Australian Christmas Carols

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Dec 17 - 02:57 AM

Many thanks, Andrew e- I really appreciate having your own arrangement of The North Wind/Christmas Day ... and the 'original' of Across the Plains as well!! I managed to find an arrangement by Lieut Peter Dalziel - so nice to have the original!   :)

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,andrew e
Date: 27 Nov 17 - 10:53 PM

Hi Arpie,

Email me. andrewjemmetatgmail.com

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/andrew-j-emmet-sheet-music/3005594?Ns=salesRank%7C1&isPLP=1

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Bill S from Adelaide
Date: 26 Nov 17 - 10:45 PM

Have a read of Henry Lawson - The Fire at Ross's Farm for a Christmas Day tale

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: arpie
Date: 26 Nov 17 - 05:58 AM

Hi guys

I found this thread when googling 'Australian Xmas Carols' and am keen to get the sheet music to The NorthWind is Tossing the Leaves

I lead a local ukulele group & am keen to include this Aussie Xmas Carol when we perform at Old Folks Homes this Xmas.

If anyone could help me with a copy of the lyrics AND chords (or better still, a copy of the sheet music) I would really appreciate it!

thanks

arpie

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Andrez
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 07:25 AM

Hi Mud Elves, the post above seems like trollwork with no relevance to the thread title at all. Can we get rid of it please?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 06:38 AM

I used to teach this song to my Primary School students! My name is Wendy so they thought it was a great song! I can't rememebr all the words but I know at the end she didnt' like being the fairyon that Christmas tree 'cos she "couldn't even clamber down to get a cup of tea!"

I had the sheet music to it too but can't find it now. I know where I got that music and I'd say it was about 1984-ish.

The title was 'Litte Wendy Wombat'

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 07:22 AM

Little Wendy Wombat Please share!

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 16 Dec 12 - 08:00 AM

I have music only for 'Carol of Australia'. Would love to know exactly what it is meant to sound like, does anyone have a recording they could upload?

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 07:45 AM

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Shirley Mundt
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 10:53 PM

The Senior Citizens Chior that I accompany sang all of the 1st and 3rd sets of the 15 Australian Christmas Carols at a Christmas function in Toowoomba, the city we live in. This gave me the idea to make a CD of all 15 of these carols with just the piano accompaniment to which I added another 6 Christmas pieces. My email is [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Vic Smith
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 08:08 AM

Those of you who - like me - think that Christmas In Australia by Roaring Jelly is the most truly tender evocation of the original Antipodean nativity celebrations, will be delighted to hear that this masterpiece of spitituality has been updated by The Omega Three which includes Derek and Clive from the original group.

Enjoy this sublime act of festive celebration by clicking here

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 07:38 AM

does anyone know where l can find these Christmas albums?

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 07:51 PM

Erk!

Some thing is waring my addresses: I had my home & work addresses in two separate lines ... I'll try again:

[e-mail]

[e-mail] ...


If this doesn't work ... I'll have to exorcise the 'ghost in the machine!!!

Regardfully,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 07:21 PM

Oops!

That should have read: [e-mail] ...

Mea Culpa!

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 09:32 PM

G'day "GUEST,Catherine, Nowra NSW -",

As Sandra wrote, if you were to join Mudcat ... you could send a 'secure' PM (Personal Message) direct to me with an email address to which I could send my PDF (printing file).

However, if you wish, you can email me directly at: [e-mail] ... and I can send the PDF directly to whatever address you give me!

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Artful Codger
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 08:35 PM

You can also find the lyrics to all fifteen carols on this blog page:
http://heathhill.blogspot.com/2008/12/australian-christmas-carols.html

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: andrew e
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 07:11 AM

I have most of them.

Andrew

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Artful Codger
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 07:03 AM

Or, if you just need the musical notation, copy the ABC transcriptions Bob posted into the folkinfo.org ABC Converter. I've noticed, however, that some of the generated ABCs Bob has posted are notated as if the pickup notes occur on the downbeat of the first measure, rather than preceding it, which similarly affects all measure divisions thereafter. The hazards of using automation tools without checking the generated results.

Incidentally, there are clips on YouTube of all fifteen Wheeler and James carols, from the recording "An Australian Christmas". I doubt the poster sought permission to put them up, so you might want to give them a listen before they get tagged by YouTube's haphazard patrol bots.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 03:15 AM

to continue - see the Membership link at the top of the page or click here you can join as Catherine, Nowra or something similar

welcome to Mudcat!

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 03:12 AM

Gidday, Catherine

Are you referring to posts by Bob Bolton?

