Not the Usual Christmas Songs

Subject: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 12:18 PM

The 'Five Weeks' thread made me think on this.

If I fancied learning something a bit different for singing around Christmas, what traditional seasonal songs are out there, which will be less familiar (and perhaps a bit more interesting) to the average person like me?

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: ClaireBear
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 12:35 PM

Rosie, if you don't mind my asking. are you in the U.S., in the UK, or somewhere else? That will help us know what the "usual" songs might be.

Also, where will you be singing? To other Mudcatters or in a folk music venue? In shopping malls? Out caroling? At parties?

And finally, are you hoping for secular seasonal songs, less-known Christian material, pagan Yule songs, or...?

Claire

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 01:58 PM

Hi Claire,
Well I'm in the UK, East-Anglia in fact. I keep forgetting that this list has lots and lots of members from across the pond!

And I must confess that the only Christmas songs I really know, are the ones that >ducks flaming mince pie missiles< are the carols that are sung to death every year in every junior school, high street and village... So what will be completely unfamiliar to my ear, will probably be just 'the usual' to most folk on here!

As for a potential audience, just family, friends or a local pub eve. Or maybe even a little busk with my Da, we keep talking about doing it! Maybe this will be the year we do.

Pagan(neo?) or Yule songs would indeed be very interesting, as I'm a bit of a heathen at heart myself.

As would songs that are about interesting or obscure little Christian stories.

Anything in the traditional 'spirit' of the season. Does it help if I mention the fact that I'm quite fond of Medieval Mystery Plays and such-like?

Cheers, Rosie

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: MMario
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 02:11 PM

Rosie - since you are in the UK - and some of us are in the US - what are the carols **YOU*** hear over and over ad nauseum?

MMario

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Old Roger
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 02:14 PM

Hi Rosie,

me and my other half plan to sing non British traditional carols at our folk club (The Wolf Folk Club) at the session just before Christmas and we are encouraging our members to try something a little less usual too. After all, the big retail outlets and the broadcasters will give us enough of the top selling carols. We are in East Anglia too. Whereabouts are you.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Acorn4
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 02:17 PM

Every Christmas the "Grand Union" at Barrow on Soar, Leicestershire runs a carols session. These are either ones you don't normally hear or familiar ones to the original tunes or regional variations.

I have an old copy of two years ago, but it only has lyrics not tunes. If you pm me I can put it in the post.

Alternatively contact the club:-


Grand Union Folk Club, Soar Bridge, Barrow upon Soar. 2nd Monday of month at 20:30.
Bill:                01509 813566       , email: [e-mail]
(10 miles from Leicester)

This years session is actually on Monday Dec 8th, but tickets usually sell out before the night.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Rog Peek
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 02:23 PM

Here's a few:

thread.cfm?threadid=28738#358946


'The St. Stephen's Day Murders' is one I particularly enjoy singing and resurect each Christmas when the family are 'round.

Rog

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 02:36 PM

To the tune of The Magi:

Ancient humans came from darkness and they spread across the planet
They saw the sky above them, and they learned to find their way
Out of ignorance and shadow to the hope of human kindness
They were strengthened by the knowledge that they gathered every day
And all wise folk speak of peace on earth, of harmony and struggle
Yet another cycle's gone, and a new one will begin
On this darkest day of winter, we recall that the Spring will come again
On the darkest day of winter, we cherish light with green and kith and kin...
Well now, each of us must travel, yes we all must make our journey
It seems that time is telling us to use all we can know
To help lift up the fallen we must sow the seeds of goodness
The torch has passed among us now to light the way to go
For our hearts are as a chalice, and our dreams are of the sunlight
They burn away the darkness as we kiss 'neath mistletoe
Unlike eagles, flying higher, unlike rivers down their canyons
When diamond stars shine down on us, we know whereof they glow...
And the wise still speak of peace on earth, of harmony and struggle
Yet another cycle's gone, and a new one will begin
On the darkest day of winter, we remember that the Spring will come again
On the darkest day of winter, we cherish light with green and kith and kin...

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 02:43 PM

MMario, I might not know many (or any) of the less well known songs, but if I were to list those classic Christmas songs that I do know, it'd still be a pretty long list to type out in it's entirity 'cos it'd include all the stuff I've heard since a wee 'un: 'Away in a Manger', 'Noel', 'Ding Dong Merrily on High', 'Good King Wenceslass', 'Silent Night' etcetera, etcetera. Forgive if I don't cite 'em all! But I think you get my drift.

