with his body us brought to bliss.
Both all and some, both all and some.
Chorus
De fructu ventris of Mary bright.
Both God and man in her alight.
Out of disease he did us dight:
Both all and some, both all and some.
Chorus
Puer natus to us was sent.
To bliss us bought, fro bale us blent.
And else to woe we had ywent:
Both all and some, both all and some.
Chorus
Lux fulgebit with love and light.
In Mary mild his pennon pight.
In her took kind with manly might:
Both all and some, both all and some.
Chorus