The falcon hath taken the maid away

Subject: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 08:48 AM

This song begins lu le lu lay,lu le le lay.....It sounds very old,but I cannot find it here. Anyone know it?

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: Anne Lister
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 08:58 AM

It's a version of a song which is generally known as the Corpus Christi carol ... normally "the falcon has born my mak' away". Fascinating imagery. If you google Corpus Christi carol you'll find lots more about it - there's a section in Wikipedia, even.

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 09:24 AM

Set of the words here on Mudcat: Corpus Christi Carol(2).

You can see the version from Richard Hill's manuscript here: Richard Hill's Songs Carols and Other Miscellaneous Poems



Mick

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 09:35 AM

You'll also find some hits under "the Falcon" or "the Faucon". Benjaman Britten created a lovely setting of this song for boys' choir, and I always wished he'd incorporated it into Ceremony of Carols. It's an absolutely perfect fit, and the harp sounds beautiful playing the piano part (in the piano/vocal reduction score). It would be fun to know what you plan to do with it, if you feel like telling us.

But as Anne (hi Annie!) says, the common name is Corpus Christi Carol, and it's a often a mate, rather than a maid, who is being borne away. The maid is kneeling by the funeral bier, weeping.

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 09:42 AM

Cross posted with Mick, whom it looks like I was ignoring. Cheers for that Richard Hill book!

There's a related song, Down In Yon Forest, on a similar theme, which is also worth looking at. Joan Baez did a beautiful rendition of it with recorder consort, on a Christmas album many years ago (was it just called Noel?) which was a firm favourite of mine - and still would be if I could play vinyl.

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 09:47 AM

Bonnie ~ BTW, re this last comment: I lamented inability to play my vinyls, but a few [3 or 4] years ago I found that vinyl players were being produced again & can now do so. You could prabably get one again, after their vanishing from the maket for years.

~M~

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 10:05 AM

mak (from the second post) = mate

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 10:50 AM

Many versions of this carol use the word 'pall,' as in 'covered all over in purple and pall,' so I decided to look it up.

A pall is a heavy cloth thrown over or on something, esp. a black cloth thrown over a coffin, tomb or hearse. (archaic)

And here I had assumed it meant 'pale'.

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 10:51 AM

Bonnie - I wouldn't have believed you were deliberately ignoring me! By a coincidence (or maybe it's just the time of year) I had downloaded the book of the Richard Hill manuscript just a few days ago.

Mick

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 04:52 AM

Thanks to all of you for the information regarding this carol. An old friend with whom I lost touch used to include it in her sets in the 1960's. I am going to track down tune and which version she used as I thought it was beautiful. I appreciate the help.

Subject: RE: The falcon hath taken the maid away
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 11:19 AM

Best of luck in your search.