Alleluya, A New Work (Wishart)

Alleluya!
A new work is come on hand
Through might and grace of Godès son
To save the lost of every land.
For now is free that erst was bound.
We may well sing Alleluya!

Now is fulfilled the prophecy
Of David and of Jeremy
And also of Isaiah.
Sing we therefore both loud and high, Alleluya!

Alleluya, this sweetè song
Out of a green branch it sprung;
God send us the life that lasteth long.
Now joy and bliss be him among
That thus can sing Alleluya!

Traditional English Carol (15th century)

Music: Peter Wishart (1953)

Psalm 100 / Vous qui sur la terre habitez (Taizé)

Vous qui sur la terre habitez
Chantez à pleine voix, chantez
rassemblez-vous dans le Seigneur
célebrez-le d'un même cœur.

Car il est Dieu et Créateur,
il est Sauveur et seul Seigneur
de tout son peuple qu'il bénit;
tel un berger il le conduit.

Pour toi, Seigneur, que notre amour
se renouvelle chaque jour,
qu'il s'entracine dans la joie
qui de nos cœurs monte vers toi.

See also the English version: All People That On Earth Do Dwell

From Pseaumes Octante Trois de David (Geneva, 1551)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

Psalm 95 / Venez, crions de joie pour le Seigneur (Taizé)

Antiphon: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Venez, crions de joie pour le Seigneur,
Acclamons le rocher qui nous sauve,
Allons devant sa face avec actions de grâces,
Au son des musiques, acclamons-le.

Car c'est un Dieu grand que le Seigneur,
Un Roi grand par-dessus tous les dieux.
En sa main sont les creux de la terre,
Et les hauts des montagnes sont à Lui,
A Lui la mer, c'est Lui qui l'a faite,
La terre ferme, ses mains l'ont façonnée.

Entrez, courbons-nous, prosternons-nous,
A genoux devant le Dieu qui nous a faits.
Car c'est Lui notre Dieu,
Et nous le peuple dont II est le berger,
Le troupeau que mène sa main.

Aujourd'hui puissiez-vous écouter sa voix:
"Ne fermez pas vos cœurs comme à discorde
comme aux jours de tentation dans le désert,
quand vos pères m'ont éprouvé et tenté
et pourtant ils voyaient mes actions"

Antiphon: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

Joys Seven (England)

The first good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of one,
To see the blessed Jesus Christ
When he was first her son,
When he was first her son, good man,
And blessed may he be,
Both father, son, and holy ghost
Through all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of two,
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To make the lame to go.
To make the lame to go, good man,
And blessed may he be,
Both father, son, and holy ghost
Through all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of three,
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To make the blind to see.
To make the blind to see, good man,
And blessed may he be,
Both father, son, and holy ghost
Through all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of four,
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To read the Bible o'er.
To read the Bible o'er, good man,
And blessed may he be,
Both father, son, and holy ghost
Through all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of five,
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To bring the dead alive.
To bring the dead alive, good man,
And blessed may he be,
Both father, son, and holy ghost
Through all eternity.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of six,
To see her own son Jesus Christ
Upon the crucifix.
Upon the crucifix, good man,
And blessed may he be,
Both father, son, and holy ghost
Through all eternity.

The last good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of seven,
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To wear the crown of heaven.
To wear the crown of heaven, good man,
And blessed may he be,
Both father, son, and holy ghost
Through all eternity.

Words & Music: Traditional English folk carol

Nowell sing we (Exortum Est in Love and Lysse) [setting 1]

Refrain

Nowell sing we, both all and some
Now Rex pacificus is come.

1. Exortum est in love and lysse,
Now Christ His grace He gan us gysse,
And with His body us bought to bliss,
Both all and some. (Refrain)

2. De Fructu ventris of Mary bright,
Both God and man in her alight,
Out of disease He did us dight,
Both all and some. (Refrain)

3. Puer natus to us was sent,
To bliss us bought, fro bale us blent,
Both all and some. (Refrain)

4. Lux fulgebit with love and light,
In Mary mild His pennon pight,
In her took kind with manly might,
Both all and some. (Refrain)

5. Gloria Tibi ay and bliss,
God unto His grace He us wysse,
The rent of heaven that we not miss,
Both all and some. (Refrain)

Mediaeval English Carol (15th century)

Nowell Sing We (Nowel Syng We) [setting 2]

Refrain:

Nowell sing we now all and some
For Rex Pacificus is come

1. In Bethlehem that fair city
A child was born of a maiden free
That shall a Lord and Prince be
a solis ortus cardine

2. Children were slain full great plenty
Jesu for the love of thee
Wherefore their solees saved be
Hostis Herodes impie

3. As the sun shineth through the glass
So Jesu in His Mother was
Thee to serve now grant us grace
O lux beata Trinitus

4. Now God is come to honour us
Now of Mary is born Jesus
Make we merry among us
Exultet coelum laudibus

Mediaeval English Carol (c. 15th century)

The Lord af first did Adam make

1. The Lord at first did Adam make
Out of the dust and clay,
And in his nostrils breathed life,
E'en as the Scriptures day.
And then in Eden's Paradise
He placed him to dwell,
That he within it should remain
To dress and keep it well.

Chorus.

Now let good Christians all begin
An holy life to live,
And to rejoice and merry be,
For this is Christmas Eve.

2. And then within the garden he
Commanded was to stay,
And unto him in commandment
These words the Lord did say:
The fruit which in the garden grows
To thee shall be for meet,
Except the tree in the midst thereof,
Of which thou shalt not east. (Chorus)

3. For in the day that thou shalt eat,
Or do it them come nigh;
For if that thou doth eat thereof
Then surely thou shalt die.
But Adam he did take no heed
Unto that only thing,
But did transgress God's holy law,
And so was wrapt in sin. (Chorus)

4. Now mark the goodness of the Lord
Which he for mankind bore,
His mercy soon he did extend,
Lost man for to restore;
And then for to redeem our souls
From death and hellish thrall,
He said his own dear son should be
The Saviour of us all. (Chorus)

5. Which promise now is brought to pass,
Christians, believe it well;
And by the coming of God's dear Son
We are redeemed from thrall.
Then if we truly do believe,
And do the thing aright;
Then by his merits we at last
Shall live in Heaven bright. (Chorus)

6. Now for the blessings we enjoy,
Which are from Heaven above,
Let us renounce all wickedness
And live in perfect love.
Then shall we do Christ's own command,
Ev'n his own written word,
And when we die in Heaven shall
Enjoy our living Lord. (Chorus)

7. And now the tide is nigh at hand,
Int' which our Saviour came;
Let us rejoice, and merry be,
In keeping of the same.
Let's feed the poor and hungry souls,
And such as do it crave;
Then when we die, in Heaven sure,
Our reward we shall have. (Chorus)

Historical information: Wikipedia / Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Traditional English Carol