Video – AuntyUta

ABC’s Classic Choir premieres “Oh Christmas Tree (Yerrbill with Clarence)” with lyrics by Gardening Australia’s Clarence Slockee and orchestrated by Joseph Twist, a new song commissioned especially for ABC Classic’s virtual choir.

ABC Classic Choir with Gardening Australia
Oh Christmas Tree
(Yerrbill with Clarence)
Lyrics: Clarence Slockee
Arrangement: Joe Twist
Welcome – Jingi Walla
Jingi Walla Kgarool Banaam Welcome/Hello All Together Brother(s) Bundjalung
Jingi Walla Kgarool Nanung Welcome/Hello All Together Sister(s)
Jingi Walla Bugalweena Welcome/Hello Good Health
Bundjalung Burrinah Born of → Bundjalung
VERSE 1 Bundjalung
Yerrbilehla Yerrbilehla Singing Singing
Minyunbal Nganduwal Minyunbal Nganduwal language
Yerrbill Bundjalung Yerrbill Bundjalung Sing Bundjalung Sing Bundjalung
Minyunbal Nganduwal Minyunbal Nganduwal language
Bidjung Wudjung Nanung Baanam Father Mother Sister Brother
Kgarool Bugalweena All together Good Health
Junguli Jala Jala Eat Food – lots of different food
Bunbar Waywani Beach Waywani
VERSE 2 Bundjalung
Let’s sing as one, in Bundjalung Bundjalung – mob and language from Northern coastal NSW
Language Minyunbal Nganduwal Minyunbal Nganduwal – Clarence’s dialect of Bundjalung
Yerrbilehla, we are singing Yerrbilehla – singing
In one of our first languages
So many words for family
Good health to all from you and me
All together, eat different food
Swim at the beach, love all we see
VERSE 3 Larrakia and Kuku Yalanji
At Christmas time, across the land
It’s heating up it’s summer time
The seasons that have linked us all
For so long are so much more Larrakia Country in the Northern Territory
In Larrakia, it’s Balnba Balnba – Rainy season in Larrakia Country
It’s time to pick the Moerrma Moerrma – black plum in the Larrakia language
For Kuku Yalanji it’s Jarramali time Kuku Yalanji – mob from an area of FNQ
When banday fruit is ripe Jarramali – rainy season in Kuku Yalanji
Banday – green plum in the Kuku Yalanji Language
VERSE 4 Turrbal, Dharawal and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung
Red Kamala, red and green
Fruits in Meanjin Meanjin – the Brisbane area in the Turrbal Language
And further south in Dharawal Dharawal Country – coastal area of the Sydney basin
The Gurrengutch begins his call Gurrengutch – the Great Giant Eel in Dharawal
Yam daisy in the highlands
Flowers everywhere you stand
The Garrawang in Narrm brings Garrawang – summer season in Woi Wurrung Language
Kangaroo apple flowers Narrm – Melbourne in the Woi Wurrung Language
VERSE 5 Noongar, palawa kani and Kaurna
For the Noongar mob across the west Noongar – mob from southwest corner of WA
The Birak breezes will refresh Birak – rainy season in Noongar language
The Moojar flowers, bright and gold Moojar – the WA “Christmas tree” in Noongar Language
There’s still more stories to be told
Lutruwita, Kaluyna-ti “Tasmania in summertime” in palawa kani
Praympi, muta mapali “The common heath, birds of all kinds” in palawa kani
Warltati in Kaurna “In Kaurna it’s summer” in Kaurna Language
Christmas Bush tirntungka “Christmas bush in the sun” in Kaurna Language
INSTRUMENTAL VERSE
REPEAT VERSE 1 Bundjalung
Yerrbilehla Yerrbilehla Singing Singing
Minyunbal Nganduwal Minyunbal Nganduwal language
Yerrbill Bundjalung Yerrbill Bundjalung Sing Bundjalung Sing Bundjalung
Minyunbal Nganduwal Minyunbal Nganduwal language
Bidjung Wudjung Nanung Baanam Father Mother Sister Brother
Kgarool Bugalweena All together Good Health
Junguli Jala Jala Eat Food – lots of

t.com/od/christmas/a/StilleNacht.htm

O du fröhliche
This very popular German Christmas carol has Italian origins. In 1788 the German philosopher, theologian, and poet Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744-1803) brought the melody to Germany after a trip to Italy. Originally a Sicilian fisherman’s song, the melody was used for the Latin hymn “O Sanctissima.” Around 1816 Johannes Daniel Falk (1768-1826) wrote the German lyrics for what soon became one of the most popular German Weihnachtslieder. The English version is known as “O How Joyfully.”

