We sang Shepherds to the Ilkley Moor tour when we first launched our Xmas program, Nowell Sing We Clear, in New England in 1975 (currently in the middle of our 35th season). We had been singing it informally before that - I don't remember where the reference came from to document its historicity. Amazing the BBC, and university scholarship, has found out about it now.

Over the years we've sung the carol to a number of different tunes; we also use Sweet Chiming Bells but we adapted it to a different set of verses. This year we're using Zadoc for Shepherds, though it's "New Zadoc" as we incorporate some harmony lines from a very similar Sacred Harp hymn.

Nowell Sing We Clear at www.goldenhindmusic.com.