McKennitt blends world-music with folk, Celtic and exotic Mediterranean sounds using instruments such as the hurdy gurdy, kanoun, uilleann pipes, Turkish clarinet, bouzouki and nyckelharpa alongside traditional instruments like guitar, drums and bass and the harp, piano and accordion, the three instruments she plays.
Born in Morden, Manitoba, Canada in February 17, 1957, Loreena moved to Stratford, Ontario, Canada in 1981, where she still resides. She has acted and sung in, and composed music for, Stratford Festival of Canada productions ranging from The Tempest (1982) to The Merchant Of Venice (2001).
Her recording career began in 1985 with the album Elemental. In the fledgling years of her label Quinlan Road, Loreena ran its operations from her kitchen table, selling recordings by mail order and producing her own concert tours across the country. Quinlan Road's catalogue is currently distributed around the world by Warner Music (US), Universal Music (Canada and other territories including Italy and Spain) and a number of independents including Keltia Music (France) and SPV (Germany).
Noël Nouvelet!
Loreena McKennitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dévotes gens‚ rendons à Dieu merci;
Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet;
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!
En Bethléem‚ Marie et Joseph vy‚
L’asne et le boeuf‚ l’Enfant couché parmy;
La crèche était au lieu d’un bercelet.
L’estoile vint qui le jour esclaircy‚
Et la vy bien d’où j’etois départy
En Bethléem les trois roys conduisaient.
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!
L’un portrait l’or‚ et l’autre myrrhe aussi‚
Et l’autre encens‚ que faisait bon senty:
Le paradis semblait le jardinet.
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!
En douze jours fut Noël accomply;
Par cinq vers sera mon chant finy‚
Par chaque jour j’en ai fait un couplet.
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!
The lyrics of the song Noël Nouvelet by Loreena McKennitt is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The song calls for us to sing in praise and gratitude to God for sending His son to the world. The first verse invites us to sing a new Christmas song in honor of the new King, using the French words "Noël nouvelet." The second verse paints a picture of the nativity scene in Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph welcomed their son, surrounded by an ox and a donkey. The third verse describes the arrival of the Magi, led by the shining star and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The final verse notes that Christmas day lasts for twelve days and encourages us to celebrate each day, ending with the chorus of "Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!"
Line by Line Meaning
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy;
Let's celebrate Christmas and sing it joyfully!
Dévotes gens‚ rendons à Dieu merci;
Let's show our devotion to God by expressing our gratitude.
Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet;
Let's sing Christmas carols for the newly born King.
En Bethléem‚ Marie et Joseph vy‚
In Bethlehem, I saw Mary and Joseph.
L’asne et le boeuf‚ l’Enfant couché parmy;
I saw the ox and the donkey lying beside the Child.
La crèche était au lieu d’un bercelet.
Instead of a cradle, the Child was lying in a manger.
L’étoile vint qui le jour éclaircy‚
Then came the star that illuminated the day.
Et la vy bien d’où j’etois départy
I saw it well from where I had left.
En Bethléem les trois roys conduisaient.
In Bethlehem, the three kings were leading.
L’un portrait l’or‚ et l’autre myrrhe aussi‚
One of them carried gold, another myrrh,
Et l’autre encens‚ que faisait bon senty:
while the other carried incense, that smelled really good.
Le paradis semblait le jardinet.
It all looked like a garden of paradise.
En douze jours fut Noël accompli;
Christmas lasted for twelve days.
Par cinq vers sera mon chant finy‚
My song will end with five verses.
Par chaque jour j’en ai fait un couplet.
And each verse is about something that happened on each day of the twelve-day celebration.
Noël nouvelet! Noël chantons icy!
Let's celebrate Christmas and sing it joyfully!
Contributed by Bentley Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TAK
1.
Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici
dévotes gens, disons a Dieu merci
Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet.
Noël nouvelet Noël chantons ici.
2.
En Bethléem Marie et Joseph vis
l'âne et le boeuf, l'enfant couché au lit
La crèche était au lieu d'un bercelet.
3.
L'étoile y vis qui la nuit éclaircit
Et d'Orient d'où elle était sortie
En Bethléem les trois Rois amenait.
4.
L'un portant l'or, l'autre la myrrhe aussi
l'autre l'encens qu'il faisait bon sentir.
Du paradis semblait le jardinet.
5.
En trente jours Noël fut accompli.
En douze vers sera mon chant fini
En chacun jours j'en ai fait un couplet.
 English translation
1.
Noël nouvelet, sing we a new Noël
Thank we now our God, and of His goodness tell;
Sing we Noël to greet the newborn King;
Noël nouvelet, a new Noël we sing!
2.
Waking from my sleep, a vision came to me;
For before my eyes there stood a flow'ring tree,
Where on a bright red rosebud I did see.
Noël nouvelet, a new Noël sing we.
3.
How my heart did glow, with inward joy divine!
For with rays of glory did the rosebud shine,
As when the sun doth blaze on break of day.
This new Noël sing we: Noël nouvelet!
4.
