Provençal song

Christmas Carol

In Provençal: NOUVEL

Song no. 8 Damase Arbaud, 1862

Song no. 8 from the collection Chants populaires de la Provence by Damase Arbaud (1814-1876), published in 1862. Public domain. The text follows Arbaud's own spelling, which predates the Félibrige standard, and is reproduced unchanged.

Text

Une vierge de quinze ans S'es ajaçudo d'un enfant Venes lou tous veire Lou pu poly que s'es jamay vist On lou pourrias veire. A fes ly quauque present, De pan, de vin, ou d'argent, Donnas ly d'uffrenos ; A donas ly tous pichos et grans, Aro ques callenos, Lous Angis de son coustat Nen chantont solenita, Chacun se deleto De festejar ou de caressar Lou picho que teto. Quan lous pastres an sauput C'un taut rey ero nascut, Son vengus en troupe, Qu adus de las, qu de burry fres, Per y far de souppo. Une esthello de nouveau S'es aparegudo au seau, Tres reis l'an segudo, Jusquos à tant qu' an troubat L'Enfant embe la ajaçudo. Chantem tous, tous jouiament, A-n-aques enfantament, Menen rejoïisanse, Et preguem Dieu, uvert estieu, Per lou rey de Franse.

English translation of the full text forthcoming.

Notes

This carol, drawn from a Provençal manuscript from the end of the sixteenth century that Arbaud says he owned and whose spelling he states he scrupulously followed, celebrates the birth of the Christ Child to a fifteen year old virgin. The stanzas call the faithful to come see the child and bring him gifts, recount the angels' song, the shepherds' visit bearing milk and fresh butter, then the star guiding the three kings to the manger. The piece closes with a call to rejoicing and a prayer for the king of France, a sign of its age.

Notable words

ProvençalFrench
ajaçudocouchée, alitée (accouchée)
callenoscalendes (fêtes de Noël, du latin calendae)
soupposoupe
esthelloétoile
rejoïisanseréjouissance
deletose délecte

Glosses are given in French, as delivered by our lexicographic source; an English gloss is not yet available for these words.

Source: Damase Arbaud, Chants populaires de la Provence, 1862, song no. 8. Public domain. Digitization: https://archive.org/details/chantspopulaire00arbagoog. Transcription and formatting by Lingua Nostra.