"Il est né, le divin Enfant" (English: He is born, the divine Child) is a traditional French

Christmas carol A Christmas carol is a carol (a song or hymn) on the theme of Christmas, traditionally sung at Christmas itself or during the surrounding Christmas holiday season. The term noel has sometimes been used, especially for carols of French ori ...

History

The song was published for the first time in 1862 by Jean-Romain Grosjean and Paul Webster, organist of the

Cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...

Saint-Dié-des-Vosges Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (; german: Sankt Didel), commonly referred to as just Saint-Dié, is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Geography Saint-Dié is located in the ...

, in a collection of carols entitled ''Airs des Noëls lorrains''. The text of the carol was published for the first time in a collection of ancient carols, published in either 1875 or 1876 by Dom G. Legeay.

Lyrics

The text of the carol details the birth of Jesus and the wait of 4000 years for this event, as foretold by the prophets. It both observes the humility of Christ's birth in a stable and calls on the Kings of the Orient to attend the child. The text of the carol has been translated into English numerous times. One translation (close in meaning and keeping to the original meter) is by Edward Bliss Reed (1930): ''Chorus:'' Il est né le divin enfant, Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes ! Il est né le divin enfant, Chantons tous son avènement ! Depuis plus de quatre mille ans, Nous le promettaient les prophètes Depuis plus de quatre mille ans, Nous attendions cet heureux temps. ''Chorus'' Ah ! Qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant ! Ah ! que ses grâces sont parfaites ! Ah ! Qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant ! Qu'il est doux ce divin enfant ! ''Chorus'' Une étable est son logement Un peu de paille est sa couchette, Une étable est son logement Pour un dieu quel abaissement ! ''Chorus'' Partez, grands rois de l'Orient ! Venez vous unir à nos fêtes Partez, grands rois de l'Orient ! Venez adorer cet enfant ! ''Chorus'' Il veut nos cœurs, il les attend : Il est là pour faire leur conquête Il veut nos cœurs, il les attend : Donnons-les-lui donc promptement ! ''Chorus'' O Jésus ! O Roi tout-puissant Tout petit enfant que vous êtes, O Jésus ! O Roi tout-puissant, Régnez sur nous entièrement ! ''Chorus'' ''Chorus:'' He is born, the Heav'nly Child, Oboes play; set bagpipes sounding. He is born, the Heav'nly Child, Let all sing His nativity. 'Tis four thousand years and more, Prophets have foretold His coming. 'Tis four thousand years and more, Have we waited this happy hour. ''Chorus'' Ah, how lovely, Ah, how fair, What perfection is His graces. Ah, how lovely, Ah, how fair, Child divine, so gentle there. ''Chorus'' In a stable lodged is He, Straw is all He has for cradle. In a stable lodged is He, Oh how great humility! ''Chorus'' Jesus Lord, O King with power, Though a little babe You come here. Jesus Lord, O King with power, Rule o'er us from this glad hour. ''Chorus''

Recordings

Recordings include versions by

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with

Patricia Kaas Patricia Kaas (; born 5 December 1966) is a French singer. Her music is a mix of pop, cabaret, jazz, and chanson. Since the appearance of her 1988 debut album '' Mademoiselle chante...'', Kaas has sold over 17 million records worldwide. She h ...

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, Clare College Singers and Orchestra conducted by

John Rutter John Milford Rutter (born 24 September 1945) is an English composer, conductor, editor, arranger, and record producer, mainly of choral music. Biography Born on 24 September 1945 in London, the son of an industrial chemist and his wife, Rutte ...

, The Chieftains with

Kate & Anna McGarrigle Kate McGarrigle (February 6, 1946 – January 18, 2010) and Anna McGarrigle (born December 4, 1944) were a duo of Canadian singer-songwriters (and sisters) from Quebec, who performed until Kate McGarrigle's death on January 18, 2010. Music ca ...

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, and Lexi Walker.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Il est ne, le divin Enfant French-language Christmas carols 1862 songs French songs Songs about Jesus Songs about children 19th-century hymns

History

Lyrics

Recordings

See also

References