Hi Old Roger, that sounds an interesting project! What cultures or nations are you sourcing your non-British Christmas songs from, may I ask?

I'm in Essex BTW, not too far from Colchester if that helps?

As you hail from this part of the UK, although it's rather the opposite of your own far more cosmopolitan brief, I wonder if you happen to know of any Christmas songs that are specific to East-Anglia? Some nice helpful people directed me to the song gatherings of Ralph Vaughn Williams for songs from these counties. But I haven't quite got as far as looking into possible Christmas songs from these parts as yet.

Rosie, the rosier for a mid-week glass of wine..

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 02:56 PM

Acorn4, that sounds like just the kind of thing to pique my interest: less familiar songs, origonal tunes and regional variations, all. Many thanks indeed for the kind offer of your own copy, but I reckon I'd prolly need the tunes too. So I will contact the club. Cheers for the help, Rosie

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Arkie
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 02:59 PM

Cathy Barton and Dave Para and the Paton Family released a Christmas album back in 1989 that quickly became one of my absolute favorite yule recordings. The title is 'Twas on a Night Like This on the Folk-Legacy label. While every single track is a gem, my particular favorites are "Sweet Lamb", "Dark December", "Last Month of the Year", and "'Twas on a Night Like This".

Maddy Prior has several Christmas CDs and there are lots of winners there as well.

Jackson Browne's "The Rebel Jesus", which I discovered through a previous Mudcat Thread is not a typical Christmas song but does make one ponder the meaning of the holiday.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 03:30 PM

Sleepy, if you do a search here for "@ Christmas" or "@Christmas Song" I think you'll find a number of threads that suggest quite a few not-so-common Christmas season songs.

Some of the songs suggested (many with links or with lyrics and chords) are silly and/or irreverent, many are serious.   

I can make a few suggestions but I'm strapped for time right now, but the ones I'd suggest are all in those other threads (e.g., the thread titled "Know any Hard-hitting Christmas songs?").

G

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 03:36 PM

Lots of good suggestions in some of these threads.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Joybell
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 03:36 PM

"The Cherry Tree Carol" is seldom sung now. Too weird for many people. I always try to sing it at least once a year. Mary and Joseph out walking and Mary wanting him to pick cherries for her. Pure pagan theatre with down-to-earth sentiment expressed by Joseph:

...Then Joseph spake in anger. In anger spake he
"Let the Father of the baby pick cherries for thee!"..

Then Baby Jesus speaking from Mary's womb and the cherry tree hearing and bowing down obediently. Then the lovely scene with Joseph taking Mary, all stained with cherry juice, on his knee.
I love this one. OK the cherry juice was my idea.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: topical tom
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 03:41 PM

Certainly not a classic Christmas song: "The Fugitive Prince" by David Massengill on his cd "The Return".

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 03:43 PM

Ramskyte's Dark December is amazing, very trad, some self penned stuff too.

DARK DECEMBER
'RAMSKYTE' are a four-part harmony group with Victory Morrismen. Pete Luscombe, John Bartlett, Brian Ingham & John Thornton.
20 seasonal traditional songs at their vocal best.
£12.00


you can buy it at the Morris Ring

http://www.themorrisring.org/Shop.htm#audio

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Monique
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 03:56 PM

There are quite a lot here and in many languages there

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Newport Boy
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 04:00 PM

Definitely in the traditional 'spirit' of the season is All Hail to the Days also known as Drive the Cold Winter Away.

The earliest copy of the words is from a broadside in the Pepys collection, about 1625, and the tune in Playford 1691.

The full 12 verses are at Hymns & Carols of Christmas here

I usually sing verses 1,3,4,5 and 11, sometimes adding verse 7. The tune in Hutchins (from that page) is the better version. The big jump at the end of the 6th line is a bit intimidating at first, but it soon becomes familiar.

I've sung it unaccompanied, with minimal guitar and with guitar and recorder, and it seems to go down well.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 04:09 PM

Sorry if it's been said, but I skipped a lot of the thread - life's too short... etc.

Pick up a copy of the Cowley Carol book - available occasionally from second hand stores, or the good old Oxford Book of Carols - there are dozens in there that are not overly familiar.

EFDDS might be able to help with a copy of the Folk Carol book - collected by Sharp or the other guy, although very few of them are Christmas/Yule orientated.

Good luck.

LTS

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 02:14 PM

Can you read music? In my experience, you will save much time by simply getting a collection of carols and selecting the interesting ones. Start with your public library, then try a music store. Don't overlook hymnals.

