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Sources :
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Words : Les Anges dans nos campagnes, traditional French carol.
English translation : Angels We Have Heard On High, by Bishop James Chadwick (1813-1882), in Holy Family Hymns (1860).
Music : Les Anges dans nos campagnes, French carol melody, 17th century.
This beautiful and famous Christmas carol from the Languedoc region was already quite popular in France in the 17th century.
It was then known under various titles : Échos de Bethléem, or Le message des anges, or still J'entends là-bas dans la plaine.
The first verse was sung to the following words :
J'entends, là-bas, dans la plaine
Les anges, descendus des cieux
Chanter à perte d'haleine
Ce cantique mélodieux
Published for the first time in Paris in 1842, this carol was probably introduced to French Canada at around the same time.
The French lyrics which are sung nowadays were probably composed in the province of Québec.
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