PICARDY
PICARDY is a French “noel,” a carol tune thought to date back to the seventeenth century. The tune was first published in Chansons Populaires desProvences de France (vol. IV, Paris, 1860); the melody was written down as sung by a Madame Pierre Dupont in Champfleury-Wekerlin to ‘Jesus Christ s’habille en pauvre,” a folk song she remem bered from her childhood in Picardy, an old province in northern France. PICARDY was first published with “LetAll Mortal Flesh” in The English Hymnal (1906). The tune is more solemn than other French carols (see 347). With its minor tonality PICARDYis a fine vehicle for supporting the majesty expressed in this text. Sing in unison with some sense of contemplation, mystery, and awe. Use restraint on the organ (or any accompaniment) throughout the first two stanzas, but let it become more brilliant on stanza 3. Pull out all the stops on the “alleluias” of stanza 4. [Liturgical Use] Ideal to use during Lord’s Supper services at Christmastime, but may be used at any time during the Christmas season; Lord’s Supper at other times of the church year (especially as a sung part of the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving at the beginning of the eucharistic liturgy).
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From Law's demand for reverent silence before God's majesty to Gospel's revelation of Christ's humble incarnation, culminating in heavenly liturgy and Easter victory