List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Oct 12 - 05:04 PM

Hey! Without realising it, it seems that for the first time ever, I have made the magic 100!!!!!!

Eddie

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: banjoman
Date: 13 Oct 12 - 06:43 AM

Centre of the Ages (The Christmas song) is a great one which we sing every Christmas. I can give the words if needed

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Murpholly
Date: 13 Oct 12 - 10:26 AM

Carol carol gaily, carol on our way

Go sound the gospel trumpet that once o'er Judah's plain

Christmas Bells are ringing, ringing o'er the world triumphantly

(Words can be provided) and

Hail Smiling Morn

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 04:58 PM

Ebor Fiddler wrote

Practically any tune to "Shepherds": I'm even partial to "Winchester Old".

And I'm sitting here trying to sing "Shepherds, rejoice! lift up your eyes" to WINCHESTER OLD and it's not working so well.

Wait...

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Peter from Mc2
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 05:19 PM

'Miracles' by the Suffolk based singer/songwriter Paul McCartney of Mc2 fame - but then I am biased!

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Chris Green
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 07:31 AM

My two personal faves are Veni Emmanuel and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day.

Both of which can be heard in glorious three-part harmony on (mostly) authentic instruments as part of Blast from the Past's Christmas show which will be touring England and Wales this December!

Subject: Lyr Add: ADESTE FIDELES
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 12:30 PM

I see Mary Garvey gave some of the verses of Adeste Fideles (the ones most likely to be found in a Catholic hymnal) in Latin. There are others. Here are the seven Latin verses I am familiar with. Usually you either get the first verse plus two or three of verses 2 through 4, or else you get the first verse plus two or three of verses 5 through 7. Seems to me that the second approach is more appropriate to the "carol" application, or for a setting with a crèche, while the first approach is more appropriate to the "hymn" application, as it is more concerned with praise and theology than with wise men and shepherds.

1. Adeste fideles, læti, triumphantes, (W)
   Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
   Natum videte Regem angelorum.
       Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus,
      Venite adoremus, Dominum.

2. Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, (W)
   Gestant puellae viscera,
   Deum verum, Genitum non factum.
       Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus,
      Venite adoremus, Dominum.

3. Cantet nunc "Io!" chorus angelorum; (W)
   Cantet nunc aula caelestium:
   "Gloria in excelsis Deo!"
       Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus,
      Venite adoremus, Dominum.

4. Ergo qui natus Die hodierna, (W)
   Jesu tibi sit gloria!
   Patris aeterni Verbum caro factum.
       Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus,
      Venite adoremus, Dominum.

5. En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas (B)
   Vocati pastores appropriant;
   Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus;
      Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus,
    Venite adoremus, Dominum.

6. Stella duce, Magi, Christum adorantes, (A)
   Aurum, thus et myrrham dant munera.
   Jesu infanti corda praebeamus;
      Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus,
    Venite adoremus, Dominum.

7. Pro nobis erenum et foeno cubantem, (B)
   Piis foveamus amplexibus.
   Sic nos amantem quis non redamaret?
      Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus,
    Venite adoremus, Dominum.

The letters in parentheses after the first lines indicate the probable authorship of each stanza. (W) means John Francis Wade (1711-1786), ĉ. 1743, who is now widely accepted by scholars as the author and composer of the song. These are the same stanzas that other traditions have ascribed to a variety of others, including (as mentioned in this thread) King John IV of Portugal and John Reading or Redding. (B) means the Frenchman Abbé E. Jean François de Borderies (1764-1832). (A) means Anonymous, I haven't seen an attribution.

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 01:05 PM

Mary Garvey's first suggestion ("Mariam et Joseph et infantem positum in precipio") I was not familiar with. I wonder if it is the same as the one mentioned in this article in the Dutch Wikipedia (also in German and Italian, but not in English or Esperanto): Transeamus usque Bethlehem? (Note the correct spelling of "praesepio", ablative of "manger", if googling.)


    Transeamus usque Bethlehem
    et videamus hoc verbum quod factum est.
    Mariam et Joseph et Infantem positum in praesepio.

    Transeamus, audiamus multitudinem
    militiae coelestis laudantium Deum,
    Mariam et Joseph et Infantem
    positum in praesepio.

    Gloria, Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
    Gloria, Gloria et in terra pax hominibus.
    Bonae voluntatis, et in terra pax.
    Transeamus et videamus quod factum est.

The version in the German Wikipedia prefixes a recitative

Nolite timere:
ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo:
quia natus est vobis Salvator hodie, qui est Christus Dominus in civitate David.
Et hoc vobis signum:
Invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in praesepio.

to the text, and gives

Gloria in excelsis Deo,
et in terra pax hominibus
bonae voluntatis.

as a choral refrain between the two stanzas beginning with "Transeamus".