If you join Mudcat you can then send a PM (Personal Message) to Bob with your details

sandra

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Catherine, Nowra NSW
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 07:39 PM

Hi
I'd love a PDF file of Wheeler/James 5 Australian christmas carols if anyone (Bob?) is able to send me them. Not sure how to do this as don't particularly want to post my email address for general viewing.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols "Voici Noel"
From: GUEST,Evette, London
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 05:17 PM

Hi Sue. This is 5 years later, don't know if you are still involved with organising the concerts.

I too remember this carol from primary school in the sixties. It was called "Voici Noel", although the lyrics were in English:

The crow is in the field and pasture
In woods, or else in furrows bare
The robin red, with feathered gesture
Goes hopping everywhere, biri bi biri bi ban ban!
I hear the village bell is (bells are?) ringing, ringing
'Tis Christmas time, 'tis Christmas time
'Tis Christmas, little children mine!

I remember the melody and harmony well, and can write it out on manuscript paper and email it to you if requested. My email address is [e-mail]
Best wishes, Evette      18 October 2011

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 10:29 PM

What fun to sing along with them. Thanks!!

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Haruo
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 10:07 PM

I don't have any idea, but it's cute, "cuter'n a little wombat girl" as they say.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,bautism
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 03:22 PM

Does anybody know then name of this song and who wrote it? The only lyrics I know from the song are:

Little wendy wombat hung her head
Little Wendy wombat sighed and said
I know im rather chubby
And my legs are rather stubby
And I know that there are animals prettier than me
But I want to be the fairy
Light and airy
I want to be the fairy on the christmas tree!

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Haggis
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 05:57 AM

Actually Haruo, I have a funny feeling that Carol of the Birds midi might have originally come from your site...if so, thanks! It was so long ago I can't remember for sure, and now I can't find your site - where is it please? Anyway it's a really excellent arrangement - great work whoever did it! (maybe Dave Ferguson,down the page, in 2004?) - which I hardly changed, just added the 3 extra voice parts from the sheet music so people wanting to add vocals can use those as guide tracks. Unfortunately the voice parts come out well down in the mix in van basco's player; you can hear them by using the blue "solo" buttons, or use a different player such as synthfont where you can set up the levels just how you want them.

Actually if you go all the way to Audacity there's even a very cool "envelopes" feature which allows you to vary the volume of each track exactly as you want through the song, so you can, say, bring up different parts of the voices or accompaniment in each verse.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Haruo
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 04:36 AM

Thanks, Haggis and Joe! I've had simple midis of a couple of these in my online hymnal for a number of years, but it's nice to have slightly better ones, and to have the words play along with the music.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Haggis
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 12:00 AM

Excellent, thanks Joe.

I forgot to mention the van Basco player is free, and you can do other great stuff with it like transposing (if you want it played higher or lower), and speeding up or slowing down (if you prefer a different tempo) just by moving a slider.

There are other excellent free midi tools about too, one of my favourites is synthfont (www.synthfont.com) with which you can do even more stuff - change soundfonts and instruments, change the mix (bring up some instruments, make others quieter), and most importantly output the tracks to separate .WAV files. Then if you want you can load it all into the excellent, free multi-track "recording studio" audacity (www.audacity.sourceforge.net/) , add voice (however many tracks you desire - do your own harmonies!), add effects, remix if desired, and output to stereo mp3.

If you want to edit the actual midis other free tools are better suited e.g. Quartz Audiomaster, Anvil Studio (refer google).

So you can do high-quality multi-track recording now for the cost of a decent microphone, or for free if you've already got a mic. Incredible!

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 09:27 PM

I forgot to ask Haggis not to have spaces in the titles of his MIDI files, but I got it fixed. Four of the five files are actually Karaoke files, but they should play on MIDI players. Let me know if there's a problem. Here's the message from Haggis:

Hi Joe,

I've attached some midi files of these wonderful tunes.

.Kar files are just midi files with words, which I'm sure you've come across before.
Van Basco's excellent player from http://www.vanbasco.com/ works well and you can turn tracks on/off etc

The midis are a straight copy of the sheet music, excepting Carol of the birds which has the W/J stuff on top of a catchy arrangement I found somewhere on the net, and there's a tiny clarinet line added in one verse of "Silver Stars".

cheers mate

---

Click to play (Carol of the Birds (Orana!))

Click to play (Christmas Day (The North Wind)

Click to play (Christmas Bush for His Adorning)

Click to play (The Silver Stars Are In The Sky)

Click to play (The Three Drovers)

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Artful Codger
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 08:38 PM

He'd probably appreciate it if you include the thread link, too. Less searching for him to do. (I send him the message link, when applicable--you can copy it from any of the blue clickies for your post in the message history list at the top of the page.)

