![]() ![]() Music and Word: Unknown, compiled by John Wesley Work Jr. This African American Spiritual song has been around anecdotally since the 1860s, but was written down by the composer and scholar John Wesley Work Jr. The carol follows a common Medieval structure, with verses of regular length followed by a two-line refrain. This Medieval carol found new fame when a recording by British Folk Rock group Steeleye Span in 1973 reached no. Words: Sabine Baring-Gould after a Basque Carol Tune: Angelus Ad Virginem The tune is from the 13th or 14th century - hundreds of years older than the words, which were adapted from a Basque carol with some poetic additions. Gabriel's Message (The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came)Īnother carol about the Annunciation, but told in a more traditional way. It’s become popular for its easily relatable narrative and memorable melody. This song tells the story of the birth, death, resurrection and impending return of Christ. It was written in 1962 by a husband and wife as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. This Christmas song tells the story of the Annunciation (the announcement by the angel Gabriel that Mary would conceive a son) to the shepherds with charming simplicity. Words: George Ratcliffe Woodward Tune: Branle De L'Official Nowadays, thanks to the addition of a soaring Gloria from George Ratcliffe Woodward, it has become one of Christmas’ most rousing sings. The words are set to the 16th century French tune Branle De L’Official which was originally a stately dance. Also Kenneth Leighton.Īs one of the most commonly sung Christmas carols, you might be surprised to hear that this Welsh Melody (Nos Galan) was originally sung with original (and rather bawdy) words! The Welsh tune has English lyrics penned in 1862 by a Scot, Thomas Oliphant. Words: Robert Croo (earliest known) Tune: Unknown, English. The minor mode of the original melody still transfixes congregations and choirs alike. The haunting melody accompanies even more haunting subject matter, taken from the gospel of Matthew, which recounts the ‘Massacre of the Innocents’ when King Herod set out to kill the infant Christ. Many English Christmas carols have their origins in the Medieval Mystery Plays of the 16th century, and the Coventry Carol is no exception. It describes the waiting for Christmas as a journey through darkness towards light. This uplifting Advent carol was a relatively recent addition to the canon of Christmas music, written by Roman Catholic composer Bernadette Farrell in the early 1990s. It experienced a recent surge in popularity after being featured on the soundtrack for ‘Home Alone’ (1990) It was made popular in an arrangement by Mykola Leontovych in 1914 with lyrics by Peter J. The melody of ‘Carol Of The Bells’ is originally based on a Ukranian folk chant called ‘Shchedryck’. It’s now a popular carol at Christmas Concerts in the U.K. Originally for organ, the accompaniment was later scored by the composer for flute, oboe, harp and strings. Words: Unknown Tune: Cradle Song by William J. The words have two different musical settings, both of which are still performed today. ![]() This gentle lullaby was originally known as ‘Luther’s Cradle Song’ although it later transpired that it was not the work of the famous German theologian Martin Luther at all, and was in fact wholly American in origin. Words: James Montgomery Tune: Iris, Anon. In the UK his poem is most commonly associated with an anonymous French carol tune, Iris, and his refrain ‘Come and worship Christ the newborn King’ is sometimes replaced with ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’. Based on a poem by Ayrshire poet James Montgomery who was well known and highly thought of by his contemporaries Shelley and Byron. ![]()
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