Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Christmas carols that stir your soul

When it comes to Christmas music I love to listen to traditional Christmas carols.  Some have deep and beautiful lyrics that stir your soul and remind you the real meaning of what we are celebrating this time of year.  Among my favorites are Lo how a rose e'er blooming and O Holy Night.  Tonight as I was looking for something to listen to while baking I stumbled across a music channel (Sirius XM Classical Pops) that was playing some of these beautiful carols along with some I heard for the very first time like this traditional French carol from the 1700's:



What Is This Fragrance 

1. What is this fragrance softly stealing?
Shepherds! It sets my heart a-stir!
Never was sweetness so appealing
Never were flow'rs of spring so fair!
What is this fragrance softly stealing?
Shepherds! It sets my heart a-stir!

2. What is this Light around us streaming?
Out of the dark with blinding ray,
Purer than Star of Morning's seeming
Showing our path as plain as day!
What is this fragrance softly stealing?
Shepherds! It sets my heart a-stir!

3. What is this Wonder all around us
Filling the air with music light!
Shepherds! some Magic here hath found us!
Never mine ears knew such delight!
What is this fragrance softly stealing?
Shepherds! It sets my heart a-stir!

4. Be not afraid, O, Shepherds lowly!
Hear ye the Angel of the Lord!
Bearing a Message glad and Holy
Shedding a radiance all abroad!
What is this fragrance softly stealing?
Shepherds! It sets my heart a-stir!

5. There, in a Manger with His Mother,
Lieth our Saviour, Born today!
Come away Shepherds; Let none other
Hinder thy coming now away!
What is this fragrance softly stealing?
Shepherds! It sets my heart a-stir!