Twelve Day of Christmas

The Epiphany - The Three Kings

 - Drie Koningen zagen een sterre

 - Drie koningen, drie koningen geef mij een nieuwe hoed

Epiphany is the Christian holiday that celebrates the biblical story of the Three Kings from the east. They follow the star to Bethlehem and find the baby Jesus there. In the Netherlands there are songs sung on the Epiphany by children dressed as the Three Kings: Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior. The children traditionally go door to door, sing a song at each house and in return receive something tasty, or even some money. The centuries-old tradition still exists, although there are not nearly as many children as in the past who make the Epiphany procession, in the dark, with a homemade lantern, walking through the streets in the evening, singing.

Here are two Dutch songs sung on the Epiphany . . . 

Er kwamen drie koningen met ene ster

    Three kings came with a star

Zij kwamen van bij en zij kwamen van ver

    They came from near and they came from far

Zij kwamen de hoge berg opgegaan

    They came up the high mountain

Zij vonden de sterre daar stille staan

    They found the star standing there still

Wel sterre, gij moet er zo stille niet staan

    Well star, you must not stand so still

Gij moet met ons naar Bethlehem gaan

    You must go with us to Bethlehem

Naar Bethlehem binnen die schone stad

    To Bethlehem within that beautiful city

Waar Maria met haar kindetje zat

    Where Mary sat with her child

Zij gaven dat kindetje menigvoud

    They gave that child many times

Van wierook en mirre en rode fijn goud

    Of frankincense and myrrh and red fine gold

Er kwamen drie koningen met ene ster

Driekoningen, Driekoningen,

    Epiphany, Epiphany,

Geef mij een nieuwe hoed!

    Give me a new hat!

Mijn oude is versleten,

    My old one is worn out,

Mijn moeder mag het niet weten!

    My mother mustn't know!

Mijn vader heeft het geld op de schoorsteen/rooster geteld!

    My father counted the money on the chimney/grate!

- OR -

Driekoningen, Driekoningen

    Epiphany, Epiphany

geef mij een nieuwe hoed, hoed, hoed.

    give me a new hat, hat, hat.

Warit m'n oude die is versleten,

    My old one is worn out,

en m'n moeder die mag het niet weten

    and my mother she mustn't know

en m'n vader die is niet thuis

    and my father he's not home

Piep zei de muis al in het zomerhuis.

    Squeak said the mouse already in the summer house.

Drie koningen, drie koningen geef mij een nieuwe hoed

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 12 - Here Betwixt Ass and Oxen Mild

One of the oldest known French carols, Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris (Here Betwixt the Ass and Oxen Mild) dates from as early as the 13th century. A “modern” harmonized version, titled Le sommeil de l’enfant Jésus first appeared in Collection de chœurs, a 10-volume compendium of choral music composed and compiled by Belgian composer and musicologist François-Auguste Gevaert in the late 19th century. The text was eventually translated into English by Episcopal Canon Charles Winfred Douglas and appeared in the 1940 Episcopal Hymnal. The presence of the ox and ass is significant in that both were mentioned centuries before Christ’s birth in Isaiah’s prophecy: “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib.” Certainly, oxen could have been the occupants of the stable in which Mary and Joseph lodged, and the ass would have carried the pregnant mother from Nazareth to Bethlehem. (note thanks to the LA Philharmonic)

Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris,

   Here 'tween the ox and donkey grey

Dort, dort, dort le petit Fils,

    Sleep, sleep, sleep the little Son.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

Entre les deux bras de Marie,

    Between the arms of dear Mary

Dort, dort, dort le Fruit de Vie,

    Sleep, sleep, sleep the fruit of life.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

Entre les roses et les lys,

    Here 'neath the rose and lilies lay,

Dort, dort, dort le petit Fils,

    Sleep, sleep, sleep the little son.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

Entre les pastoureaux jolis,

    Here midst the gentle shepherds lay

Dort, dort, Jésus qui sourit,

    Sleep, sleep, smile the night away.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

En ce beau jour si solennel,

    Beautiful it is this solemn day,

Dort, dort, dort l’Emmanuel,

    Sleep, sleep, sleep Emmanuel.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris - arr. Gavaert

Here Betwixt Ass And Oxen Mild - arr. Robert Shaw / UCA Chamber Singers

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 11 - John Rutter: Carol of the Magi (2015)

John Rutter's Carol of the Magi was commissioned in 2015 by Red Balloon, an organisation dedicated to the recovery of children who have experienced bullying, trauma, mental ill-health or have social, emotional and mental health needs. The work tells the story of the wise men’s journey to Bethlehem. It is an Epiphany carol beautifully set for solo cello, baritone voice, chorus and orchestra.

