About fife from Nice - Traditional Christmas carols from Provence

D’argent à une aigle de gueules, au vol abaissé, membrée, becquée et couronnée d’or, empiétant une montagne de trois coupeaux de sable issant d’une mer d’azur mouvant de la pointe et ondée d’argent.


	Traditional music from County of Nice (France)


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The musical traditions from County of Nice: Music introduction - Cross-over
Popular songs - Animal songs - Racy lovesongs - Work songs
Political, social and satirical songs - Contemporary songs
Carnival tunes - Circumstance tunes - Close couple dances - Characters dances - Farandole - Feasts - Round dances of May
Music for children
Chimes & knells - Sacred & religious music - Christmas carols from County of Nice - Sanctuaries

Brief survey of the traditional musics from the South of France: The Occitany - Limoux’ carnival tunes
The Piedmont - The Provence - Christmas carols from Provence

Other countries

Legend (click icons, on the left side of tunes title, to access to corresponding files):
	“fife & drums” MIDI file (a)(b).	“brass band” MIDI file (a)(b).	“other instruments” MIDI file (a)(b).
	score: PDF file (a)(b).	lyrics.
You may download MIDI and scores files as a whole from the Download page. (a)Without any further observation, arrangements and harmonizations by J.-G. Maurandi. (b) These files and their content are © 2001-2023 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.

Christmas carols from Provence

1. Description of the Christmas carols from Provence
2. Stock of traditional Christmas carols from Provence
3. Christmas carols by Nicolas Saboly

Description of the Christmas carols

The Christmas carols from Provence, like one’s of the nearby County of Nice, generally respect the same narrative frame, the one of the Pastorale provençale (Provençal pastoral) and the Presèpi nissart.

Stock of traditional Christmas carols from Provence

Here are some traditional Christmas carols representative of Provence.

Allons, bergers, partons tous (Shepherds, Let’s All Go!) or Quand Dieu naquit à Noël (When God Was Born at Christmas), Christmas carol based on the “timbre” When the Red Sea appeared. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire (William, Tony, Peter). Frédéric Mistral composed the provençal anthem Coupo santo according to the tune of this Christmas carol attributed to Nicolas Saboly (in actual fact by friar Sérapion). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Marcho di rèi (The Three Kings March). Christmas carol for Epiphany, popularized by Georges Bizet. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi. See also The movies.
Nouvé d’Avignoun (Christmas carol from Avignon). One of the numerous nadalets from Provence. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Nouvé grassenc (Christmas carol from Grasse), based on the “timbre” When the Red Sea appeared. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Vèni d’oousi (I have just heard). Song for the Provençal pastoral. Lyrics by Antoine Maurel, harmonization S. Reynaud. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.

Christmas carols from Provence by Nicolas Saboly

Composed around 380 years ago, Nicolas Saboly’s carols use sometimes the usual narrative framework of the Provençal pastoral. But Saboly often wanders in order to report the natural events (the Rhône floods...), social events (revolts of the “Fronde avignonaise”, town planning...) or political events (visit from the king, election of the pope...) that have marked his century, in Avignon and within the Comtat Venaissin. In the same way, Nicolas Saboly settled his hash with his religious superiors(cf. carol Ai proun couneigu) and his colleagues (cf. carol Nautre sian d’enfant de cor).

For a number of his Christmas carols, Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli, has often composed from two to four different musics, with same title and same lyrics, only marked bis, ter, etc. Numbers in parentheses refer to Christmas carols classification by Fr. Seguin.

Seven among carols that make up the 4th book form a coherent cycle called Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou (History of God’s Son birth). Each of these seven carols presents a single scene, that corresponds to an episode of this “History of Jesus Christ birth”, since census of the population in Bethlehem (carol #25, Dòu tèms de l’Empèri rouman) up to the Three Kings’ arrival at the nativity scene (carol #31, Lei mage dins Jerusalèn).

