Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris

Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris ("Between ox and gray donkey") also under the title Le sommeil de l'enfant Jésus ("The sleep of the baby Jesus"), engl. The sleep of the infant Jesus , etc., is an old French Christmas carol . The text of the song refers to the manger in which Jesus was born and where ox and donkey are traditionally present. According to legend, the two animals warm the newborn with their breath.

The presence of ox and donkey, which is not mentioned in the Gospels , probably goes back to Isaiah : “The ox knows its owner and the donkey the manger of its master; But Israel has no knowledge, my people have no insight ” ( Isa 1,3 EU ).

It is known by many titles and in different text versions. It is in many collections.

Melodies

The traditional melody from the 19th century dates back to the 13th century.

$\ relative d '{\ key d \ minor \ time 4/4 \ autoBeamOff d4 d8 e f4 f8 [(g]) | g4. a8 a2 | approx | g8 ab a2 | a8 bcd a2 | g8 fga f2 | g8 fga b4 g8 f | e4. d8 d2 \ bar "|." } \ addlyrics {En - tre le bœuf et l'â - ne gris there, there, there le petit fils, mille an - ges div - vins, mil - le sé - ra - phins, vo - lent à l'en - tour de ce Dieu d'a - mour. }$

A new setting was created by François-Auguste Gevaert (1828–1908) , among others .

$\ header {tagline = ## f} \ score {\ new Staff \ with {% \ remove "Time_signature_engraver"} << \ relative c '{\ set Staff.midiInstrument = # "flute" \ key e \ minor \ time 2 / 2 \ tempo 2 = 80% \ set Score.currentBarNumber = # 5 \ override TupletBracket # 'bracket-visibility = ## f \ autoBeamOff %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%% Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris e2 e4 fis g2 eb 'b b1 eb b4 aga b1 \ bar "||" e, 4 ^ "Refrain" f sharp ga a1 b4 ag f sharp e1 e4 f sharp ga b4. g8 a4 b g2 fis e1 \ bar "|." } \ addlyrics {En - tre le bœuf et l'â - ne gris there, there, there le petit fils, mille an - ges div - vins, mil - le sé - ra - phins, vo - lent à l'en - tour de ce grand Dieu d'a - mour. } >> \ layout {\ context {\ remove "Metronome_mark_engraver"}} \ midi {}}$

text

French	translation
Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris There, there, there le petit fils, Mille Anges divins, Mille séraphins, Volent à l'entour de ce grand Dieu d'amour. Entre les deux bras de Marie There, there, le Fruit de Vie, Mille Anges… Entre les roses et les lys There, there, there le petit fils, Mille Anges… En ce beau jour solennel There, there, there l'Emmanuel, Mille ans ...	Between ox and gray donkey sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son, a thousand divine angels, a thousand seraphim, hovering around this great God of love. In the arms of Mary sleeps, sleeps, the fruit of life, a thousand divine angels ... Between roses and lilies sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son, a thousand divine angels ... On this beautiful solemn day Immanuel sleeps, sleeps, sleeps, a thousand divine angels ...

Coda

His coda is not sung today:

Entre deux larrons on the croix.
There, there, there, le Roi des Rois.
Mille Juifs mutins,
Cruels assassins,
Crachent à l'entour
De ce grand Dieu d'amour.

literature

Noëls anciens et nouveaux, ou cantiques spirituel . Malassis, Nantes 1792, p. 30 f. ( Digitized in the Google book search).
Vieux noëls composés en l'honneur de la renaissance de Notre-Seigneur Jésus . Libraros, Nantes 1876, p. 121 f. ( Digitized version ).

Web links

grundschule-friedrichsfehn.de * (German)
ingeb.org (German)
French text (with English translation)
The sleep of the infant Jesus
Entre le boeuf et l'âne gris , arrangement for 8stg. mixed choir a cappella by Alwin Michael Schronen (2015).

Videos

Sound examples: Ute Neumerkel, French on YouTube , Martinusgruppe Ensch, German on YouTube , Sjors ter Braak on YouTube

References and footnotes

↑ cf. William E. Studwell: Christmas Carols. A Reference Guide . New York & London 1985, p. 125 (No. 428)
↑ z. B. the International Book of Christmas Carols , New Oxford Book of Carols or the University Carol Book (Eric Routley).
↑ Entre le boeuf et l'âne gris in the song project by Carus and SWR2.
↑ Sigrun Jantzen (Ed.): International Christmas Carols. Reclam, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-15-018898-9 , p. 41 f.
↑ Theo Mang, Sunhilt Mang (ed.): Der Liederquell . Noetzel, Wilhelmshaven 2007, ISBN 978-3-7959-0850-8 , pp. 927 f .
↑ Notes at hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com
↑ paulayres.co.uk
^ A "jarring coda that provides a window on the sensibilities of an earlier time", Gordon Paine: Translations & Annotations of Choral Repertoire , Volume III: French & Italien Texts, 1988, p. 142 ( limited preview in Google book search) .
↑ approximate translation: “Between two thieves on the cross, sleeps, sleeps, sleeps, the King of kings; A thousand Jewish rebels, cruel murderers, spit around this great God of love "

[1] . William E. Studwell: Christmas Carols. A Reference Guide . New York & London 1985, p. 125 (No. 428)

[2] z. B. the International Book of Christmas Carols , New Oxford Book of Carols or the University Carol Book (Eric Routley).

[3] Entre le boeuf et l'âne gris in the song project by Carus and SWR2.

[4] Sigrun Jantzen (Ed.): International Christmas Carols. Reclam, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-15-018898-9 , p. 41 f.

[5] Theo Mang, Sunhilt Mang (ed.): Der Liederquell . Noetzel, Wilhelmshaven 2007, ISBN 978-3-7959-0850-8 , pp. 927 f .

[6] Notes at hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com

[7] ulayres.co.uk

[8] A "jarring coda that provides a window on the sensibilities of an earlier time", Gordon Paine: Translations & Annotations of Choral Repertoire , Volume III: French & Italien Texts, 1988, p. 142 ( limited preview in Google book search) .

[9] roximate translation: “Between two thieves on the cross, sleeps, sleeps, sleeps, the King of kings; A thousand Jewish rebels, cruel murderers, spit around this great God of love "