We rode all night through fields of darkness

Our guiding light, the eastern stars

We came to Bethlehem, we all were weary

We'd traveled far that night, we'd traveled far

We'd traveled far

We heard that here we'd find Messiah

Foretold by seers from days of old

We looked for palaces, we found a stable

Could it be here, so bare and cold?

So bare and cold?

We entered in and there we saw him

It seemed we'd known him from long before

A child like any child, yet somehow different

The face of every child, in him we saw

The face of every child, we saw

We brought him gifts and now we offer them

We knelt down low in silent prayer

With eyes that seem to know both joy and sadness

The child looked down as we knelt there

The child looked down as we knelt there

So long ago, yet, I remember

That child who lay at Mary's knee

How strange that every child seemed so much like him

He is the face I seem to see

He is the face I seem to see

John Rutter: Carol of the Magi (2015) - Gabriel Crouch (baritone), Tim Gill (cello), the Cambridge Singers & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 10 - Now Is Christmas Ycome

The carols of the past few days (as you may have noticed: Day 4, Peter Cornelius: The Three Kings, Day 5, Rejoice and Be Merry, Day 6, March of the Three Kings, and Day 7, Jonathan Dove: The Three Kings), have all focused on the story of the Three Kings who came to see the Christ-child. The Adoration of the Magi was one of the most popular subjects for pictorial and dramatic representation in the Middle Ages; but carols on the theme are few and far between. Today's carol on this subject, Now Is Christmas Ycome, is an ancient carol from the 15th century, and it comes down to us in a number of different versions, and under a variety of titles: Now ye Crystemas y-cum, Now Ys The Twelthe Day Cum, The III Kings, The Three Kings, I Would Now Sing For And I Might, The Golden Carol, and Now Is Christmas Ycome.

Now is Christemas ycome,

Father and Son together in one,

Holy Ghost, as ye be one,  -  in fere-a,

God send us good New Year-a!

I will you sing with I might,

Of a Child so fair in sight,

A maiden bare on Christmas night  -  so still-a,

As it was His will-a.

Three kingës came fro Galilee

To Bethlehem, that fair city,

All to offer and to see  -  by night-a,

It was a full fair sight-a.

As they came forth with their offering,

They met with Herod, that moody king,

He asked them of their coming  -  that tide-a,

And thus to them he said-a:

"From whence come ye, you kingës three?"

"Out of the east, as ye may see,

To seek Him that ever shall be  -  by right-a,

Lord and king and knight-a."

They took their leave, both eld and ying,

Of Herod, that moody king;

And forth they went with their offering  -  by light-a,

By the star that shone so bright-a.

When they came into the place,

Where Jesus with his mother was,

Offered they up with great solace  -  in fere-a,

Gold, incense, and myrrh-a.

Kneel we now here a-down,

Pray we in good devotion,

To that King of great renown,  -  for grace-a,

In heaven to have a place-a.

Now Is Christmas Ycome - Cardiff Festival Choir

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 9 - O Jesulein süss (O Little One Sweet)

Samuel Scheidt: O Jesulein süss (1650)

J.S. Bach: O Jesulein süss (O Little One Sweet) (1736)

The text and tune for the Christmas poem O Jesulein süss (O Little One Sweet) first appeared in Friedrich Spee's hymnal Auserlesene, Catholische, Geistliche Kirchengesäng (Selected Catholic Spiritual Church-Songs), published in Cologne in 1623. The words are attributed to Valentin Thilo (1607-1662). In 1650, German composer Samuel Scheidt composed a musical setting of the hymn, and nearly a century later, in 1736, Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a harmonization of the melody as a sacred song for solo voice and accompaniment. Long beloved as a German Christmas carol, O Jesulein süss began appearing in English translation in the early 20th century. Perhaps the best-known of these translations was made by the Anglican priest and liturgist Percy Dearmer, who arranged Bach’s solo song harmonization for four-part chorus and published it as O Little One Sweet in 1928.

