“Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle” was written in the French region of Provence in the 16th century about the birth of Jesus. The listener is exhorted to speak softly to keep the newborn child from waking. On Christmas Eve in Provence children dress as milkmaids and shepherds as they go to Midnight Mass, carrying candles and singing this song.

Here is Broceliande, a trio of musicians based on the West Coast of the United States. They specialize in Celtic and early European music, playing cello, guitars, harp, recorder and flute. They’re performing their version of the song from the 2001 album “Sir Christemas: Songs of the Season”. The painting is “Le Nouveau-né” by Georges de La Tour (1593-1652).