The Huron Carol - Canadian Christmas Chant
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- Опубликовано: 2 дек 2022
- Vocals and arrangement by Farya Faraji. Many thanks to Luigi Alberga for having introduced me to this song. This is known as the oldest Christmas chant in Canada, and may very well be one of its oldest songs, if not the oldest. The piece has a very interesting history: it was first noted down in the 18th century in Québec, and it is said that it was written and composed by Jean Brébeuf, a French missionary who had traveled to New France in 1625. Brébeuf was nothing short of a linguistic genius, and had an extraordinary ability for languages. He learned the Wendat language, a member of the Iroquoian family of languages in North America, and even mastered it to the point of poetic and oratory fluency. According to this story, he then wrote what is known in French as the Noël Huron, or Jesous Ahatonnia, in the Wendat language.
The song would then have been translated into French and noted down in the 18th century. It was later translated into English. I'm personally dubious as to the veracity of the story when it comes to the melody: it was supposedly composed by Brébeuf himself, based on the melody of a pre-existing French song called “Une Jeune Pucelle”, but the descending pattern into the Aeolian mode is highly uncharacteristic of European music in the 17th century, and is found far more often in French Canadian music of the past two centuries. I think it's a possibility that the melody we now associate with the text isn't exactly the one sung by Brébeuf's converts in the 1600's, if he did indeed compose the song.
A characteristic of the original Wendat lyrics as well as the English translation is the transposition of the story of the nativity into a pre-colonial, North American setting. God is referred to as the Gitche Manitou, the gifts of the Three Magi are turned into pelts of fox and beaver, etc--it shows a fascinating form of syncretism: translating the imagery of a Middle-Eastern setting into a North American one. I forewent using the original Wendat lyrics as the language has no native speakers right now, and is in the process of being retaught by the Wendat Nation here in Québec; therefore I didn't have sufficient sources to ensure a proper rendering of the language that wouldn't butcher it.
Lyrics in French:
Chrétiens, prenez courage,
Jésus Sauveur est né ! Du malin les ouvrages
À jamais sont ruinés. Quand il chante merveille,
À ces troublants appas Ne prêtez plus l'oreille :
Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Oyez cette nouvelle, Dont un ange est porteur!
Oyez! âmes fidèles, Et dilatez vos cœurs.
La Vierge dans l'étable Entoure de ses bras
L'Enfant-Dieu adorable. Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Voici que trois Rois Mages, Perdus en Orient,
Déchiffrent ce message Écrit au firmament :
L'Astre nouveau les hante. Ils la suivront la-bas,
Cette étoile marchante : Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Jésus leur met en tête Que l'Étoile en la nuit
Qui jamais ne s'arrête Les conduira vers Lui.
Dans la nuit radieuse En route ils sont déjà,
Ils vont l'âme joyeuse. Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Pour l'Enfant qui repose dans un petit berceau,
Humblement ils déposent Hommages et cadeaux.
Comme eux, l'âme ravie, Chrétiens, suivons ses pas,
Son amour nous convie. Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Lyrics in English:
'Twas in the moon of winter-time
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.
Within a lodge of broken bark, the tender Babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin Enwrapp'd His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh, The angel song rang loud and high... "Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria."
The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair,
As was the ring of glory On the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.
O children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy Who brings you beauty, peace and joy. Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria! 
Видеоклипы
Vocals and arrangement by Farya Faraji. Many thanks to Luigi Alberga for having introduced me to this song. This is known as the oldest Christmas chant in Canada, and may very well be one of its oldest songs, if not the oldest. The piece has a very interesting history: it was first noted down in the 18th century in Québec, and it is said that it was written and composed by Jean Brébeuf, a French missionary who had traveled to New France in 1625. Brébeuf was nothing short of a linguistic genius, and had an extraordinary ability for languages. He learned the Wendat language, a member of the Iroquoian family of languages in North America, and even mastered it to the point of poetic and oratory fluency. According to this story, he then wrote what is known in French as the Noël Huron, or Jesous Ahatonnia, in the Wendat language.
The song would then have been translated into French and noted down in the 18th century. It was later translated into English. I'm personally dubious as to the veracity of the story when it comes to the melody: it was supposedly composed by Brébeuf himself, based on the melody of a pre-existing French song called “Une Jeune Pucelle”, but the descending pattern into the Aeolian mode is highly uncharacteristic of European music in the 17th century, and is found far more often in French Canadian music of the past two centuries. I think it's a possibility that the melody we now associate with the text isn't exactly the one sung by Brébeuf's converts in the 1600's, if he did indeed compose the song.
