1. |
The Darkest Midnight
03:15
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"The Darkest Midnight"
The darkest midnight in December, no snow nor hail nor winter storm
Shall hinder us for to remember the babe that on this night was born.
With shepherds we are come to see this lovely infant's glorious charms.
Born of a maid as the prophets said the God of love in Mary's arms.
Have you not heard the sacred story, how man was made those seats to fill
Which the fallen angels lost in glory, through their presumption, pride, and will.
They thought us mean for to obtain such glorious seats and crowns in heaven.
So through a cheat they go Eve to eat the fruit to be avenged on man.
Ye blessed angels join our voices, let your gilded wings beat fluttering o'er
While every soul set free rejoices and every devil must adore.
We'll sing and pray that God always may our friends and family defend.
God grant us grace in all our days, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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2. |
The Path
01:43
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"The Path"
That’s what I should like the best, to be a humble bridge or way
Leading to the Christmas joy, where longing finds the road to rest
If only someone came to greet the holy Mother and her child
The very stones that make my path would thrill with joy beneath those feet.
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3. |
The Shepherds Sing
02:32
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"The Shepherds Sing"
The shepherds sing, and shall I silent be? My God, no hymn, no hymn for thee?
My soul’s a shepherd, too; a flock it feeds of thoughts, and words, and deeds.
The pasture is Thy word: the streams, Thy grace, Enriching all the place.
Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers, out-sing the daylight hours.
Then we will chide the sun for letting night, take up his place and right.
We sing one common Lord; wherefore he should himself the candle hold.
I will go searching till I find a sun shall stay, till we have done.
A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly as frost-nipped suns look sadly.
Then will we sing, and shine all our own day and one another pay.
His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so twine till ev’n His beams and my music shine.
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4. |
Sainte Nicholaes
01:23
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"Sainte Nicholaes"
Translation:
Saint Nicholas, God’s servant, help us to build a safe dwelling place
By your birth, by your death, Saint Nicholas, bring us safely there.
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5. |
Puer Natus est Nobis
01:12
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"Puer Natus est Nobis"
Translation:
A child is born unto, a son is given to us, who will be the supreme sovereign over all.
And he shall be called wonderful, counselor and the angels shall sing a new song to God who made this wonder.
Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, Amen.
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6. |
Lully, Lullay
02:40
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"Lully, Lullay"
Lullay thou little tiny child, By-by lully, lullay
Lullay thou little tiny child, By-by lully, lullay
Oh, sisters, two, how may we do to persevere this day
For this youngling for whom we sing, by-by lully, lullay
Herod the king in his raging charged he hath this day
His soldiers in their strength and might all children young to slay
Then woe is me, poor child, for thee and ever mourn and say
At thy parting, nor say nor sing, by-by lully, lullay
And when the stars in gather do in their full courses stay
Then smile as dreaming, little one, by-by lully, lullay
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7. |
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"Seven Virgins / The Leaves of Life"
All under the leaves, and leaves of life I met with virgins seven
And one of them was Mary mild, our Lord’s first mother in heaven.
Oh what are you seeking, you seven pretty maids, all under the leaves of life
We are seeking for no leaves, Thomas, but for a friend of thine
Go down, go down into yonder town and sit in the gallery
And there you’ll see sweet Jesus Christ, nailed to a big yew tree.
So down they went into yonder town as fast as foot could fall
And many a bitter and the grievous tear from them virgins’ eyes did fall
Oh, peace, Mother, Oh peace, Mother, your weeping does me grieve
For I will suffer this, he said, for Adam and for Eve
How can I my weeping leave, my sorrows undergo?
While I do see my own son die, and sons I have no mor
He laid his head on his right shoulder, and death has struck him nigh
The Holy Ghost be with your soul, sweet Mother, now I die
Oh the rose, the gentle rose, the fennel, it grows so strong
Amen, good Lord, your charity, here’s the ending of my song
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8. |
Alleluia Virga Mediatrix
03:17
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"Alleluia Virga Mediatrix"
Translation from Latin:
Alleluia! O branch, mediatrix, your holy vitals vanquished death
And your womb illumined all creatures in the beautiful flower
Born of the sweetest integrity of your sealed chastity.
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9. |
The Cherry Tree Carol
03:02
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"The Cherry Tree Carol"
When Joseph was an old man, an old, old man was he,
He married Mary, the virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee.
Oh, Joseph and Mary went walking, all through an orchard good,
And there were berries, and there were cherries, as red as any blood.
Oh, then bespoke sweet Mary in a voice so fair and so mild
Oh, dearest Joseph, pick me one cherry for I am with child.
