Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 11 - Les choeurs angeliques & Chanson joyeuse de Noël

After 22 days of singing and celebration, today's carol is a somewhat unique one. On top of the fact that I really couldn't find any information about its age, or the origin of its text or music, the carol appears to have two (not so different) versions. The simpler and more folk-like setting is called Les choeurs angeliques. It is made up of a boisterous chorus and more lyrical alternating verses. The second version, arranged by Francois A. Gevaert (1828-1908), presents THREE sections: (1) a solo (then duo) verse, (2) the same boisterous chorus, and (3) a similar lyrical alternating verse as the folk-like version. The Gevaert arrangement is retitled Chanson joyeuse de Noël, though the chorus begins with "Les choeurs angéliques Ont chanté Noël." A much more elaborate carol than most, where some of the simpler carols are a mere 8 or 12 bars long!

Les choeurs angéliques

Chorus
Les choeurs angéliques / The angelic choirs
Ont chanté Noël / sang Christmas!
Mêlons nos cantiques / Let's mix our hymns
Aux accents du ciel / To the accents of the sky!
Noël! Noël! / Christmas! Christmas!
Chantons tous Noël! / Let's all sing Christmas!
Noël! Noël! / Christmas! Christmas!
Chantons tous Noël! / Let's all sing Christmas!

Le Dieu tout aimable / The lovable God
Est né dans l'étable / Was born in the stable.
Gracieux et beau / Graceful and beautiful,
Sur la paille humide / On the damp straw,
Charmant et candide / Charming and candid
Comme un doux agneau. / Like a gentle lamb.
Chorus

Rempli de tendresse / Filled with tenderness
Il nous tend sans cesse / He keeps reaching out to us
Ses deux petits bras / His two little arms;
Et sa voix si belle / And his voice so beautiful
Toujours nous appelle / Always calls us:
Oh! ne tardons pas! / Oh! let's not delay!
Chorus

Un Dieu qui nous aime / A God who loves us,
De la douceur même / Even sweetness
Approchons sans peur / Let us approach without fear;
Et notre indigence / And our poverty
Et notre innocence / And our innocence
Charmeront son coeur! / Will charm his heart!
Chorus

Allons, ma pauvre âme / Come, my poor soul,
Que l'amour t'enflamme / Let love ignite you,
Et ne pleure plus / And don't cry anymore
Et ne pleure plus! / And don't cry anymore!
Marie est ta mère / Mary is your mother,
Et ton nouveau père / And your new father
S'appelle Jésus / His name is Jesus
S'appelle Jésus. / His name is Jesus.
Chorus

Les choeurs angeliques - Helene Baillargeon

Les choeurs angeliques - Jongenskoor van de Zeeuwse Koorschool en Kath

 

Chanson joyeuse de Noël

Le petit Jésus / Baby Jesus,
Sauveur adorable / lovely Savior,
La nuit de Noël / The Christmas night,
Naquit dans l'étable / Was born in the stable;
Des bergers vinrent bientôt / Shepherds soon came
L'adorer dans son berceau / adore him in his cradle,
Et l'on vit trois mages / And we saw three Magi
Offrir pour hommages / Offer for Tributes
La myrrhe, l'or et l'encens / Myrrh, gold and frankincense,
Ah! quels beaux présents! / Ah! what beautiful gifts!
Car Jésus, à leurs yeux / For Jesus, in their eyes,
Est vraiment le roi des cieux! / Truly is the king of heaven!

Chorus:
Les choeurs angéliques / The angelic choirs
Ont chanté Noël / sang Christmas!
Mêlons nos cantiques / Let's mix our hymns
Aux accents du ciel / To the accents of the sky!
Noël! Noël! / Christmas! Christmas!
Chantons tous Noël! / Let's all sing Christmas!
Noël! Noël! / Christmas! Christmas!
Chantons tous Noël! / Let's all sing Christmas!

Le Dieu tout aimable / The lovable God
Est né dans l'étable / Was born in the stable.
Gracieux et beau / Graceful and beautiful,
Gracieux et beau! / Graceful and beautiful!
Sur la paille humide / On the damp straw,
Charmant et candide / Charming and candid
Comme un doux agneau / Like a gentle lamb,
Comme un doux agneau. / Like a gentle lamb.

Le petit Jésus disait le rosaire / Baby Jesus said the rosary,
Penché sur le cœur de sa tendre mère / Leaning on the heart of his tender mother;
C'est lui qui fit le Pater / It was he who made the Pater,
Le divin Pater noster / The divine Paternoster,
Et sa voix bénie / And his blessed voice,
Saluant Marie / Greetings Mary,
Disait: Ave Maria / Said: Hail Mary,
Et puis Gloria. / And then Gloria.
Il faut donc chaque jour / It is therefore necessary each day,
Imiter ce Dieu d'amour. / To imitate this God of love.

Chorus

Allons, ma pauvre âme / Come, my poor soul,
Que l'amour t'enflamme / Let love ignite you,
Et ne pleure plus / And don't cry anymore
Et ne pleure plus! / And don't cry anymore!
Marie est ta mère / Mary is your mother,
Et ton nouveau père / And your new father
S'appelle Jésus / His name is Jesus
S'appelle Jésus. / His name is Jesus.

Chorus

Chanson joyeuse de Noël - arr. by Francois A. Gevaert / Ensemble vocal Le Petit Sablon

Chanson joyeuse de Noël - Marshfield Wisconsin High School Concert Choir