Gautier's Noel is a Christmas song for two voices and guitar
using a translation by my father (S N Solomons)
of a poem
by the 19th century poet Théophile Gautier
describing the reality of a cold stable but allowing his mind
to wander up to heaven where the angels sing.
The pdf file includes the score and also a separate guitar part.
The sound sample was performed by the composer.
The sky is dark, the earth is white,
oh bells ring out with joy
Jesus is born, the Virgin quiet
shelters her baby boy.
Noel Noel Noel
bells ring out with joy!
No wraps No festooned curtains
spread to shield the child from frost
nothing but flimsy spider webs
trail from the beams aloft.
He shivers in that cold stable
this Jesus child so dear,
and so to warm him in the cradle,
the ass and ox draw near.
The snow hangs down in lacy fringe.
But far above the heavens swell
reveal the angel choir that sings to men
Noel Noel
(The original poem by Gautier is:
Le ciel est noir, la terre est blanche.
Cloches, carillonnez gaîment!
Jésus est né; la Vierge penche
Sur lui son visage charmant.
Pas de courtines festonnées
Pour préserver l'enfant du froid;
Rien que les toiles d'araignées
Qui Pendent des poutres du toit.
Il tremble sur la paille fraîche,
Ce cher petit enfant Jésus,
Et pour l'échauffer dans sa crèche
L'âne et le bœuf soufflent dessus.
La neige au chaume pend ses franges,
Mais sur le toit s'ouvre le Ciel,
Et, tout en blanc, le chœur des anges
Chante aux bergers: "Noël! Noël!"
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgOQdoOeZuU