Il est ne, le divin Enfant (He is Born, the Divine Child)

(French traditional)

This Christmas carol was first seen when it was published by Romain Grosjean in his Airs des Noels lorrains carol collection in 1862. The text was first published 13 or 14 years later in Dom G. Legeay’s ancient carol collection.

The title of the carol has become known by various names such as “Born Is He, Little Child Divine”, Born Is Jesus, The Infant King, “Born on Earth”, “Born Today is the Child Divine”, “He Is Born, Holy Child Divine” “He Is Born, The Divine Christ Child” and the Mohawk version “Rotonni NiioRoie Mia” along with several others.

The words of the carol detail the 4000 year wait for the birth of Jesus, as the prophets had foretold and the humility of being born in a stable.

It has been translated and arranged many times by composers, translators and conductors that include Jacqueline Froom, Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott, John Morrison, Edward Bliss Reed, John Rutter and David Willcocks among others.

Various recordings of the carol have appeared over the years by artists that include Clare College Choir, Petula Clark, Placido Domingo, Annie Lennox, Les Petits Chanteurs A La Croix De Bois and Siouxsie and the Banshees along with many others.

Clare College Choir recordings
Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (Traditional French/Edward Bliss Reed)
EMI 7 69950 2 (CD: Carols from Clare)
Conductor – John Rutter
Organ – Jeremy Blandford

Saint John’s College Choir, Cambridge recordings
Born on Earth (French traditional/words – Jacqueline Froom)
London Records 421-022-2 (Christmas Weekend – 16 Favourite Carols)
Conductor – George Guest
Arranger – John Rutter
Organ – Stephen Cleobury

Sources:

Il est ne, le divin Enfant (He is Born, the Divine Child)

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