Favorite Christmas Carols?

Message 1194 of 1968

Does everyone have a favorite? If so, why don't you tell us what it is and include the history of the song. I think some Christmas music, no matter what you believe, is the most beautiful ever written. I truly don't get tired of the beautiful tunes.

One I really like is The Holly and the Ivy and Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella.
The history to the latter is very interesting. According to Wikipedia,
" Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" (French: Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle) is a Christmas carol which originated from the Provence region of France in the 16th century. The song is unique among Christmas carols in that it is in 3/8 time[citation needed].

The carol was first published in 1553 in France, and was subsequently translated into English in the 18th century. The song was originally not a song to be sung at Christmas, but rather dance music for French nobility.

The carol tells the story of two milkmaids, Jeanette and Isabella, who go to milk their cows in a stable in Bethlehem, only to find the baby Jesus sleeping in the manger. The two girls run to town to tell the village of the coming of Christ, and the townspeople come with their own torches to view the sight for themselves. However, they have to keep their voices down so little Jesus can enjoy his dreams. To this day in the Provence region, children dress up as shepherds and milkmaids, carrying torches and candles to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, while singing the carol.

[edit] Lyrics

The Newborn, painting by Georges de La Tour, based in the carol Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella.English
Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella!
Bring a torch, come swiftly and run!
Christ is born. Tell the folk of the village
Jesus is born and Mary's calling.
Ah!* Ah! beautiful is the Mother!
Ah! Ah! beautiful is her son!
It is wrong when the Baby is sleeping,
It is wrong to speak so loud.
Silence, now as you gather around,
Lest your noise should waken Jesus.
Hush! Hush! see how the Baby slumbers;
Hush! Hush! see how the Baby sleeps!
Softly now unto the stable,
Softly for a moment come!
Look and see how charming is Jesus,
Look at him there, His cheeks are rosy!
Hush! Hush! see how the Child is sleeping;
Hush! Hush! see how he smiles in dreams! French
Un flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle --
Un flambeau! Courons au berceau!
C'est Jésus, bonnes gens du hameau.
Le Christ est né; Marie appelle!
Ah! Ah! Ah! Que la Mère est belle,
Ah! Ah! Ah! Que l'Enfant est beau!
C'est un tort, quand l'Enfant sommeille,
C'est un tort de crier si fort.
Taisez-vous, l'un et l'autre, d'abord!
Au moindre bruit, Jésus s'éveille.
Chut! chut! chut! Il dort à merveille,
Chut! chut! chut! Voyez comme il dort!
Doucement, dans l'étable close,
Doucement, venez un moment!
Approchez! Que Jésus est charmant!
Comme il est blanc! Comme il est rose!
Do! Do! Do! Que l'Enfant repose!
Do! Do! Do! Qu'il rit en dormant! [1]

(*) The word Hark! or Hush is sometimes substituted for Ah!

Alternate Lyrics:

Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella!
Bring a torch to the cradle run!
It is Jesus, good folks of the village;
Christ is born and Mary's calling:
Ah! ah! beautiful is the mother!
Ah! ah! beautiful is her Son!
It is wrong when the Child is sleeping
It is wrong to talk so loud;
Silence, all, as you gather around,
Lest your noise should waken Jesus:
Hush! hush! see how fast He slumbers:
Hush! hush! see how fast He sleeps!
Softly to the little stable,
Softly for the moment come;
Look and see how charming is Jesus,
See how He smiles, Oh see how rosy!
Hush! hush! see how the Child is sleeping;
Hush! hush! see how He smiles in dreams.

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posted by pamsilva

Replies 1 - 10 of 15

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Go tell it on the mountain

posted by Ladydazy
over 2 years ago

I have several, but two favourites are "O Come All ye Faithful" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear."

Adeste Fidelis (O Come all ye faithful) appears in its current form in the mid 18th century, although the words may have originated in the thirteenth century. The origin of the tune is disputed. The first appearance in print of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", "The First Noel", "I Saw Three Ships" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" was in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1833) by William B. Sandys. Composers like Arthur Sullivan helped to repopularize the carol, and it is this period that gave rise to such favorites as "Good King Wenceslas" and "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear", a New England carol written by Edmund H. Sears and Richard S. Willis.

posted by Seadreamer54
over 2 years ago

My all time favorite is "O Holy Night"
There is something just so beautiful about the whole feeling of the hymn.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

posted by Espirit
over 2 years ago

My very favourite is "The Holly and the Ivy" then "Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem" the others follow.

posted by SurreyDuchess
over 2 years ago

I'm not a Christian, but I enjoy good music and I enjoy some fun with it.

Check this link out. view link

posted by Scotbrit
over 2 years ago

"While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night".....that I can really use my imagination and see how it would be. Laying there at night under the stars, dozing but alert to the flocks around you. Watching the flicker of stars in a clear sky, then lights like the northern lights getting you up and interested and then...............oh imagine.....the night sky filled with singing, angelic singing and then "Angels from the realms of glory" singing and proclaiming the birth of our saviour. It just gives me goose bumps.
Of course in reality I would have been laying face into the dirt scared witless.

posted by Espirit
over 2 years ago

The top of my chart has to be "Silent Night". I think of the church in snow covered Germany at Christmas time and the composer who had to come up with a Christmas carol when the organ broke down. Thanks for the Celine Dion "Oh Holy Night" Esprit, it was beautiful. Enjoyed your post too, Scotbrit, which reminds me, we used to have a dance in school called "The Gay Gordon". I assume it has been renamed.

posted by MarianneK
over 2 years ago

I doubt if the "Gay Gordons" dance will be renamed.

The Gay Gordons meant they were lively, but this was before the "gay" word became known as something else.

posted by Scotbrit
over 2 years ago

I bet there are a few chuckles when they announce the dance though!

posted by MarianneK
over 2 years ago

Actually, I just took a class on the History of Music, and they stated that Carols are an offshoot of English village music. I have recordings of very early French carols, but the authors of our textbooks were very clear on the English derivation of the carol.

My favorite carol was written here in Massachusetts by the Episcopal Bishop, the Very Reverend Phillips Brooks. There are two melodies in our hymnal, one is American, the other is British. We usually sing it on Christmas Eve alternating the melodies.