arr/harm: Pierre Massie

Refrain

Nouvelle agréable
Un Sauveur Enfant nous est né
C’est dans une étable
Qu’il nous est donné.

Dans cette nuit le Christ est né
C’est pour nous qu’il s’est incarné
Venez pasteurs offrir vos coeurs
Aimez cet enfant tout aimable.

Refrain

Chrétiens, cet enfant plein d’appas
Vous appelle, hâtez vos pas
Allez à lui puisqu’aujourd’hui
Il tend une main secourable.

Refrain

arr/harm: A.H. Mann/D. Willcocks

Once in royal David’s city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on,
To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him, but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars
His children crowned,
All in white shall be around.

Old Basque Noël

I saw a maiden sitten and sing:
she lulled a child, a sweete Lording.

Refrain
Lullay, lullay, my dear son, my sweeting.
Lullay, lullay, my dear heart, my own dear darling.

This very Lord he made alle thing;
of lordes the Lord, of kinges the King.

Refrain

Angels sang that night and saiden to that child:
now blest be thou and she, both meek and mild.

Refrain

Pray we to that child and to his mother dear,
His blessing to them that maken now cheer.

Refrain

arr/harm: John Rutter

Still, still, still,
Weils Kindlein schlafen will.
Maria tut’s zur Ruhe bringen,
Und ihm Schlummert Liedlein singen.
Still, still, still,
Weils Kindlein schlafen will.

Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf,
Mein liebes Kindlein schlaf!
Die Engel tun schön musizieren
Vor dem Kindlein jubilieren.
Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf,
Mein liebes Kindlein schlaf!

Groß, groß, groß
Die Lieb ist übergroß!
Gott hat den Himmelsthron verlassen
Und muss reisen auf der Straßen.
Groß, groß, groß
Die Lieb’ ist übergroß.
Vor dem Kindlein jubilieren

arr/harm: Pierre Massie

We’ve been a mile a wandering
Among the fields so free,
But now we come a wassailing
so plainly to be seen

Refrain
Ah! ‘Tis Christmas time
and we’ve travelled far and near
May God bless you and send you
A happy new year.

Refrain

We are not daily beggars
That go from door to door,
We are your neighbour’s children
Whom you have seen before

Refrain

God bless the master of this house
The mistress also
And all the little children
That round the table go

Refrain

arr/harm: Sir David Willcocks

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 him 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 thou 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

arr/harm: Charles Wood

A virgin most pure, as the Prophets do tell,
Hath brought forth a baby, as it hath befell,
To be our Redeemer from death, hell and sin,
Which Adam’s transgression had wrapped us in.

Refrain
Aye, and therefore be merry,
Rejoice and be you merry,
Set sorrow aside;
Christ Jesus our Savior was born at this tide.

Refrain

In Bethlehem Jewry a City there was
Where Joseph and Mary together did pass,
And there to be taxed, with many one mo,
For Cæsar commanded the same should be so.

Refrain

But, when they had entered the city so fair
A number of people so mighty was there,
That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could find in the Inn there no lodging at all.

Refrain

Then were they constrained in a stable to lie,
Where horses and asses they used for to tie;
Their lodging so simple they took it no scorn,
But against the next morning our Saviour was born.

Refrain

arr/harm: Pierre Massie

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
In Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

Refrain

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.

Refrain

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.

Refrain (2)

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary.

John Tavener

To my beloved, who breaks my heart.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
Do you listen within your veil, silent, God-quickened heart?
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
O depth and stillness of virginity! Follow your man.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
Like a spring cloud, let her now tenderly spread her bridal veil.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
O, like Leto giving birth to Apollo,
Do you listen within your veil?
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
She clasped the ethereal palm tree on Delos,
Like a spring cloud.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
May you her mystical image…
O the peace of the bridal dawn.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
Held by your husband’s strong heart,
And he listens.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
Bring into the world with a single cry your child,
As the poet brings forth his creation.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.
O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with child.

Arr: A. Carter/Sir David Willcocks/Pierre Massie

Angelus ad Virginem subintrans in conclave
Virginis formidinem demulcens inquit, »Ave! »
Ave, Regina virginum, coeli terraeque Dominum
concipies et paries intacta salutem hominum,
tu porta coeli facta medela criminum.

Quomodo conciperem quae virum non cognovi?
Qualiter infringerem quod firma mente vovi?
Spiritus Sancti gratia perficiet haec omnia;
ne timeas, sed gaudeas, secura quod castimonia
manebit in te pura Dei potentia.

Ad haec virgo nobilis respondens inquit ei:
« Ancilla sum humilis omnipotentis Dei.
Tibi coelesti nuntio, tanti secreti conscio
consentiens et cupiens videre factum quod audio;
parata sum parere Dei consilio. »

Eia Mater Domini, quae pacem reddidisti
Angelis et homini, cum Christum genuisti:
tuum exora Filium ut se nobis propitium
exhibeat et deleat peccata: praestans auxilium
vita frui beata post hoc exsilium.
Deo Gratias!

Arr: A. Carter; a cappella Pierre Massie

A maiden most gentle and tender we sing
Of Mary the mother of Jesus our King
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

How bless’d is the birth of her heavenly child
Who came to redeem us in Mary so mild
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

The archangel Gabriel foretold by his call
The Lord of creation and Saviour of all
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

Three kings came to worship with gifts rich and rare
And marvelled in awe at the babe in her care
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

Rejoice and be glad at this Christmas we pray;
Sing praise to the Saviour, sing endless « Ave ».
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

Eng trad. anglais

The holly and the ivy,
Now both are full well grown.
Of all the trees within the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
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.
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 berry,
As red as any blood.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To do poor sinners good.
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 prickle,
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
On Christmas in the morn.
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.