A characteristic of the original Wendat lyrics as well as the English translation is the transposition of the story of the nativity into a pre-colonial, North American setting. God is referred to as the Gitche Manitou, the gifts of the Three Magi are turned into pelts of fox and beaver, etc--it shows a fascinating form of syncretism: translating the imagery of a Middle-Eastern setting into a North American one. I forewent using the original Wendat lyrics as the language has no native speakers right now, and is in the process of being retaught by the Wendat Nation here in Québec; therefore I didn't have sufficient sources to ensure a proper rendering of the language that wouldn't butcher it.
Lyrics in French:
Chrétiens, prenez courage,
Jésus Sauveur est né ! Du malin les ouvrages
À jamais sont ruinés. Quand il chante merveille,
À ces troublants appas Ne prêtez plus l'oreille :
Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Oyez cette nouvelle, Dont un ange est porteur!
Oyez! âmes fidèles, Et dilatez vos cœurs.
La Vierge dans l'étable Entoure de ses bras
L'Enfant-Dieu adorable. Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Voici que trois Rois Mages, Perdus en Orient,
Déchiffrent ce message Écrit au firmament :
L'Astre nouveau les hante. Ils la suivront la-bas,
Cette étoile marchante : Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Jésus leur met en tête Que l'Étoile en la nuit
Qui jamais ne s'arrête Les conduira vers Lui.
Dans la nuit radieuse En route ils sont déjà,
Ils vont l'âme joyeuse. Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Pour l'Enfant qui repose dans un petit berceau,
Humblement ils déposent Hommages et cadeaux.
Comme eux, l'âme ravie, Chrétiens, suivons ses pas,
Son amour nous convie. Jésus est né : In excelsis gloria !
Lyrics in English:
'Twas in the moon of winter-time
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.
Within a lodge of broken bark, the tender Babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin Enwrapp'd His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh, The angel song rang loud and high... "Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria."
The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair,
As was the ring of glory On the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.
O children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy Who brings you beauty, peace and joy. Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria!
سلام آقای فرجی میشه با سازهای احیا شده ایران باستان یا سازهای سنتی سرنا دهل کرنا آهنگ اسطوره ای ایرانی ایجاد کنید ممنون💐
@@alirezaalizadeh7993درود، حتما، مرسی از پیشنهاد شما
Very nice! On this topic, you should try other more "exotic" carols, for example perhaps Luatu-s-o Dusu-s-o and Steaua Spre Răsărit, they're the only ones of their kind that I could find lol [if you know any more, do tell]:
Luatu-s-o Dusu-s-o: ruclips.net/video/I7rF33EjCdU/видео.html
Steaua Spre Răsărit: ruclips.net/video/nxU1V04gsDo/видео.html
I wonder if there is there is some styles of early Baroque in this song. Nice singing though.
@@greygamertales1293I completely forsook the period style and did something completely modern with this one, but François Lazarevitch’s ensemble have made a great rendition using Early Baroque aesthetics
This is suddenly the best Christmas carol I’ve ever heard.
@@mathieuwe I agree, that would be awesome - I still believe that this hymn is the best though
InCuLtUrAtIoN iS iNhErEnTlY bAd
As an American with American Indian heritage who has grown up on our frontiers with Canada, this Christmas carol speaks to me in ways no other can.
I am a 1st generation Canadian, this speaks to me as well. I am of Viking ancestry. The world was smaller in the day. This song tells of that.
I’m a German-American :D
What can I say now? I am always travelling through space and times with his singing. From a Roman legionnaire in garrison on Hadrian's Wall to a French poet and songwriter in Louis the XIVth's court to a Turkish bard of the Middle Age and a Spaniard of the early Renaissance, and now this? Bless you, man.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Saint Herman of Alaska, please pray for us. Merry Christmas to all, Christ is born! ☦ Lovely song, sir. Well done.
Amin! ☦
Всем православным привет! ☦️
En tant qu'Albertain habitant au Québec, je suis jaloux. I can almost smell that crisp Rocky Mountain air! Great song.
Looks more BC to me. Those pines *scream* coast ranges.
Bonjour de Paris
Mon gars je comprends pourquoi t’as quitté ce coin haha, l’air y était tellement pur, je suis tombé en amour avec l’Alberta! Thanks alot!
Papa Farya is bringing gifts early this year!
Such a beautiful chant, thanks for doing this video. Happy advent season!
My mom loves listening to French Christmas carols. I'm showing her this in roughly a week's time
Not only a creative and talented composer, but a great performer as well.
This is majestic and haunting. Worthy of this holy season.
love the quebec accent, like this song !
When I didn't care about Christmas gifts any more, this here is what I call a worthy gift!
Makes me very happy to have found your channel!
This song is always beautiful year around, nonmatter who's singing! I'm not native but I'm a proud Canadian and a practicing Catholic. This song makes us all grateful to be what God made us.
Well, I now know which Christmas song I'm going to listen on repeat for the rest of the month.
