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CHRISTMAS CAROL – CAROLE NATALIZIE

by MarchRose

A Christmas carol is a carol (song or hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter season in general.
It is not clear whether the word carol derives from the French "carole" or the Latin "carula" meaning a circular dance. In any case the dancing seems to have been abandoned quite early, but some examples are very danceable.

Una carola natalizia è una carola, cioè una canzone, il cui testo è centrato sul tema del Natale, oppure più in generale sull’inverno.
Non è chiaro se la parola “carola” derivi dal francese "carole" oppur dal latino "carula", che significano entrambi “ danza circolare”. In ogni caso, la danza sembra essere stata abbandonata abbastanza presto, ma alcune canzoni sono molto ballabili.

Carols were originally communal songs sung during celebrations like harvest tide as well as Christmas. It was only later, approx. in the thirteenth century, that carols began to be sung in church, and to be specifically associated with Christian festivities.
It is unclear when the first Christmas carols were written but it is believed that they were introduced in to church services by St Francis of Assisi in the 12th century. The period from 1350 to 1550 is their golden age, especially in England: by the 15th century the carol was also considered as art music. During this time elaborate arrangements were made and carols were considered an important contribution to medieval music.

In origine le carole erano canzoni popolari che venivano cantate dalla gente durante feste come la festa del raccolto, oltre che a Natale. Fu solo più tardi, all’incirca nel 13mo secolo, che le carole iniziarono ad essere cantate in chiesa, e ad essere associate in modo specifico alle celebrazioni del natale.
Non si sa esattamente quando furono scritte le prime carole natalizie, ma si ritiene che il primo a farle eseguire in chiesa fu San Francesco d’Assisi nel 12mo secolo. Il periodo tra il 1350 e 1550 fu il periodo d’oro delle carole, specialmente in Inghilterra: nel 15mo secolo venivano considerate come un genere artistico. In questo periodo ne furono fatti arrangiamenti musicali molto elaborati e divennero una componente importante della musica medievale.

After the Reformation carols declined in popularity in protestant countries but survived in rural communities.
Christmas carols were only fully popularised again during the Victorian era when they again expressed joyful and merry themes in their carol lyrics as opposed to the normal, more sombre, Christian lyrics found in hymns.

Dopo la Riforma, la popolarità delle carole nei paesi di religione protestante andò declinando, ma esse sopravvissero nelle comunità rurali.
Le carole natalizie ridiventarono popolari nella seconda metà dell’Ottocento, durante l’epoca vittoriana, quando ripresero ad essere usate per esprimere gioia ed allegria rispetto ai testi più seri e sobri che si trovano negli inni liturgici.

NOEL NOUVELET ( Francia, 16mo secolo )

A beautiful 16th century French carol, in two different arragements, the first only voices, the second voices + instruments:

Una bellissima carola francese del 16mo secolo, in due diversi arrangiamenti, il primo per sole voci, il secondo per voci e strumenti.

“Noel Nouvelet”- Anuna

“Noel Nouvelet”- Loreena McKennit
From the album “A Midwinter’s Night Dream”

Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy;
Dévotes gens rendons à Dieu merci;
Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet;
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!

En Bethléem Marie et Joseph vy
L'asne et le boeuf l'Enfant couché parmy;
La crêche était au lieu dun bercelet.
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!

L'estoile vint qui le jour esclaircy
Et la vy bien d'où jetois départy
En Bethléem les trois roys conduisaient.
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!

L'un portrait lor et l'autre myrrhe aussi
Et lautre encens que faisait bon senty:
Le paradis semblait le jardinet.
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!

En douze jours fut Noël accomply;
Par cinq vers sera mon chant finy
Par chaque jour j'en ai fait un couplet.
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!

WEXFORD CAROL ( Irlanda, 12mo secolo )

The Wexford Carol (Irish: Carúl Loch Garman) is a traditional religious Irish Christmas carol originating from County Wexford, and specifically, Enniscorthy (whence its name), and dating to the 12th century. The song is sometimes known by its first verse, "Good people all this Christmas time."

La Wexford Carol ( in irlandese: Carúl Loch Garman ) è un canto natalizio tradizionale irlandese originario della contea di Wexford, e più precisamente di Enniscorthy (da cui il suo nome), e risale al 12mo secolo. Alcuni ri riferiscono a questa carola usando il suo verso iniziale, "Good people all this Christmas time."