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Haggis
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 06:21 PM

No worries Sandra, it's done.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 09:59 AM

gidday, Haggis, you can send midis to [e-mail] with subject - Midis for Australian Christmas Carols

Joe receives a lot of email & might delete yours unless the subject is clear.

sandra

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Haggis
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 08:24 AM

Um I have midi files for all of the "Five Australian Christmas Carols" by Wheeler & James - all classics, in 4 part harmony - "Carol of the birds", "Christmas Bush For His Adorning", "The Silver Stars are in the Sky", "Christmas Day", and "The Three Drovers".

They should be widely available but I don't have a website. Can anyone put 'em up? leave a message here with an email address and I'll send them over.

cheers!

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Annique
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 03:51 AM

Hi Alicia,
I have a CD recording of the Australian Christmas songs you were looking for. It's called 'An Australian Christmas' and is published by the ABC Classics (Under Capricorn?). It is by the Sydney Philharmonia Motet Choir, Antony Walker conductor. The number on the back is ABC 446 975-2. It has 15 William James/John Wheeler songs grouped in three sets, and also has Five Carols from Quem Quaeritis (?) Then there are 5 more Christmas songs, possibly by Aus. composers as one is Peter Sculthorpe; then it ends with twelve 'Wassails and Lullabies' by Andrew Ford (b. 1957). The booklet has comprehensive notes on the origin of the songs, the director, and the choir, as well as all the lyrics. It was produced in early 1995 but I think I only found it a few years ago, probably in an ABC shop in Melbourne. You may find a copy by contacting the ABC shops. Good luck!

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Tangledwood
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 09:28 PM

PM sent Alicia, don't know if where the link takes you is at all similar to the version you're looking for.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Alicia
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 09:02 PM

The three Wheeler & James collections of Christmas carols are some of the best carols full stop. With Australian themes, they capture the joys of Christmas in Australia. Though the best known is the 'Carol of the Birds', my personal favourites are 'Christmas Day' and 'Christmas Night', with their wonderful imagery and tunes.
Does ANYONE know of a recording? I have the music sheets, but cannot do justice to the gorgeous piano accompaniment for 'Christmas Day'.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Tangledwood
Date: 16 Nov 09 - 03:21 AM

Thanks for the confirmation and additional detail Rowan, it's a long while since I've spent time in farming communities.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 10:29 PM

Even today, in periods of drought when the grazing on farms is depleted, in some areas stock will be herded along roadsides to feed on whatever remains there. That's known as "the long paddock" and I think the stockmen are still referred to as drovers in this situation.

They are indeed. The "roadsides" are usually part of the system of "Travelling Stock Reserves" (TSRs) that connect as a network across much of the three easternmost states. In the western areas of these states the width of the TSR "road" (ie, the distance between the fences) can be up to 1/2 mile but in the more densely settled areas the term TSR usually refers to a fenced paddock, up to a few acres in area, alongside the road and in which the stock are to be kept overnight so that they don't interfere with traffic in the dark.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Tangledwood
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 07:50 PM

G'day Heidi, traditionally drovers herded stock in search of fertile grazing plains, water, or to take the fattened cattle or sheep to sale yards.
The journey to a stock yard could be many hundreds of miles, even over a thousand. I'm not sure if that equates to your cowboys.

Even today, in periods of drought when the grazing on farms is depleted, in some areas stock will be herded along roadsides to feed on whatever remains there. That's known as "the long paddock" and I think the stockmen are still referred to as drovers in this situation.

You might find something interesting here Folklore

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Heidi
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 03:21 PM

Sorry, goofed in the title in previous message; I mean't Three Drovers (listened to Six White Boomers and mixed the titles up!)

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Heidi
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 03:18 PM

I live in the U.S. and have found it very hard to find sheet music for Wheeler's Australian Christmas Carols (Vol.1). Luckily a local organist is from Australia and helped me out. I like Six White Drovers and want to know, what are drovers (cowboys?)?

Subject: What treatment is good for psoriasis?
From: GUEST,Swersremo
Date: 17 Jul 08 - 09:05 PM

Hi!
I have psoriasis on my legs and have seen a dermatologist who prescribed two expensive creams. They help a little but it never goes away. I've been tanning for a short time in a tanning bed every other day and have seen a drastic improvement but am a little worried about skin cancer from UVA rays. Any home remedies out there? Any advice?

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 May 08 - 08:16 AM

mouseibutter-fingers! I also have 'em, along with butterfly mind (thoughts flitter away ...)

the Mike Carllton tapes (dated 1988!) are now placed next to the player & I'll soon see (hear) if they work.

sandra

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Lyn
Date: 09 May 08 - 05:28 AM

Thanks heaps Sandra! Sorry to take so long to say thanks but I've only just figured out where my favourite back to here ended up - must have had a case of the mouse-butter-fingers that night. :D

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 11:23 PM

probably by Mike Carlton & I have a scribbly list of the strikes, now all I gotta do is find it.

