Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Looks like this choir is getting ready for "the big show"!
The lyrics of "Angels We Have Heard on High" were written by James Chadwick, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, to the music from a French carol called Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes. Chadwick was inspired by the Nativity account in the Gospel of Luke specifically the scene in which shepherds outside Bethlehem encounter a multitude of angels singing and praising the newborn child. "Angels We Have Heard on High" is most commonly sung to the hymn tune "Gloria", as arranged by Edward Shippen Barnes. Its most memorable feature is its chorus: Gloria in Excelsis Deo! (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest").
Miss Ann remembers singing this in choir. The choirmaster was very particular as to how the singers pronounced "excelsis Deo"- in egg shell-sees day-oh! And everyone had fun singing that long gloria.
The carol is published in both English and French, the English being the most well-known. But the Critters wanted me to post the French lyrics for our friend Mme. Summerfield because she likes to say things in French.
Les anges dans nos campagnes
Ont entonné l'hymne des cieux,
Et l'écho de nos montagnes
Redit ce chant mélodieux
Gloria in excelsis Deo (Bis)
Bergers, pour qui cette fête ?
Quel est l'objet de tous ces chants ?
Quel vainqueur, quelle conquête
Mérite ces cris triomphants?
Gloria in excelsis Deo (Bis)
Ils annoncent la naissance
Du libérateur d'Israël
Et pleins de reconnaissance
Chantent en ce jour solennel
Gloria in excelsis Deo (Bis)
Cherchons tous l'heureux village
Qui l'a vu naître sous ses toits
Offrons-lui le tendre hommage
Et de nos cœurs et de nos voix
Thank you Lou Ann, Henri, Kathy, Dawn, Babs, Joan, Kathy, Jackie, Marilyn and Haskar! And thanks from the Heavenly Choir who's quite tickled to have been on the PP!
I love your photo. The critters look to be in wrapped attention of the special celebration that is Christmas with those angels. I also loved the lyrics in French. Madame Summerfield it is not the only one who enjoys that!
Thank you Lou Ann, Henri, Kathy, Dawn, Babs, Joan, Kathy, Jackie, Marilyn and Haskar! And thanks from the Heavenly Choir who's quite tickled to have been on the PP!
@grammyn Well then, merci beaucoup Katy!