If you can't read music, try this:

http://www.ylw.mmtr.or.jp/~johnkoji/hymn/xmas/

This site has both MIDI's to listen to and lyrics to read.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 04:24 PM

Frankie Armstrong's "Anti-Carol" might interest you....or it might not.

Here is someone else singing it, and the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 04:29 PM

I see in my search that the AntiCarol is attributed to John Pole, not Frankie Armstrong.

Subject: Not the Usual Christmas Songs - This Endris Night
From: Genie
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 09:24 PM

This Endris Night (in the DT)
This Endris Night tune in ABC format
Other references to and info about this song:
here
here
and here

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: JedMarum
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 10:53 PM

Here's a new one that might bring good cheer to Mudcatter and similarly folk-music afflicted people.

;-)

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 04:46 PM

Oh, good! I am glad you posted that link, Jed. Folks, give it a listen. It's a terrific song!

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 05:46 PM

There are a few alternate Christmas albums available on CD:
(off the top of my head)

Greentrax has "Bah! Humbug!" (various)
Document has "Blues, Blues Christmas" (various)
Dust-to-Digital has "Where Will You Be Christmas Day?" (various)
Greenhays has Jean Ritchie's "Kentucky Christmas" (Jean Ritchie)
Fallen Angles has "Feasts and Spirits" (Finest Kind)
Granny Dell has "Christmas on the Mountain" (Sheila Kay Adams)
Homespun has "Homespun Songs of the Christmas Season" (Bobby Horton)
Park has "Carols and Capers" and "Carols at Christmas"as well as "Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh" (Maddy Prior and others)
Saydisk has "Christmas Now is Drawing Near" (City Waites)
No Masters has "A Garland of Carols" and "Fire and Sleet and
       Candlelight" and "Voices at the Door" (Coope, Boyes and
       Simpson)

And nary a Silent Night nor Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the lot.
And all available at CAMSCO. Of course.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 06:03 PM

I love this one, and while it's been around a while, it's not heard all that often:

Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem.

Subject: Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem
From: Genie
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 06:07 PM

Here's a better recording of Star Of Bethlehem and without the longer spoken introduction.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 06:12 PM

And here is a great USA site.
www.glenrockcarolers.org

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 06:41 PM

And here is Camsco to which Dick referred and if you call him, you'll have a nice visit, too!

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: DMcG
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 03:43 AM

You can also purchase recording and booklets of the South Yorkshire and Derbyshire carols from

http://www.villagecarols.org.uk/CAROLS/vcpublications.htm

I have put the shhet music and MIDI for a number of them, like 'Back Lane' and 'Diadem', on the folkinfo site. See http://www.folkinfo.org/songs/keywordsearch.php?keyword=134

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Cyparissa
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 08:06 AM

There are loads of gorgeous Christmas songs on Loreena McKennitt's CD "To Drive the Cold Winter Away." [link] My absolute favorite Christmas song (Balulalow) is recorded beautifully. "Let All That Are To Mirth Inclined" and "The Wexford Carol" are also absolute gems.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE BLAKENHAM CAROL
From: Menolly
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 01:33 PM

An East Anglian Carol - The Little Blackenham Carol from Suffolk, just 14 verses long Can be found on Artisan's first Christmas CD.

THE LITTLE BLAKENHAM CAROL
Suffolk Carol
Given to the vicar more than 100 years ago


1/ Let all who are to mirth inclined,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our great god for us has done
In sending his beloved son.

2/ Let all our songs and praises be
Unto his heavenly majesty,
And ever more among our mirth,
Remember Christ, our saviour's birth.

3/ The twenty fifth day of December,
We have great reason to remember,
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was our blessed saviour born.

4/ The night before this happy tide
The spotless virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find some lodging in the town.

5/ But mark how all things came to pass,
The inn and lodgings filling fast
That they could have no room at all
But in a field, the ox's stall.

6/ That night the virgin, Mary mild,
Was safe delivered of a child,
According unto heaven's decree
Man, God, our saviour for to be.

7/ Near Bethlehem some shepherds kept
Watching their flocks, while others slept,
To whom God's angel did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.

8/ "Prepare and go", the angel said,
"To Bethlehem. Be not afraid,
And you shall see this very morn
The blessed babe, sweet Jesus, born."

9/ With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went that babe to find
And as the heavenly angel told,
They did our saviour Christ behold.