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

    O little one sweet, O little one mild,

Deins Vaters Willn hast du erfüllt;

    Thy Father's purpose thou hast fulfilled;

Bist kommen aus dem Himmelreich,

    Thou camest from heaven to mortal ken,

Uns armen Menschen worden gleich,

    Equal to be with us poor men,

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

    O little one sweet, O little one mild.

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

    O little one sweet, O little one mild,

Mit Freuden hast du die Welt erfüllt,

    With joy thou hast the whole world filled;

Du kommst herab vom Himmelssaal,

    Thou camest here from heaven's domain,

Und tröst’st uns in dem Jammertal,

    To bring men comfort in their pain,

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

    O little one sweet, O little one mild.

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

    O little one sweet, O little one mild,

Du bist der Lieb ein Ebenbild,

    In thee Love's beauties are all distilled;

Zünd an in uns der Liebe Flamm,

    Then light in us thy love's bright flame,

Dass wir dich lieben all zusamm’,

    That we may give thee back the same,

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

    O little one sweet, O little one mild.

O Jesulein süss - Stephen Mann, treble recorder

Samuel Scheidt: O Jesulein süss (1650) - Bach Ensemble Amsterdam

J.S. Bach: O Little One Sweet (1736) - arr. Dearmer / The King's Singers

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 8 - Levy-Dew

Levy-Dew is a Welsh folk song originating from Pembrokeshire. This New Year's carol was sung as boys sprinkled water, freshly drawn from the well, around the town as a way of blessing the households. There are competing theories as to the meaning of Levy-dew; perhaps the most convincing is that it is a corruption of the French Levez à Dieu, meaning “raise to God” - referring to the raising of the Host at Holy Communion. Or it could be a version of the Welsh phrase llef ar Dduw “a call to God”. Benjamin Britten set the tune in 1934.

Here we bring new water from the well so clear,

For to worship God with, this happy New Year.

Sing levy-dew, sing levy-dew, the water and the wine,

The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.

O Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her toe;

Open you the West Door and turn the Old Year go.

Sing levy-dew, sing levy-dew, the water and the wine,

The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.

O Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her chin;

Open you the East Door and let the New Year in. 

Sing levy-dew, sing levy-dew, the water and the wine,

The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.

Levy-Dew - arr. Benjamin Britten / The Cambridge Singers

Levy-Dew - Matthew Todd, voice and harp

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 7 - Jonathan Dove: The Three Kings (2000)

A note from composer Jonathan Dove: "Dorothy L. Sayers’ poem The Three Kings was suggested to me as a carol text by conductor Stephen Cleobury. Sayers achieves a surprising emotional power and mystery by portraying the youngest king, the nearest to childhood, as the saddest, bringing a gift of myrrh which anticipates Christ’s passion and death; it is the oldest king, nearest to the grave, who brings golden toys.  I have tried to catch this surprise in the music: the first two verses are simple and ballad like, while the third verse suddenly opens up like a treasure chest of twinkling gold."

The first king was very young,

O balow, balow la lay,

With doleful ballads on his tongue,

O balow, balow la lay,

He came bearing a branch of myrrh

Than which no gall is bitterer,

O balow, balow la lay,

Gifts for a baby King, O.

The second king was a man in prime,

O balow, balow la lay,

The solemn priest of a solemn time,

O balow, balow la lay,

With eyes downcast and reverent feet

He brought his incense sad and sweet,

O balow, balow la lay,

Gifts for a baby King, O.

The third king was very old,

O balow, balow la lay,

Both his hands were full of gold,

O balow, balow la lay,

Many a gaud and glittering toy,

Baubles brave for a baby boy,

O balow, balow la lay,

Gifts for a baby King, O.

The Three Kings - VOCES8

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 6 - La Marche Des Rois Mages

La Marche Des Rois Mages (The March of the Three Kings) has become a traditional 'chanson de France' and one of the most common Christmas carols in the repertoire of French-speaking choirs.

