Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 12 - Here Betwixt Ass and Oxen Mild

One of the oldest known French carols, Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris (Here Betwixt the Ass and Oxen Mild) dates from as early as the 13th century. A “modern” harmonized version, titled Le sommeil de l’enfant Jésus first appeared in Collection de chœurs, a 10-volume compendium of choral music composed and compiled by Belgian composer and musicologist François-Auguste Gevaert in the late 19th century. The text was eventually translated into English by Episcopal Canon Charles Winfred Douglas and appeared in the 1940 Episcopal Hymnal. The presence of the ox and ass is significant in that both were mentioned centuries before Christ’s birth in Isaiah’s prophecy: “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib.” Certainly, oxen could have been the occupants of the stable in which Mary and Joseph lodged, and the ass would have carried the pregnant mother from Nazareth to Bethlehem. (note thanks to the LA Philharmonic)

Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris,

   Here 'tween the ox and donkey grey

Dort, dort, dort le petit Fils,

    Sleep, sleep, sleep the little Son.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

Entre les deux bras de Marie,

    Between the arms of dear Mary

Dort, dort, dort le Fruit de Vie,

    Sleep, sleep, sleep the fruit of life.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

Entre les roses et les lys,

    Here 'neath the rose and lilies lay,

Dort, dort, dort le petit Fils,

    Sleep, sleep, sleep the little son.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

Entre les pastoureaux jolis,

    Here midst the gentle shepherds lay

Dort, dort, Jésus qui sourit,

    Sleep, sleep, smile the night away.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

En ce beau jour si solennel,

    Beautiful it is this solemn day,

Dort, dort, dort l’Emmanuel,

    Sleep, sleep, sleep Emmanuel.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Thousand divine angels, thousand seraphim,

Volent à l’entour de ce Grand Dieu d’amour.

    Flying round about this great God of love.

Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris - arr. Gavaert

Here Betwixt Ass And Oxen Mild - arr. Robert Shaw / UCA Chamber Singers

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 3 - Gevaert: Sommeil de l' enfant Jesus (Sleep of the Infant Jesus) (1900)

Though during his lifetime composer François-Auguste Gevaert (1828-1908) enjoyed considerable success in his native Belgium (including performances of no fewer than a dozen operas), his music is now mostly forgotten, save for some choral pieces. Today, he is mostly remembered, even in his native land, more as a teacher, historian, and lecturer than as a composer.

Over more than twenty years (1886-1908) Gevaert published ten collections of choral works, based on latin and french hymns, popular and religious texts, and 17th and 18th century melodies and noëls. In Le sommeil de l'enfant Jésus (Sleep of the Infant Jesus) Gevaert crafts a gentle lullaby, based on a folk melody that dates from sometime before 1800. This beautiful French carol is simple, short, and sweet, yet profound in its contemplation of what it was like to behold the Christ Child in the manger.

Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris,

    Here, midst the ox and ass so mild,

Dors, dors, dors le petit fils:

    Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little child.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

    Watching all around the little king of love.

Entre les deux bras de Marie,

    Here in his mother’s arms, the son,

Dors, dors, dors le fruit de vie:

    Sleeps, sleeps, darling little one:

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

    Watching all around the little king of love.

Entre les pastoureaux jolis,

    Here where the shepherds kneel in joy,

Dors, dors, dors le petit fils:

    Sleep, sleep, sleep oh little boy.

Mille anges divins, mille séraphins,

    Countless cherubim, shining seraphim,

Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour.

    Watching all around the little king of love.

Sommeil de l' enfant Jesus (Sleep of the Infant Jesus) - Ensemble vocal Le Petit Sablon

Sleep of the Infant Jesus - Peninsula Girls Choir

Sleep of the Infant Jesus -  The National Lutheran Choir