10/ And in a manger, he was laid,
The virgin Mary by him stayed
Attendant on the lord of life,
Being both mother, maid and wife.

11/ Three eastern wise men from afar,
Directed by a glorious star,
Came boldly on and made no stay
Until they came where Jesus lay.

12/ And when they came unto that place
And where our blessed saviour was
They humbly laid before his feet
Great gifts of gold and odours sweet.

13/ Let all who are to mirth inclined,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our great god for us has done
In sending his beloved son.

14/ Let all our songs and praises be
Unto his heavenly majesty,
And ever more among our mirth,
Remember Christ, our saviour's birth.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 01:40 PM

Free Reed's Midwinter 4 cd set has some interesting stuff...but a bit of a hefty investment price wise.

A personal favourite is Pete Bellamy's setting of Kipling's Eddie's Service

Baz

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 02:37 PM

Here's one of my favorites that's not heard all the time:

Riu Riu Chiu

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 02:39 PM

Also check out this thread: Hard-Hitting Christmas Songs

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 10:11 AM

Quote from an Amazon.com profile :-

"This Easily Becomes One's Favorite Christmas Album, December 15, 2005
I bought this CD several years ago and bought copies for friend after friend as Christmas presents. The style is pre-modern English folk carols, played on period instruments and sung in the everyday accents of the English countryside. One has a sense of Christmas relieving the tedium of a rural northern winter bringing a different, perhaps deeper, joy than it brings today. What other Christmas album could include the provocative line, "Remember, man, that thou art made of clay, and in this world thou hast not long to stay," and yet make the listener want to play the carol over and over? Of my many, many Christmas albums, this has emerged year after year as the favorite."

The album referred to is "Christmas Now Is Drawing Near: English Folk Carols" by Sneak's Noyse. The cassette played endlessly in my car about fifteen years ago (until I had, regretfully, to return the tape to its original owner). Sneak's Noyse were (are?) members of City Waites, augmented by the folkier voice of Tim Laycock. The album was produced by Saydisc and is still available on both CD and cassette (at least on Amazon.co.uk). The title song is the one quoted above. Its tune is similar to the Watersons version mentioned above, but the words are different, while reflecting the sceptical spirit. The last line, which follows that quoted above, is "This wicked world will never be content With all the gifts that our great God hath sent." Can't find the rest of the words at the moment, will post if I find them. It's in my head that there is an American trad song with a similar tune (I'll try looking amongst the Jeff Warner stuff), but I might be thinking of another carol on the album.

Ross

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 12:05 PM

We have this on tape, play it every year.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 12:43 PM

Elsie`s Band have a couple of unusual Christmas songs they do each year at the Mumming night.
"The Carol Singers" (All about singing Christmas Waits)
"The Cowboys Christmas Day"

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,KP
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 02:48 PM

This is a bit spooky:
Innocents Song
Phil beer does a very evocative version on the Show of Hands Album 'Witness'

KP

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,folkyfan
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 03:11 PM

I saw Belinda O'Hooley at the Frazer Theatre in Knaresborough lastnight, she sang a lovely song about 'one more Christmas with her mum' which moved me to tears

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Rob the Roadie
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 03:24 PM

Angie Wright has very good version of "GAUDETE".....translated using her "O" Level Latin Grade D.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 07:04 AM

Since you are in East Anglia what about a fine example of Christian love at Xmas in Essex?

In Essexshire it happened so
A man went out all for to plough,
As he was ploughing along so fast
Up came sweet Jesus himself at last.

"Oh man, oh man, why dost thou plough
So hard upon the Lord's birthday?"
The farmer answered him with great speed,
"To plough this day I have great need."

His arms did tremble through and through,
Until that he could no longer plough.
The ground did open and he fell in
Before he could repent his sin.

His wife and children are out of place,
His beasts and cattle now all are lost.
His beasts and cattle they die away
For ploughing on the Lord's birthday.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Working Radish
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 08:15 AM

I think you'll find it was in Dessexshire that it befell. (I first heard that song on a James Yorkston record & was convinced it was a clever imitation of a traditional song, mainly because of the title. I guess Travellers didn't always have the clearest idea of which county was which.)

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 05:19 PM

Dan Fogelberg's 1999 album "The First Christmas Morning" has several traditional and/or well-known Christmas songs - including one of the most beautiful versions of "This Endris Night" that I've ever heard.   It also includes 5 or 6 new compositions by Dan, most of them with a decidedly "trad" or "old" (e.g., Renaissance or 19th C) feel to them.