The precise origin of both the tune and the lyrics is uncertain and debated by scholars. The lyrics are regularly attributed to Joseph-François Domergue, whose name appears on the first manuscript copy of them, dated 1742 and preserved in the library of Avignon. That 1742 document suggested that the text be sung to the tune Marche de Turenne (March of Turenne). This mention corresponds to the established practice of placing "new" texts on known French songs spread by the printing press. Music for Marche de Turenne, however, has never been found (note thanks to Wikipedia). The tune that is now traditionally used for this carol originates from the 13th century in the Provençal region of France.

La Marche des Rois Mages is about the three Magi who came to pay homage to the Christ Child. The song describes a royal procession of Monarchs escorted by guards and pages, riding in their golden chariots, looking more like Angels than men. Following a star, these majestic Lords find the Manger where Jesus has been born. There, they offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, reverently offering their tender vows before the Son of God. (note thanks to Tradition in Action)

De bon matin, J’ai rencontré le train,

    Early in the morning, I came across the procession,

De trois grands Rois qui allaient en voyage.

    Of three great Kings going on a journey.

De bon matin, J’ai rencontré le train,

    Early in the morning, I came across the procession,

De trois grands Rois dessus le grand chemin.

    Of three great Kings on the great road.

Venaient d’abord, Les gardes du corps,

    First there came, The troup of guards,

Des gens armés avec trente petits pages.

    Armed men, with thirty little pages.

Venaient d’abord, Les gardes du corps,

    First there came, The troup of guards,

Des gens armés dessus leurs justaucorps.

    Men armored atop their doublets.

Puis sur un char, Doré de toutes parts,

    Then, on a chariot, Gilded on all sides,

On voit trois Rois modestes comm’ des Anges.

    One sees three Kings as modest as Angels.

Puis sur un char, Doré de toutes parts,

    Then, on a chariot, Gilded on all sides,

Trois Rois debout parmi les étendards.

    Three Kings standing amidst the standards.

L’étoile luit, Et les Rois conduit,

    The star shines, And leads the Kings,

Par longs chemins devant une pauvre étable.

    Through long roads before a poor stable.

L’étoile luit, Et les Rois conduit,

    The star shines, And leads the Kings,

Par longs chemins devant l’humble réduit.

    Through long roads before the humble nook.

Au Fils de Dieu, Qui naquit en ce lieu,

    To the Son of God, Who was born in this place,

Ils viennent tous présenter leurs hommages.

    They come to present their homages.

Au Fils de Dieu, Qui naquit en ce lieu,

    To the Son of God, Who was born in this place,

Ils viennent tous présenter leurs doux vœux.

    They come to present their tender wishes.

De beaux présents, Or, myrrhe et encens,

    Exquisite presents, Gold, myrrh and incense,

Ils vont offrir au Maître tant admirable.

    They go to offer to the most admirable Master.

De beaux présents, Or, myrrhe et encens,

    Exquisite presents, Gold, myrrh and incense,

Ils vont offrir au Bienheureux Enfant.

    They go to offer to the Blessed Child.

. . . for Engish versions suitable for singing, see here  or  here

La Marche Des Rois Mages - arr. by J.B. Lully

La Marche Des Rois Mages - arr. Joseph Noyon / Choeur Sursum Corda

The March of the Kings - Georges Bizet, choral adaption by Mack Wilberg / The Tabernacle Choir

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 5 - Rejoice and Be Merry

This carol is also sometimes called The Gallery Carol because it belongs to the tradition associated with the choirs and bands sited in the west galleries of churches before the advent of organs in the mid-19th century. This particular carol was discovered in the early 20th century in an old Dorset west-gallery songbook and included in the English Carol Book of 1919. The original songbook has been lost but the original carol probably dates back to the early or mid-18th century. (note thanks to Hymns and Carols of Christmas)

Rejoice and be merry

in songs and in mirth!

O praise our Redeemer;

all mortals on earth!

For this is the birthday

of Jesus our King,

Who brought us salvation,

His praises we'll sing!

A heavenly vision

Appeared in the sky;

Vast numbers of angels

The shepherds did spy,

Proclaiming the birthday of

Jesus our King,

Who brought us salvation,

His praises we'll sing!

Likewise a bright star

In the sky did appear,

Which led the wise men

From the East to draw near;

They found the Messiah,

Sweet Jesus our King,

Who brought us salvation,

His praises we'll sing!

