Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden

Subject: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: Bert
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 01:56 PM

Does anyone know anything about this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: Haruo
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 02:00 PM

Pretty sure there's a version of it in the Oxford Book of Carols, maybe later today I'll have a chance to look it up for you. There's a Wikipedia article on it here. Any particular angle you're interested in?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: My guru always said
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 02:03 PM

I sang it in a choir one year, it's lovely to sing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: Haruo
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 02:50 PM

One thing to note is that while it was written to be a song text, the original music has not survived (and perhaps was never written down), so it is free for all to write for or adapt.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 03:40 PM

It's here and here:

Adam lay ybounden,
   Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter
   Thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple,
   An apple that he took,
As clerkës finden written
   In their book.
Nor had one apple taken been,
   The apple taken been,
Then had never Our Lady
A-been heaven's queen.
Blessed be the time
   That apple taken was.
Therefore we may singen
   Deo gratias!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 03:58 PM

If you go to the Wikipedia page linked above, you will see the actual manuscript in which this lyric was found. All I've gotta say is, I admire the determination of the scholars who studied that script and published what it says.

I.e., I consider it very hard to read.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 04:53 PM

Just practising this with the church choir for Christmas.
Four part (S.A.T.B.) version by Boris Ord (50th anniversary of his death next month).
Not yet out of copyright, but I have re-set it to print to 2* A4 pages for use during the service, as the copies we have are A5 (or smaller) and difficult to read.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: Artful Codger
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 06:59 PM

"Adam lay ybounden" is song #121 in the New Oxford Book of Carols, in a setting by Boris [orig. Bernhard] Ord, his only published composition. The editors say that the text comes from the same manuscript as "Lullay, myn lyking," and mention settings by Peter Warlock [Philip Heseltine] and John Ireland. The Oxford Book of Carols (#180) gives Warlock's setting; since this setting was first published in 1922, it should now be in the public domain in most countries.

Benjamin Britten wrote a setting ("Deo Gracias") for A Ceremony of Carols. Philip Ledger wrote another widely-used setting. I also ran across mention of a setting by William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies--that would be interesting to see, though it may never have been published.

Here's a clip of an unusual, lively setting by Hubert Bird:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKbUPD-LeZA

Edith Rickart included the text in her collection Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914) with only the note "15th century." She printed no scores in her book.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 23 Nov 11 - 03:16 AM

Just to confirm the details:
Warlock, Peter [Heseltine, Philip (Arnold)] (b London, 30 Oct 1894; d London, 17 Dec 1930).
As the composer died in 1930, the Warlock composition would be out of copyright in UK. (Death + 70 years). The publication date of 1922 does not affect this.
However, if the 'original' copy you have is dated 1986 or later, you still cannot photocopy it (with certain exemptions) as the publisher has a 25 year copyright on their layout.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: GUEST,Black Belt Caterpillar Wrestler
Date: 23 Nov 11 - 07:38 AM

It fits well on Anglo to accompany yourself if you are OK with the accidental near the end!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Nov 11 - 09:47 AM

Hi, Blackbelt. I'm glad to hear from somebody else who's playing the tune.

You can get free versions of this song by three composers at ChoralWiki - the Choral Public Domain Library. To download, you click on the symbols after a song's CDPL number.

I discovered this by googling this:

adam lay bound warlock

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Adam lay ybounden
From: Haruo
Date: 23 Nov 11 - 12:46 PM

If the 1922 publication was in the United States, it would be out of copyright in the United States regardless of the death date of the composer.