“The Wexford carol” - Loreena McKennitt
From the album “A Midwinter’s Night Dream”

"To drive the cold winter away"

Good people all, this Christmas-time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass;
From every door repelled alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but an humble ox's stall.

There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star,
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay,
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah was,
They humbly cast them at his feet,
With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God's angels did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
'Prepare and go', the angles said.
'To Bethlehem, be not afraid:
For there you'll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God's angel had foretold,
They did our saviour Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.

COVENTRY CAROL ( Inghilterra, 16mo secolo )

The "Coventry Carol" is a Christmas carol dating from the 16th Century. The author is unknown; the oldest known text was written down by Robert Croo in 1534, and the oldest known printing of the melody dates from 1591. The carol was performed in Coventry as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors, which depicts the Christmas story from the Gospel of Matthew. This carol presents the Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem. The lyrics of this haunting carol represent a mother's lament for her doomed child.

La "Coventry Carol" è una carola natalizia inglese che risale al 16mo secolo. Il suo autore è sconosciuto; il testo più antico che ci è pervenuto è di Robert Croo ed è datato 1534, mentre la prima versione stampata della melodia è del 1591. La carola fu eseguita al Coventry come parte di una rappresentazione teatrale chiamata “The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors”, che narra la storia del Natale così come riportata nel Vangelo di Matteo. La carola parla del massacro degli innocenti a Betlemme, ed è il lamento di una madre per il tragico destino del figlio.

“Coventry Carol” - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge

Luly, lulay,* Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, luly, lulay.
Lulay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, luly, lulay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, luly, lulay.

Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young to slay.

That** woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And every mourn and day,***
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, luly, lulay.

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY ( Inghilterra, 15mo secolo )

“The Holly and the Ivy” is an English traditional Christmas carol, which is among the most lightly Christianized carols of the Yuletide. Holly and ivy have been the mainstay of Christmas decoration for church use since at least the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. This carol is probably related to an older carol: "The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly", a contest between the traditional emblems of woman and man respectively.

“The Holly and the Ivy” è una carola natalizia inglese tradizionale, ed è tra le carole della festa di Yuletide ad essere meno influenzata dal cristianesimo. Agrifoglio ed edera – che danno il titolo alla carola – sono state gli elementi base delle decorazioni natalizie delle chiese fin dal 15mo e 16mo secolo. Questa carola è probabilmente collegata ad un’altra ancora più antica: "The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly", una competizione tra le due piante intese come simboli tradizionali della donna e dell’uomo rispettivamente.

"The Holly And The Ivy" – Coro della Cattedrale di Winchester

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

Refrain:
Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet saviour

Refrain

The holly bears a berry as red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good.

Refrain

The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn.

Refrain

The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all.

Refrain

GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN ( tradizionale inglese )

It’s one of the most popular early English carols, probably from the 15th or 16th century, sung for centuries before being published in 1833. It is referred to in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol ( 1843 ):

E’ una delle più popolari antiche carole inglesi, probabilmente del 15mo o 16mo secolo; e cantata per secoli e secoli prima di venire trascritta e pubblicata 1833. Charles Dickens la cita nel suo romanzo “Canto di Natale” (A Christmas Carol, 1843 ):

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” - Angel Voices

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.

In Bethlehem, in Israel, this blessèd Babe was born,
And laid within a manger upon this blessèd morn;
The which His mother Mary did nothing take in scorn.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father a blessèd angel came;
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.

"Fear not, then," said the angel, "Let nothing you afright
This day is born a Savior of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him from Satan's power and might."

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.

The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethl'em straightaway this blessèd Babe to find.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.

But when to Bethlehem they came where our dear Savior lay,
They found Him in a manger where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling unto the Lord did pray.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.

God bless the ruler of this house, and send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas may live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred that live both far and near—

That God send you a happy new year, happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.

RING OUT THE BELLS FOR CHRISTMAS ( USA, 1907 )

A popular Christmas song recorded in USA in the 1907, recently digitally restored.

Una canzone natalizia incisa negli USA in the 1907, recentemente restaurata e digitalizzata.

“Ring Out The Bells For Christmas” - The Edison Concert Band

Ring out the bells for Christmas,
The happy happy day;
In winter wild, the holy Child
Within the cradle lay.
O wonderful! the Savior
Is in the manger lone;
His palace is a stable,
And Mary's arms His throne.
Ring out the bells for Christmas,
Ring out the bells for Christmas,
Ring out the bells,
Ring out the bells,
The happy, happy day,
The happy, happy day.