ADD: Chariots (John Kirkpatrick)

Subject: Chariots
From: William Pint
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 12:56 PM

Can anyone give me, or direct me to the lyrics of John Kirkpatrick's Christmas song, 'Chariots'? I was given a poor quality cassette dub and can't make out some of the lines. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Xmas Song - Chariots of Gold ?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 04:51 PM

The song is "Chariots", written by John Kirkpatrick as commissioned for the "Wassail!" project by Folkworks and completed with financial assistance from Northern Arts. Recorded by Kirkpatrick, Rosie Cross, Georgina Le Faux, Michael Gregory, Jane Threlfall, Carl Hogsden on the cd "Wassail!" (Fellside Recordings, FECD125, not sure what year). Linda Adams was an additional voice on the recording of "Chariots." The original "Wassail!" tour took place for Christmas 1995, and a second in 1997. I assume the recording's 1998.

Also recorded in the U.S. by Nowell Sing We Clear (John Roberts, Tony Barrand, Fred Breunig, and Andy Davis on their cd "Just Say Nowell" (Golden Hind Music, GHM-105, 2000).

So, a contemporary song composed by someone well-versed in traditional music.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: Lyr Add: CHARIOTS (John Kirkpatrick)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Feb 04 - 08:22 PM

Copied from http://www.goldenhindmusic.com/lyrics/CHARIOTS.html

CHARIOTS

John Kirkpatrick was commissioned to write a couple of new carols for a "Wassail" tour organized by Folkworks in the north of England in 1995. One was this new classic, through-composed for band, solo voices and a small choir.

O Shepherd O shepherd come leave off your piping
Come listen come learn come hear what I say
For now is the time that has long been forespoken
For now is the time there'll be new tunes to play
For soon there comes one who brings a new music
Of sweetness and clarity none can compare
So open your heart for heavenly harmony
Here on this hill will be filling the air
    With chariots of cherubim chanting
    And seraphim singing hosanna
    And a choir of archangels a-caroling come
    Hallelujah Hallelu
    All the angels a-trumpeting glory
    In praise of the Prince of Peace

See on yon stable the starlight is shimmering
And glimmering and glistening and glowing with glee
In Bethlehem blest this baby of bliss will be
Born here before you as bold as can be
And you'll be the first to hear the new symphony
Songs full of gladness and glory and light
So learn your tunes well and play your pipes proudly
For the Prince of Paradise plays here tonight

Bring your sheep bleating to this happy meeting
To hear how the lamb with the lion shall lie
It's mooing and braying you'll hear the song saying
The humble and lowly will be the most high
Let the horn of the herdsman be heard up in heaven
For the gates are flung open for all who come near
And the simplest of souls shall sing to infinity
Lift up and listen and you shall hear

The warmonger's charger will thunder for freedom
The gun-maker's furnace will dwindle and die
And muskets and sabers and swords shall be sundered
Surrendered to the sound that is sweeping the sky
And the shoes of the mighty shall dance to new measures
And the jackboots of generals shall jangle no more
As sister and brother and father and mother
Agree with each other the end to all war

As a candle can conquer the demons of darkness
As a flame can keep frost from the deepest of cold
So a song can give hope in the depths of all danger
And a line of pure melody soar in your soul
So sing your songs well and sing your songs sweetly
And swear that your singing it never shall cease
So the clatter of battle and drums of disaster
Be drowned in the sound of the pipes of peace

Subject: Lyr Add: CHARIOTS (John Kirkpatrick)
From:
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 03:42 PM

CHARIOTS^^
(John Kirkpatrick)

O Shepherd O shepherd come leave off your piping
Come listen come learn come hear what I say
For now is the time that has long been forespoken
For now is the time thereíll be new tunes to play
For soon there comes one who brings a new music
Of sweetness and clarity none can compare
So open your heart for heavenly harmony
Here on this hill will be filling the air

