Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 12 - Gabriel's Message (or The angel Gabriel from heaven came)

Snow has arrived early for some of us, and 2024 is almost gone! That, of course, means another Twelve Days of Christmas (Before and After!), musings on familiar and not so familiar carols of the season . . .

Our first carol comes from the Basque region of Spain. And I couldn't do a better job of introducing this beautiful carol than the one given by Willym at Willy or Won't He . . .

"The traditions and music of the Basque region are generally unknown to the world at large but one regional carol has become a favourite over the past few years. Birjina gaztetto bat zegoen (There was a young virgin) recounts the story of the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Mary of her role as chosen vessel for the birth of Christ.

In 1897 musicologist, teacher and composer Charles Bordes, on a commission from the French Government, collected and published his Les Archives de la tradition basque. This book came to the attention of Sabine Baring-Gould, one of the most fascinating men in Victorian-Edwardian England.  Baring-Gould was an Anglican priest, hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. He wrote over 1240 publications – ghost stories, novels, biographies, hymns (Onward Christian Soldiers is only one of his many), collections of folk stories and, what he considered his greatest achievement, various collections of folks songs. He translated much of Bordes’ collection, with the most widely known being Birjina gaztetto bat zegoe. Its most referenced harmonization is by Edgar Pettman, who published it in his pamphlet The University Carol Book (1922). Gabriel's Message did not achieve any great popularity in the early 1900s, but over the past few decades it has become a choral staple at Christmastime."

The angel Gabriel from heaven came
His wings as drifted snow his eyes as flame
"All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!

"For known a blessed mother thou shalt be,

All generations laud and honor thee,

Thy Son shall be Emanuel, by seers foretold

Most highly favored lady," Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head

"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,

"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."

Most highly favored lady. Gloria!

Of her, Emanuel, the Christ was born

In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn

And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:

"Most highly favored lady," Gloria!

Birjina gaztetto bat zegoen - Aquabella

Gabriel's Message - VOCES8 (arranged by Jim Clements)

Gabriel's Message - Sting (1987)

further listening . . .

Birjina gaztetto bat zegoen - Zuberoa Aznárez

Genesis Sixteen

Cambridge Choir And Orchestra Of Clare College

Celtic Christmas