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Le troupeau verni des moutons Roule en tumulte vers la crêche Les lapins tambours, brefs et rêches, Couvrent leurs aigres mirlitons. Vierge Marie, en crinoline. Ses yeux d'émail sans cesse ouverts, En attendant Bonhomme hiver Veille Jésus qui se dodine Car, près de là, sous un sapin, Furtif, emmitoufflé dans l'ombre Du bois, Belzébuth, le chien sombre, Guette l'Enfant de sucre peint. Mais les beaux anges incassables Suspendus par des fils d'archal Du haut de l'arbuste hiémal Assurent la paix des étables. Et leur vol de clinquant vermeil Qui cliquette en bruits symétriques S'accorde au bétail mécanique Dont la voix grêle bêle: "Noêl! Noêl! Noêl!"
Text Authorship:
- by Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937), "Noël des jouets", M. 47 (1905), published 1914 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Noël of the toys", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Grant Hicks) , "Christmas of the Toys", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Victor Torres) , "Navidad de los juguetes", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 105
The varnished flock of sheep Rolls riotously towards the manger The rabbits' drumming, crisp and harsh, Covers the shrillness of their pipes. The Virgin Mary, in crinoline, Her enamel eyes forever open, Awaiting Old Man Winter, Watches over Jesus as he rocks himself For, nearby, under a fir tree, Furtive, enwrapped in the shadow Of the wood, Beelzebub, the dark hound, Lies in wait for the Child of painted sugar. But the beautiful unbreakable angels Hung on wires of brass From the top of the winter shrubbery Safeguard the peace of the stables. And their flight of bright red tinsel Rattling with symmetrical sounds Blends with the mechanical livestock Who bleat in a reedy voice: "Noël! Noël! Noël!"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937)
This text was added to the website: 2025-12-31
Line count: 21
Word count: 118