Un
flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle (Bring a Torch Jeannette, Isabelle)--Diane Taraz.
The
French have a very deep tradition of
Christmas carols. In fact the word carol comes from French country dances that celebrated events
throughout the year, but especially during Christmas. Words were put to these lively dances
creating songs very different from the announcement
and nativity hymns sung for masses.
Coming from the peasantry the
songs often celebrated the lowly
witnesses or participants in the
birth story—the carpenter and his humble teenage
wife, the animals in the stable, the shepherds, children, and
peasants. Thus these carols were subtly subversive, claiming the Christ child as one of their own. Exactly
such a song is the very old carol Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle—Bring a
Torch, Jeannette, Isabella.
The
song originated in Provence in
southern France which includes not only famous vineyard country, but mountains
rising to the Alps. It was first published in 1553. The melody now sung is attributed to Baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier a
century later but he probably adapted an older folk tune à boire Qu’ils sont doux,
bouteille jolie from the now lost collection Le médecin malgré lui.
It
was first translated into English in
the mid-18th Century.
The
song tells the story of two peasant girls who come upon the nativity and rush back to their village
to tell the people and then leading them to the scene with torches in the night. At the
stable all are awed and struck with silence so as not to disturb the baby’s
sleep.
It
is still a custom in Provence for children
dressed as shepherds and milkmaids to carry torches and candles
while singing the carol leading a procession
on the way to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Today
we feature a simple, lovely version by the Boston
based singer/songwriter Diane Taraz
who performs the song in modern French.
The
English translation is found in
several contemporary hymnals:
Bring a torch, Jeanette,
Isabella!
Bring a torch, to the stable call
Christ is born. Tell the folk of
the village
Jesus is born and Mary's calling.
Hush! Hush! beautiful is the
Mother!
Hush! Hush! beautiful is her
child
Who is that, knocking on the
door?
Who is it, knocking like that?
Open up, we’ve arranged on a
platter
Lovely cakes that we have brought
here
Knock! Knock! Open the door for
us!
Knock! Knock! Let's celebrate!
It is wrong when the child is
sleeping,
It is wrong to talk so loud.
Silence, now as you gather
around,
Lest your noise should waken
Jesus.
Hush! Hush! see how he slumbers;
Hush! Hush! see how fast he
sleeps! Hush! Hush! see how he slumbers;
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!
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