Origins: Sicilian Pipers' Carol

Subject: RE: Origins: Sicilian Pipers' Carol
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 16 - 01:48 AM

I remember singing that in high school choir circa 1960:
Only the second verse went:

Heavenly singing
Sweetly ringing
Angels chanting from above:
"Today your Savior is born
Oh come, oh come and worship
the Lord of life and love."

It was part of a carol cycle we learned, but I have no idea of uts name or who composed it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Sicilian Pipers' Carol
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 01:01 PM

For more information, see these two earlier discussions:

Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'

Origins: Carol of the Bagpipes

Subject: RE: Origins: Sicilian Pipers' Carol
From: mack/misophist
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 09:18 AM

This comes from only one person and may or may not be correct; however her name is Lucia and she is Sicilian. The tune is called 'Santa Lucia' and is associated with a patron saint of the area. The connection with Xmas is supposed to be fortuitous. Lucia also means 'light' (the stars) and St Lucy is likewise patroness of eye diseases and optometrists. And bell founders, I think.

Subject: RE: Origins: Sicilian Pipers' Carol
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 07:17 AM

Here's the full text as I know it. It is I believe a translation of an authentic Italian carol.

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS CAROL
It was on a night like this
A little babe was born;
The shepherds gathered round
To guard him till the dawn.
Above them shone a star,
A star so wondrous light
That never since in all these years
Have we seen one half so bright.

Chorus:
Shining so truly, shining so brightly,
Guiding there footsteps from afar,
It led them through the night,
A path to love and brotherhood
By following its light.

0, come with us tonight,
And join us on our way;
For we have found again that star
To greet us every day.
Although throughout our land
Men search the skies in vain
Yet turn their glance within their hearts
They would find that star again.
Chorus

Subject: Origins: Sicilian Pipers' Carol
From: GUEST,Nick Westman
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 06:27 AM

Upon a winter's night
When shepherds watched their sheep,
They heard the sound of music
Across the silence deep:

Heavenly singing, sweetly ringing,
Angels chanting from above;
"Ave, Ave Signor!
O come, O come and worship..."

my memory runs out right there.

I was taught to call this "Sicilian Pipers' Carol" but the tune and lyrics by that name that I have found on various record albums, etc., is nothing like this. It's a bouncy melody with the lower voices imitating the sound of a bagpipe drone.