Joyeaux Noel

Tim SLIDE – juggler, bagpipe, Lute

e
5 Medieval procession – Bagpipe plays a French carol – Denise & Drum, dancer, juggler, musicians follow
4 Bienvenue!

Welcome to our celebration of Christmas in France. The song you heard prior to the processional was a
played in the Middle Ages by Jewish troubadours who would visit the courts of kings and nobleman to
perform music and recite stories in poetic form. We will recount one of these stories a little later in the
program. Minstrels were instrumentalists, but were also often jugglers, acrobats, and storytellers. In France,
they were known as troubadours and joungleurs

SLIDE – Marche do Noel

Also during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, at Christmas, you would find Christmas markets
throughout France . These “Marches de Noel” were little villages made of wooden stalls (called "châlets")
where, people could typically buy decorations, local products, "vin chaud" (that is, warm, mulled wine),
patisseries, and other items. This tradition still exists today.

SLIDE – Chalets

Often, there would be entertainment to delight the family. One such dance, popular in the 16th century, was
known generally as the Bransle.

SLIDE – Bransle dance

The name Bransle comes from the French verb branler--to shake, wave, sway, wag, wobble. That describes
the side-to-side movement of the Bransle’s chain or circle of dancers. Although originally accompanied by
 singing, the Branle became more instrumental when they were d anced by the aristocrats.

Bransle Simple, Gervaise

3
SLIDE – guitar

In the Middle Ages when England and Germany ruled parts of what we consider today to be French territory,
many of the classic Christmas songs you know and love in English were also popular in France.

Right here in the marketplace, our guitar quartet is about to play a medley of traditional English carols.

Medley of Carols – Guitar Quartet

Julienne speaks

SLIDE – Torch procession

Let’s visit the medieval city of Carcassonne in the South of France. It is lit by flaming torches and a juggler
performs.
Juggler performs while group plays Lully, Rondeau

Torch lit processions started in the Middle Ages, and continue to this day. Look: a lantern procession is about
 to begin.

Please join us on the repeat singing, “Il est ne le Divin Enfant”.

The words are in your program. You may sing in English or French.

Two children carry lanterns, while children follow playing recorders.

Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (Adult players join in on repeat)

Join us now in singing Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella.

Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella

SLIDE – Carcassone Cathedral

Our procession ends at the famous 13th century Carcassonne Cathedral as recorders play a sacred
Renaissance piece based on an ancient plain song.

Fantasie sur 'Ave Maris Stella' - du Caurroy

8 SLIDE – Medieval musicians

The French celebrate Christmas with songs they call “Les Noels.” Here are three by Marc-Antoine Charpentier.

Noels por les instruments - Charpentier

3
Each region of France has its own Christmas noels.
 SLIDE – Nativity scene showing donkey and cow

The oldest of these that is still sung today is “Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris.” It dates back to 16th century
Provence.

Please join us in singing after we play it once through.

3 SLIDE – Reveillon Dinner

Feasting has always been an essential part of the Christmas celebration Le réveillon is a long dinner held in the
evening preceding Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Its name descends from the word réveil (meaning
"waking"), because participation involves staying awake until morning, as the meal finishes.

And of course, there was music.

Les Anges Dans Nos campagnes

10 In France in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Jewish troubadours told secular stories and played music at the
courts of Christian nobles and kings.   Folk tales had been passed on orally for centuries and about 1250 in the
region of Lorraine, the story of Reynard the Fox, was recorded by Pierre de Saint Cloud. 
It is a parody with animals representing people at the court.  
Bible stories would tell of good and evil.   Reynard was a little of both.   
What follows are greatly abridged selections from a translation by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.

SLIDE – Reynard the Fox

Lords, you have heard many tales,

That many tellers have told to you.

And fables and epics;

And many others told in this land

But never have you heard about the war

That was difficult and lengthy

Between Reynard the fox and Isengrim, the wolf.

Sir Isegrim, the Wolf, approached the throne

“For Reynard’s malice grant me some redress
My spouse dishonored and my children maimed
A traitor vile, a thief, a murderer,
For all these grievances, both old and new,
I will do battle.”

Reynard to the Wolf, he boldly thus spake out:

Charge upon charge against me you devise,
But I denounce them all as groundless lies.
The challenge I accept!

Then Noble, King of Beasts, agreed to hold the battle on the morrow.

Wildly and savagely, with outstretched claws, with bristling hair, and wide-distended jaws, Is’grim, the
Wolf, the onset first began.

The wily Fox dared not the charge abide,

But, light of foot, sprang actively aside.

The savage wolf, with one tremendous bound

On Reynard sprang, and bore him to the ground.
The wolf seived fast in his griping jaws:
 And Reynard lay half dead with fear and pain.

The crafty Fox meanwhile,

Using the other hand he still had free,
Gripped hold of his opponent savagely;
And in so very sensitive a part,
That Isegrim screamed out, till blood he spate,

Glad Reynard deemed his conquest now secure.

He griped and pinched and bit and clawed and tore;

Enough, the King doth said,

The victory, Reynard, rests with you.

Here then ends Reynard’s life and history;

And with a bow we here lay down our pen.

The Lord preserve us evermore. Amen!

SLIDE - Lion holding court

El Rey de Francia – Sephardic Song – Recorder solo
5 SLIDE – Versailles

Louis IVX, known as the great Sun King, usually attended four different masses on Christmas Eve alone. There
he may have heard music by the famous composer Josquin De Pres.

Agnus Dei

Gloria in excelsis Deo

8 Musical celebrations would usually be held on New Year’s Eve as well. Let’s visit the court of Versailles
where the King’s musicians will entertain us.
SLIDE – Musicians

Chaconne - LeCocq – Jason

Lully – Passacaille Armide

SLIDE –- Dancer

Les fontaines de Versailles – de Laland

SLIDE – Joyeaux Noel!

Joyeaux Noel! (All Shout)

Please join us for wine and cheese in the rear of the church and meet the musicians.