Adam e sa coumpagno (49) (Adam and his companion).
Ai ! la bono fourtuno (10) (Ah! The good fortune). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Ai proun couneigu (13) (I’ve well known). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Ai ! quouro tournara lou tèms, bregado ? (4) (Ah! When will come back the time, shepherds?) Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Aquel ange qu’es vengu (37) (This angel who came).
Auprès d’aquel estable (48) (Near this cowshed).
Bèn urouso la neissènço (36) (Very cheerful the birth).
Bon Diéu ! la grand clarta ! (2) (Dear Lord! What a great brightness!) Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Ça ! menen rejouïssènço (7) (Wow! Let’s lead rejoicing). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Cerqués plus dins un marrit estable (24) (Don’t search no more in a poor cowshed). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Chut ! teisas-vous (14) (Shush! Shut up!) Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Despièi lou tèm que lou soulèu se lèvo (38) (How long the Sun is rising).
Diéu vous gard’, noste mèstre (16) (God be with you, the master), dialogue between the master and the shepherd. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Dòu tèms de l’Empèri rouman (25) (In the days of the Roman Empire), cycle Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Helas ! qu noun aurié pieta (18) (Alas! Who wouldn’t have pity). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Hòu ! de l’oustau ! (26) (Hello! in the house!), cycle Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Iéu ai vist lou Piemount (1) (I’ve seen the Piedmont). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Jèsu, vous sias tout fioc e flamo (50) (Jesus, you are burning with enthusiasm).
Jujas un pau de quinto sorto (42) (Let judge slightly about what kind).
La fe coumando de crèire (32) (Faith commands to believe). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
L’ange qu’a pourta la nouvello (20) (The angel that has brought the news). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lei pastre fan fèsto (34) (The shepherds have a party). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lei plus sage (33) (The Wisest). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Li a proun de gènt que van en roumavage (5) (There is a lot of people going on a pilgrimage) or La cambo me fai mau (5) (My leg does harm myself). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Li a quaucarèn que m’a fa pòu (19) (There is something that has frightened me). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lorsque vous sarés malaut (47) (When you will be ill).
Lei mage dins Jerusalèn (31) (The Three Kings in Jerusalem), cycle Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Me siéu plega (40) (I fell asleep).
Micoulau noste pastre (3) (Nicholas, our shepherd). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Nautre sian d’enfant de cor (21) (We, we are altar boys). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Ourguhious plen de magagno (15) (Arrogant full of failings). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lei pastourèu (29) (The Shepherd Lads), cycle Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi. See also The movies and Lu Pastourèu (The Shepherd Lads), version played in the county of Nice.
Pastre dei mountagno (46) (Shepherds from the mountains). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Pastre, pastresso (51) (Shepherds, shepherdesses).
Pèr noun langui long dòu camin (9) (To not languishing along the lane). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Pièisque l’ourguei de l’umano naturo (11) (As the pride of the human nature). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Proufitas-me lèu (55) (Let profit soon).
Quand la miejo-nue sounavo (44) (When midnight was ringing).
Que disès, mei bon fraire (41) (What are you saying, my dear brethren).
Lou queitivié d’aquéu marrit estable (27) (The refuse of this poor cowshed), cycle Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
San Jóusé m’a di (35) (Saint Joseph said to me).
Se vàutre sias countènt (39) (If you people you are pleased).
Soun très ome fort sage (30) (They are three men greatly wise), cycle Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Sus lou coutau (28) (On the hillside), cycle Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou. Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun (22) (Tony, William, Peter). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Tu que cerques tei delice (53) (You who look for your delights).
Un ange a fa la crido (45) (An angel has made the announcement).
Un bèu matin, veguère uno acouchado (23) (One fine morning, I saw a new mother). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Uno estello (43) (A star).
Un pau après lei tempouro (6) (Soon after the “four-times”). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Venès lèu vèire la piéucello (12) (Let come soon to see the virgin). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Venès vèire dins l’estable (52) (Let come and see in the cowshed).
Vers lou pourtau Sant-Laze (17) (Around Saint-Lazarus gate). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Viven urous e countènt (8) (Let’s live happy and glad). Traditional from Provence, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.

Legend (click icons, on the left side of tunes title, to access to corresponding files):
	“fife & drums” MIDI file (a)(b).	“brass band” MIDI file (a)(b).	“other instruments” MIDI file (a)(b).
	score: PDF file (a)(b).	lyrics.
You may download MIDI and scores files as a whole from the Download page. (a)Without any further observation, arrangements and harmonizations by J.-G. Maurandi. (b) These files and their content are © 2001-2023 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.

Brief survey of the traditional musics from the South of France: The Occitany - Limoux’ carnival tunes
The Piedmont - The Provence - Christmas carols from Provence

Other countries

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