I've posted lyrics and links to sound clips here:
   Dan Fogelberg: Christ The King
Dan Fogelberg: At Christmas Time
Dan Fogelberg: The First Christmas Morning

Clips from all the songs on the album, as well as lyrics to the ones that have lyrics, are here: Dan Fogelberg album: The First Christmas Morning

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 05:43 PM

The vengeful christ song about the beasts ploughing is Roud S156927.

The original recorded by Fred Hamer from May Bradley, found in the book Garner's Gay and on the CD "Century Of Song" EFDSS 1998.

It has also been recorded by Spiers and Boden.

Both recordings use the title "On Christmas Day."

At the risk of a far too blatant plug - the May Bradley version will be broadcast towards the end of my programme Thank Goodness It's Folk tomorrow, along with a number of other carols. It's in the second half (first half is an interview with Martin Simpson (!!) )

I also did a whole hour the week before this is still available via the web.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,CupOfTea at work with no cookies
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 06:12 PM

I've a delight in offbeat Christmas songs that has been both reinforced and substantially added to by some friends of mine who perform them as the "Bittersweet Christmas Band." Richard Thompson's (a fine Brit) "We'll Sing Halleluia" is deliciously existential, though there are children in the Chicago area who think this IS a traditional song for Christmas. They are just putting out their second album of odd, funny, sweet, pointed and traditional songs - including some fine originals. (Sing in the Dark of the Year is an especially inclusive Christmas/Solstice/Chanuka song with a spiffy chorus). Well worth a listen.

Some one earlier mentioned Artisan in passing - They've got multiple Christmas albums and a number of songs that were new to me ( in the US) and I dearly love. I've heard that "The Mistletoe Bough" is cliche in some places, but the combination of Victorian sweet and corpse creepy tickled my fancy. Their album "Paper Angels" has some gems, particularly the title song and "Scarlet Raygun"(to the tune of "Scarlet Ribbons").

I also endorse Barton & Para & etc.'s On a Night Like This - all the folks on that album are world class "sing this with me" sorts of people. I especially like "Dark December" as it describes what that month is like here in the Midwest.

Joanne in very cold Cleveland

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 06:31 PM

Joanne - if you are doing Scarlet Raygun (John Connoly) then try "I want a Hippopotamus For Xmas".

And the story behind it is interesting too.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 12 Dec 08 - 03:35 PM

Some of my favorite, less often performed, traditional carols not mentioned above:

Allons, gay bergeres (French)
Beata viscera (12th c. Latin, by Perotin[us] and Philip the Chancellor)
Gabriel from Evene King (13th c. English)
Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree (Ingalls' setting)
Nesem Vám Noviny (Czech)
Over the Hill and Over the Dale (words: J.M. Neale)
Shepherds, Rejoice (William Billings' "Boston" setting)
Tau garço, la durundena (Catalan)
While Shepherds Watched (Daniel Read's "Sherburne" setting)

"Jolly Shepherd" (by Ravenscroft) is a nice round.

To counter the cloying sentiment of the season you can sing "The Bitter Withy".

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Arkie
Date: 12 Dec 08 - 04:03 PM

A song I discovered a few years back and then remembered a few days ago is Zu Bethlehem Geboren which I think may be German and translated, I think, In Bethlehem Born. Very nice melody but since I have only heard two vocal versions and both are in German I have no clue as to the lyrics. Have heard several instrumental versions which I liked. I did a little research and it appears the song goes back to the 17th century. Have no idea how widely circulated the piece may be.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: BB
Date: 12 Dec 08 - 05:25 PM

'The Bitter Withy' is a wonderful, sort-of religious song, but it's not a Christmas song in any sense.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Tootler
Date: 12 Dec 08 - 06:53 PM

"Knock at the Knocker, Ring at the Bell" is an excellent Christmas Album by Magpie Lane. A collection of folk carols and seasonal songs and tunes. I was given it for Christmas last year and have just dug it out again. I had forgotten just how good it was.

Not on the above album, but I like "Down in Yon Forest" An interesting song with interesting imagery. Not the usual type of carol, but worth singing.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 01:42 AM

Barbara: Ahem, I mentioned "The Bitter Withy" because of its joyful irreverence--and Rosie was requesting something different to sing. You'll note I didn't group it with the carols.

