Gabriel's Message facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gabriel's Message |
|
|---|---|
| Christmas carol | |
The Angel Gabriel sheet music
|
|
| Native name | Birjina gaztetto bat zegoen |
| Full title | The angel Gabriel from heaven came |
| Text | The Magnificat |
| Language | Basque |
| Melody | "Angelus Ad Virginem" |
| Composed | 13th century |
| Performed | 24 December 1818 |
| Published | 1833 |
"Gabriel's Message" or "The angel Gabriel from heaven came" is a popular Christmas carol. It is a traditional folk song from the Basque region. This area is located in parts of Spain and France. The carol tells the story of the Annunciation. This is when the archangel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary. He told her she would become the mother of Jesus Christ.
The Story Behind "Gabriel's Message"
This carol shares a story from the Christian Bible. It comes from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1. It describes the angel Gabriel's visit to Mary. It also includes Mary's song of praise, called the Magnificat.
The song begins with these well-known lines:
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
"All hail", said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady." Gloria.
"Gabriel's Message" started as a folk carol in the Basque country. It was inspired by an older Latin carol. This older song was from the 13th or 14th century and was called Angelus Ad Virginem.
A person named Charles Bordes collected this Basque carol. Then, Sabine Baring-Gould rewrote it in English. He had spent time in the Basque country as a boy. The tune for the song is simply called "Gabriel's Message." It is often performed using a musical arrangement by Edgar Pettman. This arrangement was published in his 1892 book, Modern Christmas Carols.
The phrase "Most highly favoured lady" made this carol a favorite for Richard Harries. He was a Bishop of Oxford.
Famous Recordings
Many artists have recorded "Gabriel's Message." Here are some notable versions:
- Sting included it on his single "Russians" in 1985. He also put it on his album If On a Winter's Night... in 2009. Sting's version is also on the best-selling album "A Very Special Christmas" from 1987.
- The English rock band Marillion recorded a version in 1999. It was for an album only available to their fan club. They also performed it on their 2003 DVD, Christmas in the Chapel.
- Canadian musicians Terry McDade and The McDades included it on their 2001 album "Midwinter."
- In 2004, Aled Jones recorded it for his album The Christmas Album.
- The Christian rock band Jars of Clay recorded a version for their 2007 album Christmas Songs.
- Charlotte Church recorded this song for her 2000 holiday album, Dream a Dream.
- Amanda Palmer sang an a cappella version with a choir. It was featured on Amazon's "All Is Bright" holiday playlist.
- Moya Brennan, the singer from the Irish band Clannad, recorded the song. It was on her 2005 Christmas album, An Irish Christmas.
See also
In Spanish: El mensaje de Gabriel para niños