And when they were come,

they their treasures unfold,

And unto him offered

Myrrh, incense and gold.

So blessed for ever

Be Jesus our King,

Who brought us salvation,

His praises we'll sing!

Rejoice and Be Merry - New Saint Andrews College

Rejoice and Be Merry - QuintEssentially Brass (Brass Quintet)

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 4 - Peter Cornelius: The Three Kings

Peter Cornelius (1824-1874) was a German composer, writer about music, poet and translator. His Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs), op. 8 (1856-1870), is a cycle of six songs on Christmas themes with texts written by Cornelius himself. The third song in this song cycle, Die Könige (The Kings ; also translated as Three Kings from Persian lands afar), is about the biblical magi, and it incorporates in the piano accompaniment a hymn by Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608), Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (How beautifully the morning star shines).

Die Könige (Three Kings) (English translation by H.N. Bate)

Drei Könige wandern aus Morgenland;

    Three kings from Persian lands afar

Ein Sternlein führt sie zum Jordanstrand.

    to Jordan follow the pointing star:

In Juda fragen und forschen die drei,

    And this the quest of the travellers three,

Wo der neugeborene König sei?

    where the new-born King of the Jews may be.

Sie wollen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold

    Full royal gifts they bear for the King:

Dem Kinde spenden zum Opfersold.

    Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

Und hell erglänzet des Sternes Schein:

    The star shines out with steadfast ray;

Zum Stalle gehen die Kön’ge ein;

    the kings to Bethlehem make their way,

Das Knäblein schaun sie wonniglich,

    and there in worship they bend the knee,

Anbetend neigen die Könige sich;

    as Mary's child in her lap they see;

Sie bringen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold

    their royal gifts they show to the King:

Zum Opfer dar dem Knäblein hold.

    Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

O Menschenkind! halte treulich Schritt!

    Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem

Die Kön’ge wandern, o wandre mit!

    the kings are trav'ling, travel with them!

Der Stern der Liebe, der Gnade Stern

    The star of mercy, the star of grace,

Erhelle dein Ziel, so du suchst den Herrn,

    shall lead thy heart to its resting place.

Und fehlen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold,

    Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring:

Schenke dein Herz dem Knäblein hold!

    Offer thy heart to the infant King, offer thy heart!

Die Könige (Three Kings) - TENET Vocal Artists

Die Könige - VOCES8 & Apollo5

Composer Christoph Graupner wrote this work based on Philipp Nicolai's Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (How beautifully the morning star shines)

Joseph M. Martin: How Brightly Shines the Morning Star - Bach Choir of Pittsburgh

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 3 - Gevaert: Sommeil de l' enfant Jesus (Sleep of the Infant Jesus) (1900)

Though during his lifetime composer François-Auguste Gevaert (1828-1908) enjoyed considerable success in his native Belgium (including performances of no fewer than a dozen operas), his music is now mostly forgotten, save for some choral pieces. Today, he is mostly remembered, even in his native land, more as a teacher, historian, and lecturer than as a composer.

Over more than twenty years (1886-1908) Gevaert published ten collections of choral works, based on latin and french hymns, popular and religious texts, and 17th and 18th century melodies and noëls. In Le sommeil de l'enfant Jésus (Sleep of the Infant Jesus) Gevaert crafts a gentle lullaby, based on a folk melody that dates from sometime before 1800. This beautiful French carol is simple, short, and sweet, yet profound in its contemplation of what it was like to behold the Christ Child in the manger.

Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris,

    Here, midst the ox and ass so mild,

Dors, dors, dors le petit fils:

    Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little child.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

    Watching all around the little king of love.

Entre les deux bras de Marie,

    Here in his mother’s arms, the son,

Dors, dors, dors le fruit de vie:

    Sleeps, sleeps, darling little one:

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

    Watching all around the little king of love.

Entre les pastoureaux jolis,

    Here where the shepherds kneel in joy,

Dors, dors, dors le petit fils:

    Sleep, sleep, sleep oh little boy.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

    Watching all around the little king of love.

Sommeil de l' enfant Jesus (Sleep of the Infant Jesus) - Ensemble vocal Le Petit Sablon

Sleep of the Infant Jesus - Peninsula Girls Choir

Sleep of the Infant Jesus -  The National Lutheran Choir