On the other hand, perhaps irreverence is the last thing needed during the annual Christmas frenzy, as the carols and such forth are mainly pressed into the service of Baal these days.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 02:03 AM

The Little Blackenham Carol, posted above, is a variant (in text, at least) of #140 in The New Oxford Book of Carols: "Let all that are to mirth inclined." The authors include 16 verses, with a setting by [Davies] Gilbert, 1822, noting that it's "found in several forms: see 'Good People All' (162)". If someone has both Artisan's recording and the NOBC, perhaps they could compare and comment.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:29 AM

Arkie: Check the ingeb.org website, a great German-based folk song site. If you search there for "zu Bethlehem geboren", you'll find several carols that include that phrase, including one by that title (by Friedrich von Spee), for which both a text and a MIDI are supplied. Other possibilities there, also with MIDIs:

Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht = While shepherds watched their flocks*
Es kommt ein Schiff geladen (A laden ship comes)
Heilige Nacht** (Holy Night): "Geboren ward zu Bethlehem..." [No MIDI]

* The "While shepherds" setting with this chorus:
How great their joy! (Great their joy!)
Joy, joy, joy! (Joy, joy, joy!)
Glory to God in Heaven on high!
Glory to God in Heaven on high!

The melody in these MIDIS is carried by an interior voice; it is not readily apparent.

Also at ingeb.org is "Die Blümelein, sie schlafen", a song with a setting by Johannes Brahms based on "Zu Bethlehem geboren". The tune here is more distinct.

Please let us know if any of these is what you remember.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: BB
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 09:09 AM

Artful Codger, nor did I call it a carol - 'The Bitter Withy' is not a **Christmas** song, which is the point I was trying to make.

(I wish I knew how some people manage to do italics or bold on here!)

Babrara

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: RangerSteve
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:08 PM

try www.cyberhymnal.org. On the opening page, scroll down to "Topic", then click on "Christmas". There's quite a bit of less than common tunes. My favorite is "Beautiful Star".

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 09:09 PM

Barbara:
Italics, bolding and blickies are achieved by embedding simple HTML sequences:

Italics: <i>text</i>

Bolding: <b>text</b>

Blicky: <a href="URL">text</a>
Example: <a href="http://www.mudcat.org/">Mudcat Cafe</a>
is rendered as: Mudcat Cafe

Note that if your messages contain ampersands, greater-thans or less-thans, you need to replace them with the equivalent character escape sequences:
& = &amp;
< = &lt;
> = &gt;

See the Mudcat help threads for more info, or any web tutorial on writing HTML.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: BB
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 08:11 AM

Thanks, Codger, I'll have a go sometime, when I've got time to take it all in. But I've printed off your instructions, so I will do it!

Barbara

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 01:14 PM

Thanks for refreshing this thread folks. Now there's the small matter of learning some songs...

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET WAS THE SONG THE VIRGIN SANG
From: Artful Codger
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 12:50 PM

There are some nice, less-heard carols on the CD Carols Around the World by the Quink Vocal Ensemble. For example:

Canción de Navidad, by the 20th c. Argentinian composer Carlos Guastavino. Thankfully, this isn't one of the gratuitously dissonant modern carols.

I Saw a Maiden. It's in the New Oxford Book of Carols, 109:II, setting by Edgar Pettman (1866-1943). It's a variant of "Lullay, my liking" (Myn Lyking); adapted from a 15th c. text.

Komt verwondert u hier, menschen and Herders, Hij is geboren, by Julius Röntgen (1855-1932). Maybe these songs are over-sung by the Dutch, but I'd not heard them before.


Lute-Book Lullaby:

SWEET WAS THE SONG THE VIRGIN SANG
(Lute-Book Lullaby)
anon., from the William Ballet Lute Book (17th c.)

Sweet was the song the Virgin sang,
When she to Bethlem Juda came
And was delivered of a son,
That blessèd Jesus hath to name:
Lulla, lulla, lulla lullaby,
Lulla, lulla, lulla lullaby.
"Sweet babe," sang she, "my son,
And eke a saviour born,
Who hast vouchsafed from on high
To visit us that were forlorn."
Lulla, lulla, lullaby,        [RVW: Lalula, lalula, lalulaby]
"Sweet babe," sang she,
And rocked him sweetly on her knee.

Ralph Vaughan Williams set this text in his cantata Hodie (1953-54, XI. Lullaby). Benjamin Britten also did an arrangement.


