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Allegra
Guest
I don’t know that I’ve ever heard this sung during Sunday Mass but I remember singing it at the begining of the day in school. I always thought the song was very pretty.
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Bobby_Jim
Guest
From Wikipedia: Although his father was Greek Orthodox and his mother a Swedish Baptist, Georgiou [aka Cat Stevens] was sent to a Catholic school, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Primary School in Macklin Street, which was closer to his father’s business on Drury Lane
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kozlosap
Guest
When we sang it during the processional on Sunday, I thought I was back in the 70’s! Most of the BabyBoomers were all looking around in shock, LOL! I thought it was just our very young director of music who used it 
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Tsuwano
Guest
It’s a beautiful hymn about God’s recreation of each new day. I like it because it brings me to prayer and causes me to remember God’s presence in each day.
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ClayPots47
Guest
That was provided by former “Strawbs” and “Yes” keyboardist Rick Wakeman. Wakeman, for those who did not know, was and is a lifelong Christian.I guess then I’m alone in admiring the piano accompaniment that came with Cat Steven’s version.
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Denise1957
Guest
I wouldn’t want to hear the Cat Stevens’ version at Mass, (even though I was a fan as a teen in the 70’s, and still have the old Cat Stevens LP with this song on it).
I wouldn’t mind hearing or singing the original version, though, at Mass at Christmas. It’s quite lovely, written by Mary MacDonald on the Isle of Mull in the 1800’s. Here’s the first part, with translation from the Gaelic:
Leanabh an Aigh
Leanabh an Aigh, an leanabh aig Mairi
Rugadh san stabull, Righ nan Dul;
Thainig don fhasach, dh’fhuiling nar n-aite,
Son’ iad an aireamh bhitheas dha dluth!
translation:
The Blessed Child
Blessed is the infant, Infant of Mary,
Born in a stable, King of the earth;
He came into the world, and suffered for us,
Happy the people Who’ll trust in Him!
Link to the rest of the lyrics:
fionamackenzie.org/DuanNollaig.pdf
Not sure if this link will work, but here’s a short audio sound clip of the song:
ambaile.org.uk:8080/1292/129232.mp3
I wouldn’t mind hearing or singing the original version, though, at Mass at Christmas. It’s quite lovely, written by Mary MacDonald on the Isle of Mull in the 1800’s. Here’s the first part, with translation from the Gaelic:
Leanabh an Aigh
Leanabh an Aigh, an leanabh aig Mairi
Rugadh san stabull, Righ nan Dul;
Thainig don fhasach, dh’fhuiling nar n-aite,
Son’ iad an aireamh bhitheas dha dluth!
translation:
The Blessed Child
Blessed is the infant, Infant of Mary,
Born in a stable, King of the earth;
He came into the world, and suffered for us,
Happy the people Who’ll trust in Him!
Link to the rest of the lyrics:
fionamackenzie.org/DuanNollaig.pdf
Not sure if this link will work, but here’s a short audio sound clip of the song:
ambaile.org.uk:8080/1292/129232.mp3
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Phemie
Guest
I don’t think he/she(?) meant Gregorian chant in particular, just chant in general.
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Phemie
Guest
It’s included in Canada’s official hymnal, the Catholic Book of Worship III with no mention of Cat Stevens.When we sang it during the processional on Sunday, I thought I was back in the 70’s! Most of the BabyBoomers were all looking around in shock, LOL! I thought it was just our very young director of music who used it
Also included is “This Day God Gives Me” to the same BUNESSAN tune.
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Phemie
Guest
No, you’re not, I love those piano riffs in Cat’s version. I just find BUNESSAN hard to sing and from what I hear around me in church it seems I’m not the only one with that problem.I guess then I’m alone in admiring the piano accompaniment that came with Cat Steven’s version.
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ProVobis
Guest
With rock tunes (and anything that makes the Top 40, for that matter) I’m not sure the “easy to sing to” is all that matters. If you ever watched Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, you probably saw that part of the show where the kids would rate particular songs. It seems as if most of the time, the comment “I liked it because it was easy to dance to” was used. It makes sense because in many places where they played those songs, you only heard a loud noise and a beat that could be felt for miles. And let’s face it, most know “Morning has broken” because it was in the Top 40 at one time. Just saying.
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Allegra
Guest
“Chant in general” is not specific to any people or culture. THE chants we use are mostly Gregorian chants or other styles of plainchant which were developed during the early church. The earliest forms probably started around 100 years after Christ, as the church spread through the world. Different cultures around the world used completely different tonal systems, so the chants weren’t the same. Around the begining of the fourth century is when the chants began to be more universal, and eventually, Pope Gregory I declared a set list of chants so that all the church would have the same. All the chants we currently use are from 300AD or later. They don’t even use the same tonal system as the ancient Hebrews.
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Cider
Guest
I’ve never heard it, ever.
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Phemie
Guest
I know why most people know it but it’s a Gaelic folk tune that’s more than 120 years old – not exactly rock and roll material.
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