Jacques, Come Here (Anonymous)

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Music files

• CPDL #16739: LilyPond

Editor: Peter Kaplan (added 2008-04-25).   Score information: Letter, 7 pages, 520 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: In English translation.

General Information

Title: Jacques, Come Here
Composer: Anonymous

Number of voices: 4vv
Voicing: STBB
Genre: Secular, Carol

Languages: French, English
Instruments: a cappella.
Published: 1555?

Description: An old French carol, supposedly from 1555 AD. Set for the four voices named in the song: "High notes" (soprano), "tenor," "baritone," and "bass."

Original text and translations

English text
as translated by Edward Bliss Reed

Jacques, come here,

Sweet and clear,

In a glad Noël,

Let us four

Sing once more,

Let each part sound well.

Now let us give the high notes to Margot.
Our friend Pierrot, a tenor he shall be.
Our baritone will be my good friend Janot.
Bass notes so low will fit the very part for me.

Jacques, come here,

Sweet and clear,

In a glad Noël,

Let us four

Sing once more,

Let each part sound well.

Here from the Heaven the angels came to men,
Songs they have sung, in Latin, French or Greek:
Glory be to God, and on Earth good will again,
Since to our Earth comes Jesus fair and meek.

Jacques, come here,

Sweet and clear,

In a glad Noël,

Let us four

Sing once more,

Let each part sound well.

There by His stall stood ox and ass.
Paying homage to God, they had for food no care.
Quiet they stand, for they do not eat their hay —
See how they gaze on little Jesus there.

Jacques, come here,

Sweet and clear,

In a glad Noël,

Let us four

Sing once more,

Let each part sound well.