Barbara: As for "The Bitter Withy" not being a Christmas song, you'll find it at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas site, where their sources are Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914, reprint of the edition of 1910) and Cecil J. Sharp, English Folk-Carols (London: Novello & Co., Ltd., 1911). Sharp also references a version quoted by Mr. Frank Sidgwick (More Ancient Carols, Stratford-on-Avon, 1906).

Perhaps the "bright holiday" on which it occurred was Hannukah. ;-}

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 06:56 PM

The Village Carols publications have already been mentioned. One of my favourites, which has been sung at some of the festivals, but not this year, is an older translation of Adeste Fideles (Believers Assemble) with a more interesting tune (Portugal) than the well known one. So this is at the same time a close relation of the very well known O Come All Ye Faithful and yet very different.

And of course there are the umpteen alternative tunes for While Shepherds Watched.

Richard

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 02:27 AM

"Portugal" sounds like a typical shape-note hymn name, so I searched for both and found...

In the shape-note book The Hesperian Harp, "Portugese Hymn" (pp. 378-9) is a 3-part variant of "Adeste, fideles": "Hither, ye faithful, haste with songs of triumph..."

(It also has a song named "Portugal", metrically similar to "Adeste, fideles", but the text bears no resemblance to the various translations of that carol.)

The New Oxford Book of Carols, gives much information on the history of "Adeste, fideles" (though its origin remains obscure), including this quotation of Vincent Novello, from Congregational and Chorister's Psalm and Hymn Book, 1843:

"This piece obtained the name of 'The Portuguese Hymn' from the accidental circumstance of the Duke of Leeds... having heard the hymn first performed at the Portuguese Chapel, and who, supposing it to be peculiar to the service in Portugal, introduced the melody at the Ancient Concerts, giving it the title of the 'Portuguese Hymn', by which appelation this very favourite and popular tune has ever since been distinguished;..."

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 06:22 AM

Another traditional American one: The Shepherd's Star, collected in shape-note arrangements in Southern Harmony (William Walker, 1835) and Christian Harmony (Walker, 1866). It appears on the CD Carols from the Old & New Worlds by Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier, director.

The first verse ("Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator") is also used for another shape-note carol, "Star in the East" ("Brightest and best of the sons of the morning"). See thread 42294 for words and links for both. In his post of 15 Dec 04, Burke supplied a transcription of the words to "The Shepherd's Star", though sadly they are not labelled as such.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 07:00 AM

John Tams has written The Devonshire Carol for Warhorse now on at the National Theatre. It's on the soundtrack CD sung, I presume, by Tim van Eyken.

It's also on the new CD of another story by Michael Morpurgo, On Angel Wings, sung by Coope Boyes and Simpson. Chapters are separated by carols, mostly from South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. Christmas performance at St Paul's cathedral is now sold out.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 07:25 AM

We were out caroling (with instruments) for charity in the streets of Lancaster last night and we were asked to play........the Star Wars theme!

Merry Christmas to all Jedi Knights.

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: old git
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 12:51 PM

not sure if anyone's mentioned it but on John Conolly's new CD "Grumpy old Men of Old England" ,the track "I am Christmas" is really worth a listen. Words by Bill Meek , tune by John Conolly.
To hear it go to www.myspace.com/johnconolly ,scroll down and click on the window with the Christmassy figure in it..

enjoy

geoff t

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 01:07 PM

Sorry I missed this thread till now. Our band's annual Christmas, Advent, and Epiphany choices are quite unusual but you would have to hear them to appreciate them and I have no recordings. It's a little late now to catch them for this year, but PM if you want to explore further.

~S~

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 01:57 PM

The Star Wars Carol: is that the one that starts "Yoda was an old man, and a very old man was he"?

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Monique
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 07:06 AM

I didn't know where to post the link to the Scribd doc Noël, chantons Noël by Paul Arma, Les Éditions Ouvrières, Paris 1942, this thread should be ok for that. There are 151 French Christmas carols from the 13th to the 18th C. Most lyrics are in standard French even though some were primarily written in another language (the 3 Sabòli's Provençal carols in the collection have been translated). Whatever is not in standard Fr. is in its original dialect of French (=Oïl dialect)

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 03:13 PM

"King Herod and the Cock"..........

or any good Wassail song.

On the other hand, if you can find the texts,music,records:

"The Workhouse Boy", sung long ago by The Halliard

"Family Christmas", Roaring Jelly, on the LP 'Roaring Jelly's Golden Grates'( no,I've spelt it correctly!)

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 10:16 AM

Merci beaucoup for the link to the noels, Monique.

We love noels!

