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Carols old and new
by loiswakeman @ 31/12/2007 - 00:32:39

I don't normally listen very closely to the broadcast church service on Radio 4 on Sunday morning, but today's was interesting as well as tuneful. Coming from Durham, it examined the origins and traditions of carols.

Interestingly, they used to be secular songs connected with celebrations of the winter solstice, and were not allowed in church because of their pagan associations. It wasn't till the 14th Century that Franciscan friars introduced Christian carols.

Another interesting fact: While Shepherds Watched was originally set to the tune called Cranbrook - which is better known as the tune for On Ilkley Moor bah't 'at. Listening to this was a bit like a serious version of "One Song to the Tune of Another" from I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue!

You can listen again for a week here - including Cranbrook and a lovely Mediaeval hymn Angelus ad virginem.

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LissaTLissaT pro
31/12/07 @ 01:33

I used to belong to a dramatic society which joined with a chamber choir for an evening of poetry and carols on the first Sunday in advent every year. These evenings followed a theme each year rather than being a random selection of pieces, and we managed over the years to include a vast amount of mediaeval music and poetry right through to stuff hot off the press, but always with just enough of the populist material everyone knows to make the event so popular that it twice outgrew its venues in the twenty or so years it continued. Sadly the original choirmaster died, and, though the choir continued for a few more years for just this one annual event, it stopped inviting new members and eventually faded away.

thehomelyyearthehomelyyear pro
31/12/07 @ 17:55

interesting - thank you

tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
03/01/08 @ 20:06

The origins of the tune of Good King Wenceslas were originally quite a quick dance-like tune. Unfortunately the Victorians got hold of said tune and rendered it porridge-like.

And of course there's that wonderful Holly and the Ivy carol - 'the rising of the sun and the running of the deer' - very pagan sounding!
Lovely post, thanks Lois! :)

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loiswakemanloiswakeman [Member]
http://lois.co.uk
04/01/08 @ 12:13

Yes - I think the Holly and the Ivy is very fitting for this time of year. A bit diluted by Virgin's blood rather that the original blood of the winter king or the poor bloke who got the bean - but still stirring stuff.

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