Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable? (What Is This Pleasant Fragrance?) is a French Christmas carol of unknown authorship, said to be written in the 17th century.
The song tells of the wonders God worked on the night of Christ's Birth, witnessed by the shepherds who went in haste to see the Christ Child: a magnficent fragrance delighted their senses, greater than all the flowers of spring; a dazzling light came from the Manger, more dazzling than the sun itself; wondrous harmonies of the Angels heard through the cold night air, harrmonies and voices so beautiful as have never been heard before.
By these wonders and many others, God made it clear to men that He had sent His Only Begotten to save mankind, and that His Birth was the first announcement of man's Redemption. Thus, in gratitude, men should hasten to the Manger, adore the Christ Child, and give glory to God.
Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable? is here interpreted by English ensemble, The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Choir and Orchestra. Another beautiful version can be heard by another English group, the Tenebrae Choir, here.
Listen to Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable
Lyrics:
French text (1)
1. Quelle est cette odeur agréable,
Bergers, qui ravit tous nos sens?
S'exhale t'il rien de semblable
Au milieu des fleurs du printemps?
Quelle est cette odeur agréable
Bergers, qui ravit tous nos sens?
2. Mais quelle éclatante lumière
Dans la nuit vient frapper nos yeux
L'astre de jour, dans sa carrière,
Futil jamais si radieux?
Mais quelle éclatante lumière
Dans la nuit vient frapper nos yeux
3. Voici beaucoup d'autres merveilles!
Grand Dieu ! qu'entends-je dans les airs?
Quelles voix ! Jamais nos oreilles
N'ont entendu pareils concerts.
Voici beaucoup d'autres merveilles!
Grand Dieu ! qu'entends-je dans les airs?
4. Ne craignez rein, peuple fidèle
Écoutez l'Ange du Seigneur;
Il vous annonce une merveille
Qui va vous combler de bonheur.
Ne craignez rein, peuple fidèle
Écoutez l'Ange du Seigneur.
5. A Bethléem, dans une crêche
Il vient de vous naitre-un Sauveur
Allons, que rien ne vous empâche
D'adorer votre redémpteur
A Bethléem, dans une crêche,
Il vient de vous naîStre-un Sauveur.
6. Dieu tout puissant, gloire éternelle
Vous soit rendue jus-qu'aux cieux.
Que la paix soit universelle
Que la grace a bonde en tous lieux.
Dieu tout puissant, gloire éternelle
Vous soit rendue jus-qu'aux cieux!
English translation (2):
1. What is this pleasant fragrance,
Shepherds, that delights all our senses?
Does there exhale anything like unto it
Amidst the flowers of spring?
What is this pleasant fragrance,
Shepherds, that delights all our senses?
2. But what dazzling light
Strikes our eyes in the night?
The sun, in its course,
Was it ever so radiant?
But what dazzling light
Strikes our eyes in the night?
3. Here are many other wonders!
Great God! What do I hear in the air?
What voices! Never have our ears
Heard such harmonies.
Here are many other wonders!
Great God! What do I hear in the air?
4. Fear nothing, faithful people,
Listen to the Angel of the Lord;
He announces a wonder to you
That will fill you with well-being (bliss).
Fear nothing, faithful people,
Listen to the Angel of the Lord.
5. In Bethlehem, in a manger,
A Savior has just been born unto you;
Come, let nothing prevent you
from adoring your Redeemer.
In Bethlehem, in a manger,
A Savior has just been born to you.
6. Almighty God, eternal glory
Be given to you as far as the heavens.
May peace be universal,
May grace abound everywhere.
Almighty God, eternal glory
Be given to you as far as the heavens.
The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Marcellus Coffermans. At left: full painting; at right: detail of the Angel calling the shepherds. Netherland
style, c. 1550.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
