Origins: Bas-Quercy Carols

Subject: Origins: Bas-Quercy Carols
From: samirich
Date: 15 Dec 05 - 10:02 AM

Looking for some background information on these Carols. I know of the carol of the flowers and the birds but I know little of the history of this region and how they managed to be so prolific?

Subject: RE: Origins: Bas-Quercy Carols
From: MMario
Date: 15 Dec 05 - 10:19 AM

I don't find much reference beyond the one carol (Carol of the Flowers - aka Carol of the birds aka 'Whence came this rush of wings" - and many of the sites that have it refer to Bas quercy as an "author" rather then a location!!!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Bas-Quercy Carols
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Dec 05 - 01:29 PM

Bas-Quercy (Quercy) is in the Lot Valley, south of the Dordogne, in southwest France. The region is popular for holidayers seeking a warm area that is reasonable in cost. I think the name is applied to songs from SW France, not just the Lot Valley.

Another 'Bas-Quercy' carol is "The Annunciation;" which is available in a translation by Edward Bliss Reed, arr. David Stanley Smith, 1923. Haven't found lyrics yet.

"Carol of the Flowers," (not the same as the 'Whence comes the rush of wings' carol) is known in Quebec and Prince Edward Island. First line- 'Come with us, sweet flow'rs.'

Subject: RE: Origins: Bas-Quercy Carols
From: samirich
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 01:08 PM

These are the lyrics to an Anunciation Carol. I am not sure if it is "The Anunciation Carol." Apparently there are several carols that were written about this event.


      Tidings true there be come new,
       Sent from the Trinity,
      By Gabriel from Nazareth,
       To city of Galilee;
      A clean maiden, and pure virgin
       Through her humility
      Hath conceived the Person
       Second in Deity.

    Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell.
This is the salutation fo the Angel Gabriel.

There are three other verses if you are interested. I have used these words with a tune that is really nice, but I am interested in finding "The Anunciation Carol"

Sammy Rich

Subject: RE: Origins: Bas-Quercy Carols
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 02:17 PM

The title "Annunciation carol" may be misleading, since a number of these carols have more specific titles.
One from the Basque country is "The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came," translated into English by Sabine Baring Gould.
Text and midi in the Cyberhymnal: www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/g/f/agfhcame.htm
Angel Gabriel
Three others are given in the Cyberhymnal, but have even less relationship to the Bas Quercy region.