Chorus:
With chariots of cherubim chanting
And seraphim singing hosanna
And a choir of archangels a-caroling come
Hallelujah Hallelu
All the angels a-trumpeting glory
In praise of the Prince of Peace

2. See on yon stable the starlight is shimmering
And glimmering and glistening and glowing with glee
In Bethlehem blest this baby of bliss will be
Born here before you as bold as can be
And youíll be the first to hear the new symphony
Songs full of gladness and glory and light
So learn your tunes well and play your pipes proudly
For the Prince of Paradise plays here tonight

3. Bring your sheep bleating to this happy meeting
To hear how the lamb with the lion shall lie
Itís mooing and braying youíll hear the song saying
The humble and lowly will be the most high
Let the horn of the herdsman be heard up in heaven
For the gates are flung open for all who come near
And the simplest of souls shall sing to infinity
Lift up and listen and you shall hear

4. The warmongerís charger will thunder for freedom
The gun-makerís furnace will dwindle and die
And muskets and sabers and swords shall be sundered
Surrendered to the sound that is sweeping the sky
And the shoes of the mighty shall dance to new measures
And the jackboots of generals shall jangle no more
As sister and brother and father and mother
Agree with each other the end to all war

5. As a candle can conquer the demons of darkness
As a flame can keep frost from the deepest of cold
So a song can give hope in the depths of all danger
And a line of pure melody soar in your soul
So sing your songs well and sing your songs sweetly
And swear that your singing it never shall cease
So the clatter of battle and drums of disaster
Be drowned in the sound of the pipes of peace

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chariots(John Kirkpatrick Christmas S
From: Barbara
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 04:38 PM

And for the rest of us, where do you find the tune and/or recordings of this?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chariots(John Kirkpatrick Christmas Song)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:55 PM

Barbara,
Tune and lyrics are published in John Kirkpatrick's marvellous songbook "What do you do in the day?" (pb. Quarry House Publishing, Tolhurst, Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 7LJ tel. [phone] - ISBN.0-9537914-0-8), still available from John himself.
There's a recording on the "Wassail" CD, Fellside FECD. 125.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chariots(John Kirkpatrick Christmas S
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 12:43 AM

Also on Nowell Sing We Clear's "Just Say Nowell" (Golden Hind, 2000).
See also this short thread.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: Lyr Req: J. Kirlpatrick's Chariot (Wassail Album)
From: GUEST,Stewart Dean
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 08:04 AM

Lovely gutsy, thumping piece...anyone have the words?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: J. Kirlpatrick's Chariot (Wassail Album)
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 10:54 AM

There are a couple of instances of it in the forum already, so I won't add another -- just direct you to go here. And yes to your description -- it sure is!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chariots (John Kirkpatrick)
From: Haruo
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 07:29 AM

Just got the songbook, and there's some really neat other stuff* in it, too, but what a joy to get a great Christmas song early enough in the year to really learn - and teach! - it before it's too late.

Haruo

* VastaVido and I are particularly smitten, if that's the term, by "Eddie Baker's Muckspreader" ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chariots (John Kirkpatrick)
From: elfcape
Date: 26 May 07 - 11:50 PM

quote: * VastaVido and I are particularly smitten, if that's the term, by "Eddie Baker's Muckspreader" ;-)

And well you should be! Yes, indeed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Chariots (John Kirkpatrick)
From: Haruo
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 03:37 PM

Someone told me a few years ago (probably Xmas 06) that there is also an a cappella 4(?)-part arrangement. Where might I find this, and does anyone know the best way to contact Mr. Kirkpatrick? I am putting together a polyglot shapenote tunebook for publication next July, and would love to include Chariots (or Chariots of Cherubim, as the DT calls it).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Chariots (John Kirkpatrick)
From: Haruo
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 03:49 PM

Lo and behold, a slight tweak to the Google terms I'd been trying led me to his website, and I have written him about the arrangement and my hopes.