Onomatopée

Today’s French carol, Patapan, was written by Bernard de La Monnoye in 1720. It wasn’t originally written in French at all, but rather in the Burgundian dialect, which bears only a passing relationship to the language of Molière. It’s kind of the “Little Drummer Boy” of France; the chorus is the sound of the instruments.

When it is played these days, it is often performed by woodwind instruments, without the lyrics. In 2009, American Idol winner David Archuleta recorded this version in modern French – at least the first verse. I can find versions by Julie Andrews, children’s choirs, and even puppets, but all of them are in English. If anyone knows of a good version in French, I’m all ears. (In 2016, the USAF holiday flash mob led with Patapan sung in French. Thanks to reader Michael McFarland who told me about it.) Here are the lyrics, with my translation. The paintings are from the Louvre.

Guillaume, prends ton tambourin, (William, bring your little drum)

Toi, prends ta flûte, Robin; (You, take your flute, Robin)
Au son de ces instruments, (To the sound of these instruments,)
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de ces instruments, (To the sound of these instruments,)
Je dirai Noël gaîment. (I will gaily say Christmas)

C’était la mode autrefois, (It was the style in the past)
De louer le Roi des rois, (To praise the King of kings)
Au son de ces instruments, (To the sound of these instruments,)
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de ces instruments, (To the sound of these instruments,)
Il nous en faut faire autant. (It made us need to do as much)

L’homme et Dieu sont plus d’accord, (Man and God are more in accord,)
Que la flûte et le tambour; (Than the flute and the drum 😉
Au son de ces instruments, (To the sound of these instruments,)
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de ces instruments, (To the sound of these instruments,)
Chantons, dansons, sautons en! (Let’s sing, dance, jump !)

Today’s word is onomatopée (on-om-a-toe-pay), which, you guessed it, is the French equivalent of onomatopoeia, the grammatical word for the literary device of a word that sounds like the noise that it represents. Here’s a link to fellow-blogger Shannon Kennedy’s post about French sounds for farm animals. You may be surprised to learn how differently the animals in the stable in Bethlehem would have spoken had they been French.

The French Christmas Album, Volume I

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