Day 8 - Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle (Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella)
Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle originated from the Provence region of France in the 17th century. The carol first appeared in print in 1688 with the Provençal text Venès lèu, Vèire la piéucello; Venès lèu, Genti pastourèu! (Come on, see the Virgin; Come on, gentle shepherds!) in a collection of twelve Provençal noëls by Nicolas Saboly. The popularity of the melody is attested to by its use four years later by Marc-Antoine Charpentier for the drinking song, Qu'ils sont doux, bouteille jolie in a 1672 revival of Molière's Le médecin malgré lui. And to this day on Christmas Eve in Provence, children dress as shepherds and milkmaids, bringing torches and candles while singing the carol on their way to Midnight Mass.
Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle
/ Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Un flambeau! Courons au berceau
/ Bring a torch to the stable call
C'est Jésus, bonnes gens du hameau
/ Christ is born, tell the folk of the village
Le Christ est né; Marie appelle
/ Jesus is born, and Mary's calling
Ah! Ah! Que la Mère est belle
/ Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the Mother
Ah! Ah! Que l'Enfant est beau
/ Ah! Ah! Beautiful is her Son
Qui vient là, frappant de la sorte
/ Who is that, knocking on the door
Qui vient là, en frappant comme ça
/ Who is it, knocking like that
Ouvrez-donc, j'ai posé sur un plat
/ Open up, we've arranged on a platter
De bons gâteaux, qu'ici j'apporte
/ Lovely cakes that we have brought here
Toc! Toc! Ouvrons-nous la porte
/ Knock! Knock! Open the door for us
Toc! Toc! Faisons grand gala
/ Knock! Knock! Let's celebrate
C'est un tort, quand l'Enfant sommeille
/ It is wrong when the Child is sleeping
C'est un tort de crier si fort
/ It is wrong to talk so loud
Taisez-vous, l'un et l'autre, d'abord
/ Silence, now, as you gather around
Au moindre bruit, Jésus s'éveille
/ Lest your noise should waken Jesus
Chut! chut! Il dort à merveille
/ Hush! Hush! See how He slumbers
Chut! chut! Voyez comme il dort
/ Hush! Hush! See how fast He sleeps
Doucement, dans l'étable close
/ Softly now unto the stable
Doucement, venez un moment
/ Softly for a moment come
Approchez! Que Jésus est charmant
/ Look and see how charming is Jesus
Comme il est blanc! Comme il est rose
/ Look at Him there, His cheeks are rosy
Do! Do! Que l'Enfant repose
/ Hush! Hush! See how the Child is sleeping
Do! Do! Qu'il rit en dormant
/ Hush! Hush! See how He smiles in His dreams
Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle - TENET Vocal Artists
(the carol begins at 1:24)
Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle - Stephen Hatfield / The Thirteen
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella - Jon's Ukulele
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