Advent Calendar – 15th December, 2020
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar
15th December, 2020
Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable?
Amazingly, the melody of this beautiful French 17th century traditional carol appeared in 1778 in the Beggar’s Opera by John Gay but we mostly know the carol today in the lovely arrangement by Sir David Willcocks and it is from that setting that this version by Danielle has emerged.
It is thought that the words are from the Lorraine region and they tell the story of the annunciation to the shepherds as in Luke chapter 1.
1. Quelle est cette odeur agréable,
bergers, qui ravit tous nos sens?
S’exhale t’il rien de semblable
au milieu des fleurs du printemps?
Quelle est cette odeur agréable
bergers, qui ravit tous nos sens?
2. Mais quelle éclatante lumière
Dans la nuit vient frapper nos yeux
L’astre de jour, dans sa carrière,
Futil jamais si radieux!
Mais quelle éclatante lumière
Dans la nuit vient frapper nos yeux
3. Voici beaucoup d’autres merveilles!
Grand Dieu! qu’entends-je dans les airs?
Quelles voix! Jamais nos oreilles
N’ont entendu pareils concerts.
Voici beaucoup d’autres merveilles!
Grand Dieu! qu’entends-je dans les airs?
4. Ne craignez rein, peuple fidèle
Écoutez l’Ange du Seigneur;
Il vous annonce une merveille
Qui va vous combler de bonheur.
Ne craignez rein, peuple fidèle
Écoutez l’Ange du Seigneur.
5. A Bethléem, dans une crêche
Il vient de vous naitre-un Sauveur
allons, que rien ne vous empâche
D’adorer votre redémpteur
A Bethléem, dans une crêche,
Il vient de vous naître-un Sauveur.
6. Dieu tout puissant, gloire éternelle
vous soit rendue jus-qu’aux cieux.
Que la paix soit universelle
que la grace a bonde en tous lieux.
Dieu tout puissant, gloire éternelle
vous soit rendue jus-qu’aux cieux
Translation by K. W. Simpson
1. What is this fragrance softly stealing?
Shepherds! It sets my heart a-stir!
Never was sweetness so appealing
Never were flowers of spring so fair!
What is this fragrance softly stealing?
Shepherds! It sets my heart a-stir!
2. What is this Light around us streaming?
Out of the dark – with blinding ray –
Purer than Star of Morning’s seeming –
Showing our path as plain as day!
What is this Light around us streaming?
Out of the dark – with blinding ray!
3. What is this Wonder all around us
Filling the air with Music light!
Shepherds! Some Magic here hath found us!
Never mine ears knew such delight!
What is this Wonder all around us
Filling the air with Music light!
4. ‘Be not affrighted, Shepherds lowly!
Hearken the Angel of the Lord!
Bearing a Message glad and Holy –
Shedding a radiance all abroad!
‘Be not affrighted, Shepherds lowly!
Hearken the Angel of the Lord!
5. There, in a Manger with His Mother,
Lieth our Saviour, Born today!
Come away Shepherds; Let none other
Hinder thy coming now away!
There, in a Manger with His Mother,
Lieth our Saviour, Born today!
6. God in His charity and favour,
Give ofHis grace to all a share!
Grace that aboundeth, now and ever,
Peace that abideth everywhere!
God in His charity and favour,
Give of His grace to all a share!
Translation by A. B. Ramsay:
1. Where is that goodly fragrance flowing
To steal the senses all away
Adorns the air, and nothing like it
The shepherds sensed in fields in May?
From where that goodly fragrance flowing
To steal the senses all away?
2. What is that light so brilliant, breaking
Here in the night across our eyes.
Never so bright, the day-star waking,
Started to climb the morning skies!
What is that light so brilliant, breaking,
Here in the night across our eyes.
3. Bethlehem! there in manger lying,
Find your Redeemer haste away,
Run ye with eager footsteps vieing!
Worship the Saviour born today.
Bethlehem! there in manger lying,
Find your Redeemer haste away.
https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/
index.php/Quelle_est_cette_
odeur_agréable_(Traditional)
https://www.
hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/
Hymns_and_Carols/
where_is_that_goodly_fragrance.htm
Translation by Rod Mather:
1. Where is that goodly fragrance flowing
To steal the senses all away
Adorns the air, and nothing like it
The shepherds sensed in fields in May?
From where that goodly fragrance flowing
To steal the senses all away?
Refrain:
All pow’rful God, and King eternal,
The heavens praise with one accord.
Grace, peace and truth give to all nations;
Spring forth from Jesus Christ our Lord.
All pow’rful God, and King eternal,
The heavens praise in one accord.
2. A light to bright, a beam so piercing
it turns our darkness into day.
The light of Christ, it is so radiant,
the beam it casts, it guides our way.
A light so bright, a beam so piercing.
It turns our darkness into day.
Refrain
3. Shepherds to Bethlehem go hasten!
And in a manger see him lay.
Adore you God, and your redeemer;
Saviour of all to win the day.
Shepherds to Bethlehem, go hasten!
And in a manger see him lay.
Refrain