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: BTNG
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 10:24 AM

Richrd and Linda Thompson: We Sing Hallelujah

Subject: Lyr Add: THE INNUMERABLE CHRIST (Hugh MacDiarmid)
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 03:44 PM

THE INNUMERABLE CHRIST
by Hugh MacDiarmid

Wha kens on whatna Bethlehems
Earth twinkles like a star the nicht,
An' whatna shepherds lift their heids
In its unearthly licht?

'Yont a' the stars oor een can see
An' farther than their lichts can fly,
I' mony an unco warl' the nicht
The fatefu' bairnies cry.

I' mony an unco warl' the nicht
The lift gaes black as pitch at noon,
An' sideways on their chests the heids
O' endless Christs roll doon.

An' when the earth's as cauld's the mune
An' a' its folk are lang syne deid,
On coontless stars the Babe maun cry
An' the Crucified maun bleed.[1]

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: BTNG
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 03:58 PM

Christmas Must Be Tonight written by Robbie Robertson and recorded by The Band and The Albion Band

The Albion Dance Band - On Christmas Night All Christians Sing. (Trad. Arr.)

Subject: ADD: There Are Much Worse Things to Believe In
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 02:32 AM

Somebody asked for this on the Facebook Mudcat page. Probably better that they be posted here.

THERE ARE MUCH WORSE THINGS TO BELIEVE IN
(Stephen Colbert)

There are cynics; there are skeptics.
There are legions of dispassionate dyspeptics.
Who regard this time of year as a maudlin insincere
Cheesy crass commercial travesty of all that we hold dear

When they think that, well, I can hear it.
But I pity them their lack of Christmas spirit.
For in a world like ours, take it from Stephen:
There are much worse things to believe in.

A redeemer, and a Savior,
An obese man giving toys for good behaviour.
The faith in what might be, and the hope that we might see
The answer to all sorrow in a box beneath the tree.

Find them foolish, sentimental,
Well, you're clearly none too bright, So we'll be gentle.
Don't even try to start vaguely conceivin'
Of all the much worse things to believe in.

Believe in the judgment, believe in Jihad,
Believe in a thousand variations on a dark and spiteful God
You got your money, you got your power,
You got your science, and the planet's going to end within the hour.
You got your dreams that don't come true.
You got the ones that do

Then you got your nothin';
Some folks believe in nothin'.
But if you believe in nothin',
Then what's to keep the nothin' from comin' for you?

Merry Christmas -- Happy New Year!
Now if you'll forgive me, there's a lot to do here.
There are stockings still unhung,
Colored lights I haven't strung,
And a one-man four-part Christmas carol waiting to be sung.

Call me silly, call me sappy,
Call me many things, the first of which is happy
You doubt, but you're sad.
I don't, and I'm glad.
I guess we're even.
At least that's what I believe in.

And there are much worse things.

http://www.lyricsmania.com/there_are_much_worse_things_to_believe_in_lyrics_stephen_colbert.html

---

Here's a recording of the song by somebody else: (click)

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 08:20 PM

Hot Buttered Rum

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: keberoxu
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 06:42 PM

Timing is off, yes, I noticed that.
It's just that I wanted my info straight,
and it has taken me a long time to locate
the perpetrators, I mean, the authors
credited with this song, lyrics and music both.

The song is
Dear Santa, Have You Had the Measles.
Copyright belongs to three individuals:
Frank Kells, Sal Messina [sometime pseudonym: Al Arland], and Al Vann. Shawnee Press / ASCAP. circa 1958.
This thanks to
the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries, Published Music:
Third Series, Volume 10, Part 5A, number 1.
Washington, D. C.: Copyright Office, Library of Congress, 1957.

someone else is more than welcome to fetch the lyrics,
if you insist on knowing them...

Subject: RE: Not the Usual Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Meryle (GUEST)
Date: 04 Sep 21 - 04:38 AM

I'm trying to find the missing lines to a Christmas song my Mom used to sing - probably was sung in the 19-teens & 20s. I don't know the title, can't remember the first line.

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Jimmy popped the corn
Elouise who liked to tease
Brought a tooting horn
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
And on that happy Christmas morn,
We had lots of fun.

The tune (roughly, numerically):
1 3 3 5 5 8 8
8 6 4   6   5
1 3 3 5 5 8 8
7 5 6 4 5
8. 5. 5. 3. 5. 2. 2.
8 5 5 3 5 2 2 3
1 3 3 5 5 8 8
5 3 4 2 1