Then a tiny bird ceased joyous song to say
Unto certain shepherds: "Haste you now away!
In Bethlehem the newborn Lamb you'll see."
Noël nouvelet, a new Noël sing we!
5.
Mary and Joseph in Beth'lem they found,
Where the infant lay, with ox and ass around,
And for a crib, their manger full of hay.
This new Noël sing we: Noël nouvelet!
6.
So, upon my bed, I saw these wonders all, "
Dreaming of a Child, an Infant Child so small:
Jesus of Naz'reth, called a King to be.
Noël nouvelet, a new Noël sing we!
morininhooo
Noel nouvelet! Noel chantons icy;
Devotes gens' rendons a Dieu merci;
Chantons Noel pour le Roi nouvelet;
Noel nouvelet! Noel chantons icy!
En Bethleem' Marie et Joseph vy'
L'asne et le boeuf' l'Enfant couche parmy;
La creche etait au lieu d'un bercelet.
Noel nouvelet! Noel chantons icy!
L'estoile vint qui le jour esclaircy'
Et la vy bien d'ou j'etois departy
En Bethleem les trois roys conduisaient.
Noel nouvelet! Noel chantons icy!
L'un portrait l'or' et l'autre myrrhe aussi'
Et l'autre encens' que faisait bon senty:
Le paradis semblait le jardinet.
Noel nouvelet! Noel chantons icy!
Noel nouvelet! Noel chantons icy!
En douze jours fut Noel accomply;
Par cinq vers sera mon chant finy'
Par chaque jour j'en ai fait un couplet.
Noel nouvelet! Noel chantons icy!
Жанна Мурзабекова
Amazing, Loreena! Bravo-o-o!!! I'm singing with you:
Noël nouvelet, noël chantons icy
Dévotes gens, rendons à Dieu merci
Chantons noël pour le Roi nouvelet
Noël nouvelet, noël chantons icy
En Bethléem, Marie et Joseph vy
L'asne et le boeuf, l'Enfant couché parmy
La crèche était au lieu d'un bercelet
Noël nouvelet, noël chantons icy
L'estoile vint que le jour esclaircy
Et la vy bien d'où j'etois départy
En Bethléem les trois roys conduisaient
Noël nouvelet, noël chantons icy
L'un portrait l'or, et l'autre myrrhe aussi
Et l'autre encens, que faisait bon senty
Le paradis semblait le jardinet
Noël nouvelet, noël chantons icy
Noël nouvelet, noël chantons icy
En douze jours fut noël accomply
Par cinq vers sera mon chant finy
Par chaque jour j'en ai fait un couplet
Noël nouvelet, noël chantons icy
Dearly Beloved
English translation:
Christmas Comes Anew
1.
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
Glory to God! Now let your praises swell!
Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King,
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
2.
Angels did say, "O shepherds come and see,
Born in Bethlehem, a blessed Lamb for thee."
Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King,
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
3.
In the manger bed, the shepherds found the child;
Joseph was there, and the Mother Mary mild.
Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King,
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
4.
Soon came the kings from following the star,
Bearing costly gifts from Eastern lands afar.
Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King,
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
5.
Brought to Him gold and incense of great price;
Then the stable bare resembled Paradise.
Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King,
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
X
When I saw it, my heart was glad.
Beautiful clarity shone in Him,
like the sun, which shines in the morning.
New Christmas,
Christmas let's sing here.
https://lyricstranslate.com
Candy Apple
I love how she mixes an ancient Medieval hymn with Arabic/Moroccan rhythms. Stunning.
Stephen Jackson
Really love this carol... Though historical ages are often up for debate, this carol traces to the late 15th or very early 16th century. The Fall of Constantinople (1453 I believe?) is a very convenient demarcation point for the of the high middle ages and the beginning of the renaissance. In any case, her incredible work in exploring world musicians blending styles is glorious! She works incredibly hard to ensure as much authenticity in dialect and style in most of her recordings. This is no exception.
Soufi Mostafavi Kashani
That's what I was thinking too, but I'm not sure about it...cause the rhythm can be middle eastern belonging to ancient Israel or Hebrew music, but I'm just guessing...
Jaden
That's right 😊😊😊😊😊
CAROLINA REGUERO FULLIER
Es un inmenso placer escuchar la música medieval y con ella viajar volando hasta allá para mirar de frente las hermosas voces como la de esta Dama de la Música Celestial. Infinitas gracias por compartirla. ¡FELICITACIONES!
Theres.M Rose
This woman has an amazingly beautiful voice
dracomancer01
i just got this album and i love it..seeing her a few years back in hollywood perform was just amazing..i dont think anything can top that experience, her music has helped me through alot of tough times thus it means alot to me
Fabian Pfeffer
Her french sounds like an old chivalric dialect, thats really mystic. Another beautiful song from Loreena!
Andolyn
Her songs seem to last an eternity. When I thought the song was nearly to the end I saw it wasn't even half way. It's so wonderful. When I really listen I forget everything around me.
Timothy Sears
Me too, I go to different places when she sings,