From what I know, the melody of the Huron Carol is based on an older French song called "Une jeune Fillette". There are other songs and dances from the late Renaissance and early Baroque that used the same melody such as the similarly titled "Une jeune Pucelle", the dance "Almande nonette" and Ludwig Helmbold's "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen".
Good point, it’s speculated that this melody is based on Une Jeune Pucelle or Fillette, but I personally don’t see why this speculation began in the first place. Listening to the other melodies that are often mentioned, it’s clear that they’re not remotely the same, or even similar for that matter; the only similarity is that they both function partially in the minor mode for the first 5 intervals, which at this point is a similarity the song shares with the entire repertoire of West Eurasia starting from Mesopotamian times. “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen” is actually far more similar in melodic terms.
But the dead giveaway for me is the descending motif in Aeolian on “Jesus Your King is Born.” This kind of descent in Aeolian is almost antithetical to Western practice between 1500 and 1800, and even today, it’s extremely rare, which is why it’s always been the one of the go to motifs for Hollywood to evoke the Middle-East in the 50’s to 70’s-it’s alot more characteristic of Iranian or Turkish practice than anything happening in Western Europe in the 1600’s. That said you find it often in French Canadian music of the 1800’s to 1900’s; which coincides with when this melody was first written down.
This melody is not the same as the European ones often mentionned, that’s beyond doubt; it may have been inspired by one of them originally (although there’s really no particular similarity with them that it doesn’t even justify this speculation in the first place imo), but ultimately, the melody we hear now can only conclusively be pinned down to the time it was written down, (the early 1900’s), and by that point, the melody that was written down was probably not the same Brébeuf was humming 100 years earlier, which would explain the melodic mismatch
This song makes me want to sing a praise for the Lord and light a bonfire in the woods in honor of my ancestors in equal measure... Masterpiece
Why not light a bonfire for the Lord?
@@tedhubertcrusio372 nah mate, he's fine with the praises
@@romulus_rex A fire certainly wouldn't hurt. Fire after all IS Holy. It's warm, it's light, it physically embodies all the things we describe God as.
It was meant to bring them both together.
@@allengordon6929 i know, that's what i ment in my first comment.
Cet homme est incroyable il trouve des chansons dont je n’avais jamais entendue! Merci pour votre travail votre chaîne RUclips à tellement de potentiel!
Beautiful, mesmerizing and melodious 😊🔥
I’m a full blooded American through and through. An this is amazing
Beautiful as always, incredible Brother, thank you!
Every tongue and race is singing your praises Wearing a crown of thorn you rule over everyone's heart 🔥
the feelings i get from watching such backrounds and nature are manly and the music makes it 10 times better
WOW!!! I have heard many versions of this carol but I really appreciate this arrangement and the beautiful Canadian background . I teach English as a Second Language and I will definitely share this song with my students this week.
I'm glad that you have visited my youtube feed sir, for this sound is glorious
First!
That said, this is beautiful. You never disappoint as usual, Farya Faraji :)
The scenery is stunning and fittingly sublime. Thank you for bringing us along in your travels, physical and spiritual.
You have a very rich voice. Thank you for these videos, they bring warmth to my soul
Everything about this is beautiful.
Excellent arrangement, rendering supported by very well researched text information. You are a scholar and an artist.
Didnt expect you to do Canadian music! really appreciate it, sounds like a bop
Your music hits on so many levels! Beautiful.
This is absolutely epic and alluring. Thank you very much!
Exelent, my brother 👌👌👌
Beyond beautiful
Amazing as always
Your music and your voice are so ethereal and captivating. I truly love and appreciate all your hard work, man. You're awesome! ❤️🔥🤘
Jolie imitation de l'accent québécois (ça fait aussi vieux-français et ça correspond à la période en plus)
C’est mon accent naturel, je suis Québécois :) Même que mon accent est plus soutenu et Français ici, mon accent normal est encore plus Québécois et fort haha
@@faryafaraji J'adore le Québec et aussi ton travail, bons bisous de Bretagne !
Merci beaucoup! Tout mon amour envers la Bretagne!
Je ne connaissais pas du tout ce chant! Merci pour l'histoire. C'est toujours passionnant de découvrir les récits qui accompagnent vos oeuvres. Quel panorama magique encore une fois! De bonne fêtes de Noël à vous et votre famille. :)
This is me after having thanksgiving in October
Simply beautiful!
Une chanson que j`avais déjà entendue par hasard et que je suis très heureux de retrouver enfin.
This is the first Christmas carol I've actually liked
Bravo !
Thank you for honouring the Native people of the Americas.
The lyrics could be sung also with the melody of "God Save Ye Merry Gentlemen" :) The imagery is incredible. Thanks for a new treasure!
(Next version with the Wendat lyrics, I hope.)
Thanks alot Manol! I also saw you shared this on Facebook, thanks so much! And indeed-both melodies are very similar!
