La Marche Des Rois is a carol describing the caravan of the magi, the “three kings,” to present gifts to the child born in Bethlehem. Unlike the typical imagery we get in more modern songs like “We Three Kings,” this carol describes the caravan of 30 pages, an honor guard, and armed men. THAT is more in keeping with how I imagine kings would have traveled. Not just 3 guys on camels.
Also, rather than a mood of swaying back and forth to “star of wonder, star of night,” etc., we get more of an upbeat march with drums and lots of vocal harmony.
The song is from The Gifts of Midwinter, by Ken and Lisa Theriot.
You can listen to the song here:
Below are details about the song as they appear on the album liner notes.
La Marche Des Rois
(March of the Kings, Marcho Dei Rèi)
15th c.
The original Occitan (Provençal) lyrics for this carol are
attributed to René, Comte d’Anjou et de Provence, Duke of
Lorraine and King of Sicily (1408-80), or King René of “the
Book of Love” fame. The French translation is attributed
to Joseph Domergue, a French curate (d. 1729). The
melody was either written or adapted from a previously
existing dance tune by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) as
the “Marche de Turenne” for Viscomte Henri de Turenne
(1611-1675). Bizet “borrowed” the melody for his
l’Arlésienne Suite (1872), and the changes Bizet made have
been incorporated back into the carol’s tune.
De matin j’ai rencontré le train
De trois grands Rois qui allaient en voyage,
De matin j’ai rencontré le train
De trois grands Rois dessus le grand chemin.
Venaient d’abord des gardes du corps,
Des gens armés avec trente petits pages,
Venaient d’abord des gardes du corps
Des gens armés dessus leurs juste-au-corps.
Puis sur un char, parmi les étendards
Venaient trois rois modestes comme d’anges,
Puis sur un char, parmi les étendards,
C’est Melchior, Balthazar et Gaspard.
L’étoile luit qui les Rois conduit
Par longs chemins devant une pauvre étable,
L’étoile luit qui les Rois conduit
Par longs chemins devant l’humble réduit.
Au fils de Dieu qui est né en ces lieux
Ils viennent tous présenter leurs hommages,
Au fils de Dieu qui est né en ces lieux
Ils viennent tous présenter leurs doux voeux.
Or, myrrhe, encens sont les beaux présents
Qu’ils ont porté à cet Enfant adorable
Or, myrrhe, encens sont les beaux présents
Qu’ils ont porté à ce divin Enfant.
Arranged by Ken and Lisa Theriot
© 2010 Raven Boy Music, ASCAP
In case you’re interested, the Occitan lyrics begin:
De matin ai rescountra lou trin
De tres grand rei qu’anavon en viagi.
Et en Anglais:
One morning I met the procession
Of three great kings who were going on a journey
One morning I met the procession
Of three great kings upon the high road
First came the honor guard
Armed men with thirty little pages
First came the honor guard
Armed men in their livery
Upon a chariot, among the banners,
Came three kings, modest like the angels
Upon a chariot, among the banners
Were Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspard.
The star led these kings
By long roads unto a poor stable
The star led these kings
By long roads unto the humble place.
To the son of God who was born in this place
They came to present their homage
To the son of God who was born in this place
They came to present their good wishes
Gold, myrrh, frankincense are the fair gifts
Which they have carried to the adorable child
Gold, myrrh, frankincense are the fair gifts
Which they have carried to the divine child.