Easy - it was near the top of my very overcrowded 2" Ring Binder collection of songs, poems & other stuff.

Bit of background -
For those who don't know him Mike is a journalist, columnist & humourist & cartoonist too (I have a sticker he made years ago when Joh wanted to run for Prime Minister!) I love his sense of humour/satire - another scrap of paper lists the Advertising agency he (alleged) worked for the liberal party - Batbrain, Wingnut, Dandruff & Mousepoo. Years/decades ago I used to tape his Friday news report(??), I must have a listen to those tapes again one, day - if they have survived, some were very cheap tapes.

some years back I transcribed my scribble for a friend looking for 12 Days songs.

Mike Carlton created & sang it one Christmas in the early 80s. I scribbled down the strikes, but not the connecting words, so you will have to work them out yourself. He played it again the following year, causing great confusion to a senior citizen who was worried about his pension!.

....................

Mike Carlton's 12 Strikes of Christmas - intro might be "The Union gave to me" - but I'm not sure.


12 - Power supplies
11 - Plumbers working
10 - Builders building
9 - Beer for drinking
8 - Trains running
7 - Ships unloading
6 - Airlines
5 - Sewerage work
4 - Telephones
3 - Telex
2 - Pension payments
1 - Mail
....................

anyway, why not contact him - he writes a column for the Weekend Sydney Morning Herald - columns & contact details here

sandra

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Lyn
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 07:38 PM

Hi all,

I'm after the lyrics for a song that used to play on the radio years ago around Christmas time. You couldn't really call it a Christmas carol but it's definitely connected to Christmas.

It's based on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and was called "The Twelve Strikes of Christmas." It was written, so far as I know, around the late '70s at a time that NSW was suffering from repeated strikes by transport, post, wharfies, petrol companies, etc. and was quite popular for a while.

I've looked in vain for the lyrics and since there seem to be quite a few knowledgable Aussies here I'm hoping someone will have the answer. Maybe someone also has details on who wrote/sung it and perhaps even a recording of it. I'd love to get hold of a copy but I have no idea who to approach to see if I could buy one.

Thanks!

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS TIME FOR EVERYONE
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:52 AM

Honoured, Ms Te Kanawa!
You didn't mean this, perhaps?

I'm leaving for the ferry, that's going to take me home
In just a few more hours now I'll see the light of dawn
And as I cross the water blue and the cold wind seems to say
You're coming home for christmas, you're coming home to stay

Surrounded by the water and the outport along the shore
Home is where my heart is, I'm going home once more
Home to see the waters blue and a old-fashioned christmas tree
Yes home is where my heart is, it's christmas time again

Christmas time for everyone, it's christmas time again
Tree lights flashing everywhere and the welcome at the door
This time of year brings happiness and a ringing in my ear
It's christmas time for everyone, I'm going home this year

In just a few more hours I'll see the window pane
And everyone will look to me as if I'm in a picture frame
The picture of the christmas tree and the flashing light so bright
Yes home is where my heart is, I'm going home tonight

Christmas time for everyone it's christmas time again
Tree lights flashing everywhere and a welcome at my door
This time of year brings happiness and a ringing in my ear
It's christmas time for everyone, I'm going home this year
It's christmas time for everyone, I'm going home this year

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,kiri
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:39 AM

Hi There,

    Just wondering if anybody has the words to the song Everyone It's Christmas, and It's Christmas time.

         Thanks,

               Kiri

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,angeline
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 07:40 PM

Hi there,
was looking for a particular Australian Christmas Carol
"Christmas in the Scrub" and I found it at
www.leighnewton.com
Leigh has two Christmas CDs with Australian Christmas Carols on them,
plus he has songbooks so you can play along, cool huh
just thought I'd share what I'd found

also Colin Buchanan has a kids Christmas album with Australian ones on found at
www.colinbuchanan.com.au

Hope next Christmas you can look forward to singing Aussie Christmas carols as well as
the traditional ones from around the world that you love.
God Bless

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 05:05 AM

I've lost my original copy of "Four Australian Carols" by Wheeler & James, containing the piano music for "The Silver Stars are in the Sky". I did send a photocopy to Chappell's Music in London, many years ago, as they didn't have an archive copy. However, I've been unable to get hold of them.
I would be very grateful if you could offer any assitance in helping me to obtain the sheet music for this lovely carol.
Many thanks
Malcolm Vivyan
[e-mail]