CAROL OF THE BIRDS (El Cant dels Ocells) trad. Catalonia

Upon this holy night,
When God's great star appears,
And floods the earth with brightness,
Birds' voices rise in song,
And warbling all night long,
Express their glad hearts' lightness.
Birds' voices ries in song,
And, warbling all night long,
Express their glad heart's lightness.

The Nightingale is first
To bring his song of cheer,
And tell us of his gladness:
"Jesus, our Lord is born
To free us from all sin,
And banish ev'ry sadness!
"Jesus, our Lord is born
To free us from all sin,
And banish ev'ry sadness!"

The answ'ring Sparrow cries:
"God comes to earth this day
Amid the angels flying."
Trilling in sweetest tones,
The Finch his Lord now owns:
"To Him be all Thanksgiving."
Trilling in sweetest tones,
The Finch his Lord now owns:
"To Him be all Thanksgiving."

The Partridge adds his note:
"To Bethlehem I'll fly,
Where in the stall He's lying.
There, near the manger blest,
I'll build myself a nest,
And sing my love undying.
There, near the manger blest,
I'll build myself a nest,
And sing my love undying.

Here is another "Carol of the Birds", this one old English. Elements of the melody were used by Gilbert & Sullivan for "Titwillow"

From out of the wood did a cuckoo fly, "Cuckoo."
He came to the manger with joyful cry. "Cuckoo."
He hopped, he curtsied, 'round he flew
And loud his jubilation grew.
"Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo"

A pigeon flew over to Galilee. "Vrercroo."
He strutted and cooed and was filled with glee. "Vrercroo."
And showed with jeweled wings unfurled
His joy that Christ was in the world.
"Vrercroo, vrercroo, vrercroo."

A dove settled down upon Nazareth. "Tsucroo."
And tenderly chanted with all his breath. "Tsucroo"
"Oh You," he cooed, "so good and true,
My beauty do I give to you.
Tsucroo, tsucroo, tscroo."

A third carol that prominantly features birds is the French carol "Whence Comes This Rush Of Wings Afar? (Noel des Ausels)"

rich r