We first heard this beautiful Basque carol played instrumentally (on a harp). We then had to find out more about it, and ended up writing and recording our own arrangement.
Here is the url for the simple Youtube video we made for this track: youtu.be/SiGFnsxscrc
lyrics
1. The angel Gabriel from heaven came
His wings as drifted snow his eyes a-flame
"All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!
2. "For know a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!
3. Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
Most highly favored lady. Gloria!
4. Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
"Most highly favored lady," Gloria!
credits
from Advent 2015,
released December 21, 2015
Vocals: L.D.A.L.
Arrangement: L.D.A.L.
Copyright: L.D.A.L./DeguMoth Studios 2015
Copyright for the original text and melody: Public Domain
Original Carol: 'Birjina gaztettobat zegoen, traditional Basque carol, collected by Charles Bordes (and published in the series Archives de la tradition basque, 1895). This carol was originally based on Angelus Ad Virginem (13th-14th Century Latin)
English translation/paraphrase by: Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)
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