Here is a text from CPDL.org: Transeamus usque Bethlehem, which ascribes the work to Schnabel; my impression is the Wikipedia consensus is that it is an anonymous, traditional Silesian song which Schnabel simply transcribed (and then gussied up for choral performance).

Mary, is this the text you're thinking of?

as a

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 01:06 PM

That final "as a" is a relic of absent-minded cutting and pasting. Joe, feel free to edit and remove it and this post.

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 01:38 PM

I really like "Chariots"

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 01:46 PM

And here's a live link for those saddened by the disappearance of Geocities, taking with it Santa Claus is coming to town in Tlingit.

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 01:52 PM

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "Rise up, shepherd, and foll[er/ow]" or "Children, go where I send thee".

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: open mike
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 02:52 PM

from some of my december radio shows:

Mary Chapin Carpenter Hot Buttered Rum 12 Songs of Christmas   
Zoe Records http://www.marychapincarpenter.com/

CHRISTMAS JUG BAD BOOGIE WOOGIE SANTA UNCORKED GLOBE               WWW.CHRISTMASJUGBAND.COM
HAYBURNERS        YOUR WINTER WEATHER        HUDSON-HARDING SAMPLER
                Http://www.hudsonharding.com/
HAYBURNERS        HOME WITH YOU                EPONYMOUS
WWW.thehayburners.com        
DENISE J. FINDLEY SOLSTICE SONG                HUDSON-HARDING SAMPLER
                Http://www.hudsonharding.com/
DAVID BOWIE/BING CROSBY        PEACE ON EARTH/LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
CHERYL BRANZ                SKATING        CHRISTMAS GIFT        TOM POSADA-RAO
                        www.cherylbranz.com
KATE CAMPBELL        DEAR LITTLE STRANGER                MY 2006 CROSSROADS SHOW RECORDING
                        http://www.katecampbell.com/
WILLIE NELSON                EL NIN~O He Is Born                "        "        "        "        "
                        http://www.willienelson.com/
REB FIRMAN                ON MY WAY                        "        "        "        "        "
                        http://cdbaby.com/cd/rebb
JACKSON BROWNE        REBEL JESUS                        "        "        "        "        "
                        http://www.jacksonbrowne.com/
STEPHANIE DAVIS        HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS        "        "        "        "        "
                        WWW. STEPHANIEDAVIS.COM
CELTIC ELVIS                KILL A TREE FOR CHRIST                "        "        "        "        "        
                        http://www.wildplum.org/celticelvis/
COWBOY CHRISTMAS        WESTERN FOLK LIFE CENTER        "        "        "        "        "
PETE MOAK                SANTA CLAUS                FIELD RECORDING OF COWBOY POETS BY LAUREL
THE BOBS                50 KILOWATT TREE                MY 2006 CROSSROADS SHOW RECORDING
                        ttp://www.bobs.com
MANHEIM STEAMROLLER        DECK THE HALLS        FRESH AIRE        CHIP DAVIS
        "        "                HARK x 2                FRESH AIRE        CHIP DAVIS
                        http://shop.mannheimsteamroller.com/
JOHN GORKA       CHRISTMAS BELLS-LONG FELLOW         MY 2006 CROSSROADS SHOW RECORDING
                        WWW.johngorka.com
SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS                OVER THE RIVER AND THRU THE WOODS    INSTRU.
RALPH        STANLEY        CHRISTMAS TIME IS NEAR          A VERY SPECIAL ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS
www.drralphstanley.com    http://www.amazon.com/Very-Special-Acoustic-Christmas/dp/B0000CAV4C        
KENNY ROGERS (?)        MARY DID YOU KNOW                MY 2006 CROSSROADS SHOW RECORDING
                        http://kennyrogers.musiccitynetworks.com/
LAUREL READING FROM FARMER'S ALMANACS
MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER        LONGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR        12 SONGS OF CHRISTMAS
                        http://www.marychapincarpenter.com/
CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHILDREN        DECK THE HALLS        "        "        "        "        "
THE HILLS OF BETHLEHEM ARE BARE                                "        "        "        "        "
CHRISTMAS MUSIC BOX         SANTA CLAUSE IS COMIN' TO TOWN        "        "        "        "        "
Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum / If We Make It Thru December / Winter's Grace / Spruce & Maple Music http://www.laurielewis.com
Bryan Bowers / Hard Times / For You / Flying Fish / http://www.bryanbowers.com
Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum / The Gift / Winter's Grace / S & MM / see above
Jean Ritchie / Bird in a Cage / Clear Waters Remembered / Greenhays Records http://www.jeanritchiehome.com/
Laurie L. and Tom R. / Hot Buttered Rum / Winter's Grace / S & MM / see above
Penman Family / Feed The Children / Penman's Home Made Jam / SELF, New Zealand
L.L. & T.R. / Winter's Grace / Title Song / S & M M / see above
Connie Kaldor and BIM / Cowboy Christmas / New Songs for an Old Celebration / http://www.conniekaldor.com/ Vancouver Folk Music Festival's Aural Tradition Records
Wylie Gustafson / Christmas for Cowboys / Title song / Two Medicine Music http://www.wylieww.com/
Connie Kaldor and BIM / We're Gonna Sing / New Songs for an Old Celebration / see above
Christmas Jug Band / Carolin' / Holiday Highways / Globe Rec ords / www.christmasjugband.com/
Dar Williams / Christians and Pagans / What Do You Hear / Razor & Tie / www.darwilliams.com/




