|
| SG1004
Villanelle de Noël
Poem by Tom Scott (1918-1995)
Set to music by Michael Buck
SATB  performance time approx 2m 00s
|
|
|
| Composer's note
Tom Scott regarded poetry as 'verse that sings' and this poem, a fable of how the robin got the blood of Christ on its breast as it tried to help Christ on the cross, makes a beautiful Christmas song. As there are plenty of verses, feel free to vary the voicing between each one, switching between groups of soli and tutti sections.
|
|
|
|
| Music
See a sample of the music You need Acrobat Reader on your computer to see music pages. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, go to our 'links' page to find out how to get it free of charge. (You'll have to go back to the catalogue page first).
Hear a MIDI file of the song
|
|
| Words
Villanelle de Noël
The Robin owre aa birds is blest
At this time of the year, Nowel:
The bluid o Christ is on his breist.
| [aa - all]
[bluid - blood; breist - breast]
|
Frae Sicily til Hammerfest
The bairns relate the sely tale,
That the Robin owre aa birds is blest.
| [from Sicily to Hammerfest - i.e. far and wide]
[bairns - children; sely - holy]
[owre - over]
|
For on Calvarie he tried to wrest
Frae Yeshu's palm the cruel nail:
The bluid o Christ is on his breist.
|
[Yeshu - Jesus]
|
Sensyne he's been Yuill's dearest guest,
Nae ither sae welcome as himsel:
The Robin owre aa birds is blest.
| [sensyne - since then]
[ither - other; sae - so]
|
He wears the Yuilltide like a vest,
And his sang's the peal o a ferlie bell:
The bluid o Christ is on his breist.
|
[ferlie - wondrous]
|
Nae starred and medalled hero's chest
Can eer wi greater merit swell:
The Robin owre aa birds is blest.
The bluid o Christ is on his breist.
| [nae - no]
[eer - ever; wi - with]
|
| Tom Scott
|
|
Thanks to Heather Scott and to Chapman Publications
for permission to use this poem.
Full pronunciation guide provided
|
| Price per copy £1.30 ($2.00)
Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.
|
|
|
| Companion pieces
Browse the Christmas section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.
| 
|
