American Christmas Carols

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 06:23 PM

Carols may be secular as well as religious, e. g. the "Boar's Head Carol."

ClaireBear, many thanks for that link. I prefer the old Billings arrangement of "While Shepherds...." (also given at that same website). Nothing more Amurican than Billings, one of America's first great songwriters, even though he stuck pretty much to hymns (Maddy Prior belts them out in one of her cds). The original words, however, are by Nahum Tate, an Irishman who became a poet Laureate in England.

Ron, some humorous versions of "It came..." at Hymns and Carols of Christmas: Index ij Carols

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: PoppaGator
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 06:15 PM

I'm pretty sure I've read that "Away in a Manger" was written my Martin Luther (and, obviously, translated from German to English at some point). I'm not absolutely sure, and can't produce documentation, but if true, then that carol would obviously not qualify as "American."

There have to be a few Black-Gospel Christmas songs that would qualify for this list. I'm sure there's at least one very well-known one, but I'm drawing a blank at the mmoment. If not one else comes up with the title I wish I could think of, I'll be back when it comes to me.

Subject: Lyr Add: I WONDER AS I WANDER (John Jacob Niles)
From: Fliss
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 05:57 PM

Why not learn the following carol... its beautiful

I WONDER AS I WANDER

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall
And the promise of ages it then did recall

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing
He surely could have it, 'cause He was the King

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

by John Jacob Niles

I did a search and came up with a site that plays the tune.
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis/Christmas/wander.html

fliss

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:09 PM

Sorry pressed wrong button (again)

Glenrock Carolers can be found here:

http://www.glenrockcarolers.org/

Briefly the tradion is identical to that found in my own area of Sheffield and N. Pennines (UK) and was carried over there in 1848. It still exists and the story is well documented. We in Sheffield were really privileged to have a visit from them 2 years ago (since they rarely travel) to the Festival of Village Carols, Grenoside, Sheffield U.K. This is held every two years and this year's (November 27th) is already sold out.

Dirty Linen+Glenrock into google will also get you an article about them.

Deserves to be more widely known.

Best regards,

Dave Eyre
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: jaze
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:07 PM

Ron, those carols are all American? I guess I thought "carols" were religious in nature. I can think of many American christmas songs, but I didn't realize those songs were American. Thanks

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:03 PM

Sorry, just to clarify -- my seemingly insensitive post was definitely not in response to Ron Olesko's impressive list, but to such overdone pseudo-carols as Winter Wonderland and White Christmas.

Lots of terrific ones in the spirituals tradition; Ron's just listed a couple of the most popular.

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:01 PM

http://www.glenrockcarolers.org/ There is a great carol singing tradition in Glenrock PA which deserves to be much more widely known. their story can be found here:

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:58 PM

Oh, let's get a little more obscure and go for quality! How about Daniel Read's setting of "while shepherds watched their flocks by night," which is called Sherburne and for which the music is available here?

Like other hymns in the shape note tradition, the melody is in the tenor. Gorgeous!

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:51 PM

O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away In a Manger, We Three Kings of Orient Are, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Go Tell it on the Mountain, Mary had A Baby are just a few.

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: MMario
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:49 PM

If you include Canada - then the 'Huron Carol' definately qualifies.

'White Christmas' - 'Chestnuts Roasting'- 'Winter Wonderland'?

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:48 PM

I will die happy if I never have to sit through "The Little Drummer Boy" again, carol or not.

Subject: RE: American Christmas Carols
From: Nerd
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:44 PM

Many famous Christmas songs are American. But whether you consider them "carols," which is not a very well-defined genre term, would be up to you.

Subject: American Christmas Carols
From: jaze
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:34 PM

Are there any bonafide American Christmas carols? Most of the most famous carols I can think of are European.