O du fröhliche
O You Merry (Christmastide)

MELODIE: Sizilianisches Fischerlied – Johann Gottfried von Herder (1788)
TEXT: Johannes Daniel Falk (1816)

DEUTSCH
Johannes Daniel Falk, 1816O du fröhliche, o du selige,
Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit!
Welt ging verloren,
Christ ist geboren,
Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit! O du fröhliche, o du selige,
Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit!
Christ ist erschienen,
Uns zu versöhnen,
Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!O du fröhliche, o du selige,
Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit!
Himmlische Heere
Jauchzen dir Ehre,
Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!

ENGLISH (lit. prose)
See poetic version belowO you merry, o you blessed,
Merciful Christmastide!
The world was lost,
Christ was born,
Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom! O you merry, o you blessed,
Merciful Christmastide!
Christ appeared,
To reconcile us,
Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom!O you merry, o you blessed,
Merciful Christmastide!
Heavenly hosts,
Exult your honor,
Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom!

LISTEN > Melody for “O du fröhliche” (midi version)

English poetic version, author unknown
O How Joyfully (O du fröhliche)

O how joyfully, o how blessedly,
Comes the glory of Christmastime!
To a world so lost in sin,
Christ the Savior, enters in:
Praise Him, praise Him Christians, evermore!

O how joyfully, o how blessedly,
Comes the glory of Christmastime!
Jesus, born in lowly stall,
With His grace redeems us all:
Praise Him, praise Him Christians, evermore!

O how joyfully, o how blessedly,
Comes the glory of Christmastime!
Hosts of angels from on high,
Sing, rejoicing, in the sky:
Praise Him, praise Him Christians, evermore!

http://german.about.com/library/blmus_dufroehlich.htm

Published by auntyuta

Auntie, Sister. Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Mother and Wife of German Descent I’ve lived in Australia since 1959 together with my husband Peter. We have four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I started blogging because I wanted to publish some of my childhood memories. I am blogging now also some of my other memories. I like to publish some photos too as well as a little bit of a diary from the present time. Occasionally I publish a story with a bit of fiction in it. Peter, my husband, is publishing some of his stories under berlioz1935.wordpress.com View all posts by auntyuta

PublishedDecember 3, 2014

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2 thoughts on “Christmas Songs and some German Christmas Customs”

catterelDecember 3, 2014 at 8:52 pmEditI have to agree with you, dear Uta, that Advent and Christmas in German-speaking countries is so much more enjoyable than in Engliash-speaking lands, even in these over-commercialised days. I don’t know a good English word for ‘besinnlich’ – but it’s that element that makes the difference. I have been fortunate to spend many Advents and Christmases in snowy mountain settings, and there is nothing to compare with trudging through the snow to midnight mass (even though I’m not a Catholic!)Reply
1. auntyutaDecember 4, 2014 at 6:49 am EditThank you so much, dear Cat, for commenting. Snowy settings of course tend to have a very calming influence. I think this is why it is extra special to have snow around Christmastime. Here in Australia we have in December a great summer holiday season. Christmas is very different from what it used to be for us in Germany. However we do stick to some traditions. For instance listening to certain Christmas songs brings back memories of a time long gone!

https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/special-features/abc-classic-choir-sings-oh-christmas-tree/101749122

Lyrics: Come over to the window, my little darling I’d like to try to read your palm I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy Before I let you take me home Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again Well you know that I love to live with you But you make me forget so very much I forget to pray for the angels And then the angels forget to pray for us Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again We met when we were almost young Deep in the green lilac park You held on to me like I was a crucifix As we went kneeling through the dark Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again Your letters they all say that you’re beside me now Then why do I feel alone? I’m standing on a ledge and your fine spider web Is fastening my ankle to a stone Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again For now I need your hidden love I’m cold as a new razor blade You left when I told you I was curious I never said that I was brave Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again Oh, you are really such a pretty one I see you’ve gone and changed your name again And just when I climbed this whole mountainside To wash my eyelids in the rain! Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again