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Composer
Sarah MacDonald
Text Traditional French carol
Voicing SATB, a cappella
Topic Christmas
Price $2.75 (U.S.)
Released 8/23
Cat. no. 405-231
Difficulty Mod. Easy
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Min. of 5
Description
Sarah MacDonald has arranged this lovely French carol (known in English as "What is this lovely fragrance?"), with its text in the original French, with the English translation following, in a contrapuntal setting for SATB unaccompanied voices. The sopranos divide in the final section.
Anthem text
Quelle est cette odeur agréable,
bergers qui ravit tous nos sens?
S’exhale t’il rien de s’emblable,
au milieu des fleurs du printemps,
quelle est cette odeur agréable,
bergers qui ravit tous nos sens?
Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing,
stealing our senses all away?
Never the like did come ablowing,
shepherds in flow’ry fields of May.
Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing,
stealing our senses all away?
A Bethléem, dans une crêche
ils vient de vous naitr’un Sauveur.
Allons que rien ne vous empèche,
D’adorer votre rédempteur.
A Bethléem dans une crêche,
A Bethléem naitr’un Sauveur.
Bethlehem! there in manger lying
find your Redeemer, haste away.
Run with eager footsteps vying
worship the Saviour, born today!
Bethlehem! there in manger lying
find your Redeemer haste away.
--Traditional French carol
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Review
"This extended carol sets two verses, each appearing first in French, then in English, and the first verse repeats in French only as a coda. The flowing part writing is mostly stepwise, yet the choir moves through some sophisticated harmonic territories. The peregrinations are convincing and poetic, yet they require careful preparation from singers. Sopranos and altos divide in the final phrases, yet even with these passages, capable smaller choirs would enjoy this seasonal gem." --AAM Journal, Jan./Feb. 2024 |