Oh, then bespoke old Joseph with an answer most unkind,
Let him pick berries, and let him pick cherries that brought thee now with child.
Oh, then bespoke sweet Jesus, within his mother’s womb,
Bow down, bow down, thou tallest tree, that my mother might have some.
Then bow-ed down the tallest tree into sweet Mary’s hand
And Mary cried, oh, see now Joseph, I have cherries at my command.
Oh, then bespoke old Joseph, I have done sweet Mary wrong,
Cheer up, cheer up, my dearest Joseph, and do not be cast down.
So Mary picked one cherry as red as any blood
And Mary and Joseph, they walked on homeward all with her heavy load.
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10. |
The Burning Tree
02:43
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"The Burning Tree"
Where Mary lay she was a freebird and she lay down at the burning tree
She bore a son of God in flesh and blood to bear the torch for humanity.
Now Mary’s son could walk on water could heal the blind and set them free
While other sons at most could chop some wood sweet Mary’s son bore our destiny.
A mother’s heart would break could she know, her son would die at thirty-three
But Mary’s faith so strong that she gave in love, her only son to the burning tree.
Now Jesus bore the cross up that hill, while Mary watched from down below
And she lay down in the shadow of the burning tree and prayed to God that she might let go.
She said, O holy fire I have loved you, I bore your son and set him free
I gave him up that all might know their own hearts, I give him back to the burning tree.
O give us back to the burning tree, O send us back to the burning tree.
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11. |
Hodie
02:15
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"Hodie "
Translation:
Today a closed gate is open to us,
That gate which the serpent choked in a woman
Hence the flower of the Virgin Mary gleams in the dawn
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12. |
This is the Truth
02:48
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"This is the Truth"
This is the truth sent from above, the truth of God, the God of love.
Therefore don’t turn me from your door, but hearken al both rich and poor.
The first thing that I will relate, that God at first did man create.
The next thing which to thee I tell, woman was made with man to dwell.
And at this season of the year, our blest Redeemer did appear
And here did live, and here did preach, and many thousands he did teach.
O seek, O seek of God above, that saving faith that works by love
And if God is pleased to grant thee this, thou art sure to have eternal bliss.
God grant to all within this place, the saving faith, that special grace
Which to God’s people doth belong, and thus I close my Christmas song.
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13. |
Christ Child's Lullaby
04:09
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"Christ Child’s Lullaby"
My love, my pride my treasure, oh, my wonder new and pleasure, oh
My son, my beauty every you, who am I to bear you here?
The cause of talk and tale am I, the cause of greatest fame am I
The cause of proudest care on high, to have for mine the King of all.
And though you are the King of all, they sent you to the manger stall
When at your feet they all should fall, and glorify my child the King.
There shone a star above three kings, to guide them to the King of Kings.
They held you in their humble arms, and knelt before you until dawn.
They gave you myrrh, they gave you gold, frankincense and gifts untold.
They travelled far these gifts to bring, and kneel before their newborn King.
My love, my pride my treasure, oh, my wonder new and pleasure, oh
My son, my beauty every you, who am I to bear you here?
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14. |
Milford
02:52
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"Milford"
If angels sung a savior's birth, on that auspicious morn, we well may imitate their mirth, now he again is born...
While shepherds watched their flocks by night all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down...
To you in David’s town this day is born of David’s line, A savior who is Christ the Lord and this shall be the sign...
All glory be to God on high and to the earth be peace; Goodwill henceforth from heav’n to men, begin and never cease...
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15. |
The Boughs of Evergreen
03:55
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"The Boughs of Evergreen"
The boughs of evergreen are laden down with heavy snow.
Silence calls in gentle winds to all who care to know.
Tonight is born a spirit deep, whose love will warm all things.
Tonight in Bethlehem is born, the joy of which we sing.
Deep in a barn with sweetened hay sheltered from the wind,
And ‘neath the silence of the moon and the stars in all the heavens,
With Mary’s toil and Joseph’s watch, a child receives his life,
And Spirit said let him be love and heal the times of strife.
And as we look upon our lands ‘cross field and wood and stream,
And if we soften just a bit and listen to our dreams,
We know that on this night of birth that Christ within us dwells,
And all the hearts in all the lands shall ring as joyous bells.
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Katy Taylor Port Townsend, Washington
Katy performs original, medieval, and Celtic chant and song weaving Celtic ornamentation with haunting, mystical invocations and prayers. Katy has performed and toured with various ensembles over the years. Singing since she was a child, music often rises up within her to become song. Singing is her primary channel to the Divine Mystery. ... more
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