Christmas time would make sacred music shined forth in monarchical France. The court organists had free rein to improvise on the popular Nativity songs, which had been known to all the faithful for centuries, and amateurs would swarm to churches throughout Paris to hear the virtuoso works of these masters. Here, finally gathered together in this collection, are the most famous organ pieces of Daquin, Corette, Dandrieu and Balbastre along with the melodies that inspired them, played by Gaétan Jarry at the Grand Orgue of the Royal Chapel of Versailles, accompanied by the children’s choir of the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, just as the children used to at the Chapel during the reign of Louis XIV.
1. |: Joseph est bien marié à la fille de Jessé :|
Joseph is indeed married to Jesse's daughter
C'était chose bien nouvelle D'être mère et pucelle
It was a very new thing To be a mother and a maid
Dieu y avait opéré: Joseph est bien marié
God was at work there: Joseph is indeed married
2. |: Et quand ce fut au premier Que Dieu voulut nous sauver :|
And when it was at first that God wanted to save us
Il fit en terre descendre Son seul fils Jésus pour prendre
He sent down His only son Jesus to the earth, to take
En Marie humanité: Joseph est bien marié
In Mary's humanity: Joseph is indeed married
3. |: Quand Joseph eut aperçu Que la femme avait conçu :|
When Joseph saw that the woman had conceived
Il ne s'en contenta mie, Fâché fut contre Marie
He was not happy with it, he was angry with Mary
Et se voulut en aller: Joseph est bien marié
And wanted to leave: Joseph is indeed married
4. |: Mais l'ange si lui a dit: Joseph n'en aie point dépit :|
But the angel said to him: Joseph be not angry
Ta sainte femme Marie Est grosse du fruit de vie
Your holy wife Mary is pregnant with the fruit of life
Elle a conçu sans péché: Joseph est bien marié
She conceived without sin: Joseph is indeed married
5. |: Les anges y sont venus Voir le Rédempteur Jésus :|
The angels came there to see the Redeemer Jesus
De très belle compagnie, Püis à haute voix jolie
In such pleasant company, then in joyous voices
Gloria ils ont chanté: Joseph est bien marié
They sang Gloria: Joseph is indeed married
6. |: Or prions dévôtement De bon coeur et humblement :|
Now let us pray devoutly with good heart and humbly
Que paix, joie et bonne vie Impêtre Dame Marie
May peace, joy and good life secure Lady Mary
A notre nécessité: Joseph est bien marié
For all our necessities: Joseph is indeed married
Joseph est bien marié - traditional, arr. by Claude Balbastre, 1724-99 / Choir of the Pages du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles
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