It may not be Christmas season, quite far from it actually, but there is something in the melody, your voice and the scenery you filmed that radiates a calm, peaceful sentiment of melancholy, no matter the season.
My goodness, this is beautiful. You have a true gift -- both as an artist, and as a teacher. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your music with us on this channel.
Our mutual friend Jean-Francois sent me here. Without him I would not have heard of this beautiful melody.
Great job!
This has been one of my favorite Christmas carols for years beyond years. Love your rendition very much. Thank you
You sing impeccably in any language and your voice is magnifiscent such as your passion ❤
Kardeşim Müziklerin çok güzel bize bu güzel ezgileri dinlettiğin için teşekkürler,Özelliklede Eski türk ezgilerini dinleyince ata yurdu Orta Asya'da buluyorum kendimi,Ötüken de,Tanrı dağlarında,Altay dağlarında,Selenge ırmağında sabırsızlıkla Hunlardan, Göktürklerden,Kıpçaklardan,Türgişlerden,Oğuzlardan gelecek yeni ezgilerini bekliyorum çok teşekkürler.
I love your channel and the music you make!
the beauty of this earth
You never fail to amaze us! This one’s a banger
3:07 wow !
This is wonderful. Loved it.
Same mode and similar melody to "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" I noticed.
Same here, the metre is the same; it’s possible to sing both texts on the other melody
This is absolutely beautiful.
This is the best version I've ever heard. And I love this song
Absolutely fantastic!
Tu mériterais beaucoup plus de vues, c’est sublime, ca parle à mon âme
Wonderful!
an origin clouded in the mists of time does nothing to the beauty of this here heard piece of music
Beautiful song Farya.
My favorite Iranian mad lad rocking a Canadian accent while singing 🤣
Good stuff
I first heard this one in a Czech translation on the radio in the 90s... I don't remember who did it, but it's a wonderful song and it's good to have been introduced to it as a child, and good to hear it now.
Spellbinding. I've always felt this song was meant to be played on a hand drum, and this is what I had in my head come to live. Amazing.
Merci pour cette belle découverte!
Very beautiful! Quite amazing how you can sing in all these languages!
Nice!
Im muslim but I wish everyone a merry christmass and happy new year( ik its still early but I wanted to say this)
Thanks my muslim bro, God love you ! ❤☪️🤝✝️💙
Salam my friend, merry christmas and happy new year to you and yours as well, much love to you your friends and family and may any enemies turn away from you to return as friends. I am christian and in the name of love i embrace you as a brother, as a father, as a son, and as a friend. Peace be upon you. In these times and in times to come
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful!
Magnifique encore une fois merci
Excellent. I'm sold.
Vraiment très beau!
Brilliant!!
Ευχαριστώ πολύ ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Absolutely loved it! Where is my poutine?
Unbelievable beautiful ❤️
Wow, beautiful ❤
Très sympathique, merci !
❤️me encanta ❤️
bless you!
very good
Magnifique !
I remember this one. It was in a Christmas carol collection that came with the Technics pedal organ my dad bought that was my first real instrument (after an aborted attempt at piano a few years earlier).
Reminds me of The Heliand, an old saxon poem that recounts the ministry of Jesus Christ in the style of a heroic epic.
Votre français est impeccable!
respect!
واقعا خیلی قشنگه...
His best yet...
Prononciation en français IMPECCABLE. BRAVO. BRAVO. Quel génie ! Je ne cesse d’être émerveillée par ton talent. C’est incroyable ton aptitude à reproduire l’authenticité de ces chansons. Merci de nous faire voyager avec toi de par le monde avec ta musique.
Fascinating - listening to this has prompted me to go back to your talk on the cultural relativity of "war music" - my (Greek / Ashkenazi / Soviet-raised) ear heard this piece as "here come those bloody marauding colonizers again marching through on another of their crusades..." Took my reflexes a few minutes to catch up with my rational mind explaining that no, this is the song of some peaceable Canadian lumberjacks celebrating the birth of their Lord...
ı love it dude
Deben contratarte para hacer músicas para películas y series de televisión, eres muy bueno en lo que haces, eres grande amigo, un abrazo grande, tienes mucho talento, eres le mejor
On numara beş yıldız
Çok teşekkür ederim güzel insanlar
Bonsoir Farya, très bon comme toujours ! Est ce que les paroles en langue Wendat sont disponibles quelques part?
La page Wikipédia en Français sur le Jesous Ahatonhia les a. On peut aussi les entendre dans plusieurs version; ma preferée est celle du Noël Baroque par François Lazarevitch :)
@@faryafaraji Je ne peux qu'approuver, Noël Baroque est un superbe projet !
*_O Shahanshah your Shahdom is waiting for another epic Iranian music_*