Robert Earl Keen / Christmas from the Family / The Party Never Ends /www.robertearlkeen.com/
Loudon Wainwright III / Christmas Morning / Social Studies / http://www.lwiii.com/
Janet Bates / He Was Born / Little Spinner / SELF / http://www.janetbates.com/
New World / Cowboy Carol / by Cecil Broadhurst / from You Tube
Glory of the Story / Miracle of the Wheat / Ed McGurdy / 1958 / from internet
Seamus Kennedy / Miss fogarty's Cake / Goodwill to Men / Gransha /
http://www.mcnote.com/seamus/
Jackson Browne / Rebel Jesus / with the Chieftans / http://www.jacksonbrowne.com/
Bryndle / Corn, Water, Wood / by Carol Elliot and Wendy Waldman /http://www.bryndle.com/
Myra Hess / Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring / Bach for Christmas / Tomato Sampler / Tomato Records
Misty River / Bleak Mid-Winter / Midwinter Songs / MRCD / http://www.mistyriverband.com/
Terry Allen / X-Mas on the Isthmus / Salivation / Sugar Hill / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Allen_%28country_singer%29
Gretchen Peters / Careful How You Go / Northern Lights / Scarlet Letter Records http://www.gretchenpeters.com/
Willie Nelson / He Is Born / El Nin~o / http://willienelson.com/
Byrd and Street / Hope in Every Heart / Ain't no Merry / Self / http://www.byrdandstreet.com/
Mara Levine / Raise the Dead of Midwinter / Mara's Gems/ www.myspace.com/maralevine

Seamus Kennedy/Mary's Boy Child, Christmas Cake/Goodwill To Men
Gransha Records
Ken Webb / Skating / Christmas Pony
Wil Maring / Hometown Christmas, Bucky's Present / http://www.wilmaring.com/
April Verch / Christmas in the Valley / http://www.aprilverch.com/
Laurie Lewis / The Bear Song / Earth & Sky / Rounder/ www.laurielewis.com                                       
Wylie & the Wild West /Christmas for Cowboys, In The Bleak Mid Winter /Cowboy Christmas /Two Medicine Music/www.wylieww.com
Tommy Byrd, Kathy Street / Ain't No Merry in Christmas / www.byrdandstreet.com
Penman's Homemade Jam / Feed the Children /Summer 2008 / self
Dar Williams / the Christians and the Pagans / Mortal City /
Razor and Tie Records / www.darwilliams.com
Christmas Jug Band / This Christmas Night / On The Holiday Highway /Globe/          www.christmasjugband.com
Gretchen Peters / Northern Lights / title / Scarlet Letter Records /
www.gretchenpeters.com
Terry Allen / xmas on the isthmus / Salivation / Sugar Hill /
http://www.terryallenartmusic.com/
Misty River / All That I Want , Peace /Midwinter / www.mistyriverband.com
Alicia McGovern / The Holly and All/ Words Through the Seasons /
www.aliciamcGovernmusic.com
Loudon Wainwright III / Christmas Morning/ Social Studies/Hannibal
http://www.lw3.com
Readings from several Almanacs….about Solstice, lunar eclipse and meteor showers all coming up Dec. 20-21-22
Robert Earl Keen / Merry Christmas from the Family / The Party Never Ends / Sugar Hill www.robertearlkeen.com/

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 03:18 PM

"(Words can be provided) and" - please do, Murpholly!

Subject: RE: List Your Favorite Folk Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 04:12 PM

That is the one all right Haruo..but I thought it was by a famous composer in some Mass for B Minor or something...it is very beautiful.

I am fond of a new to me song by George Millar of Irish Rovers..Bells over Belfast...