In 17th century France secular noëls (carols) from Provence associated with the miracle of the Nativity were not allowed to be sung during Mass. Composers like Balbastre, Daquin, and Corrette found a way around this ban: they arranged them for the organ. One approach to transcribing these noëls was very inventive and playful: the theme is presented, then varied using specific registers of the organ (oboe, cromorne, flute) to imitate the rustic instruments of shepherds. One such Provençal noël, by composer Nicolas Saboly (1614-1675), is A la venue de Noël (The Arrival of Christmas).
1. A la venue de Noël
At the coming of Christmas,
Chacun se doit bien réjouir
Everyone should rejoice,
Car c'est un testament nouvel
For it is a new covenant
|: Que tout le monde doit tenir. :|
That everyone must uphold.
2. Quand par son orgueil, Lucifer
When, through his pride, Lucifer
Dedans l'abîme trébucha
Stumbled into the abyss,
Nous conduisant tous en enfer
Leading us all to hell,
|: Le Fils de Dieu nous racheta. :|
The Son of God redeemed us.
3. Incontinent que Dieu fut né
As soon as God was born,
L'ange l'alla dire aux pastours
The angel went to tell the shepherds,
Qui se prirent tous à chanter
Who all began to sing,
|: Sonnant chevrettes et tambours. :|
Playing pipes and drums.
4. Après un bien petit de temps
After a very short time,
Trois rois le vinrent adorer
Three kings came to adore him,
Portant la myrrhe avec l'encens
Bringing myrrh and frankincense,
|: Et l'or qui est fort à priser. :|
And gold, which is highly prized.
5. Là, virent le doux Jésus-Christ
There, they saw the sweet Jesus Christ,
Et la mère qui le porta
And the mother who bore him,
Celui qui tout le monde fit
He who created the whole world,
|: Et les pécheurs ressuscita. :|
And resurrected sinners.
6. Bien apparut qu'il nous aima
It was clearly shown that he loved us
Quand à la croix pour nous fut mis
When he was placed on the cross for us;
Dieu le Père qui tout créa
God the Father, who created all,
|: Nous donne à la fin Paradis. :|
Gives us Paradise in the end.
A la venue de Noël
A la venue de Noël - arr. by Christophe Gautier / Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris
. . . and an organ variation on A la venue de Noël by Claude Bénigne Balbastre.
A la venue de Noël - Robert Lehman, organ
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