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06 Nov 16 - 08:11 PM (#3818606) Subject: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: bradfordian This song with the lyrics "While Shepherds Watched" is well nown to us from the Village carols around Sheffield. Here are some other lyrics (source: Golden Hind Music) Sweet Chiming Bells O blessed night! A star shines bright Though seen through falling snow: The star of love lit from above To set the world aglow. Sweet bells, sweet chiming Christmas bells, Sweet bells, sweet chiming Christmas bells, They cheer us on our merry way, sweet chiming bells. They cheer us on our merry way, sweet chiming bells. Child voices sweet once more repeat The angels' glorious strain, Our grey old earth in holy mirth Becomes a child again. Chime sweetly on, ye Christmas bells, While happy voices sing. Shine out, O star, from heaved afar And guide us to our king. To hail the little new-born king A few poor shepherds came, Although with wonder, joy and love The heavens were aflame. The wise men came upon their way Led by that heavenly light, O star of love, shine from above, And make our pathway bright. The loving heart, the prayer of faith, Are sweeter gifts to bring, Shine out, O star, from heaven afar, And guide us to our king. And there is a further set of lyrics by MIRIAM RICHARDS begining "The bells ring out at Christmas time" Does anyone have these lyrics they may care to share? bradfordian |
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06 Nov 16 - 10:37 PM (#3818622) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: leeneia Thanks for bringing up this song, which I listened to on YouTube. I didn't find the lyrics for the second song, but here are some people singing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEbgVmz1QIk |
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07 Nov 16 - 10:21 AM (#3818689) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: GUEST,John Foxen The Sally Army sings these lyrics to the tune. They were written by Brigadier Miriam M Richards. The bells ring out at Christmas time Their message loud and clear. Our hearts are stirred as on the air The joyful sound we hear. Sweet Bells etc Thanks be to God since all may learn The bells' exultant theme. The babe of Bethlehem was born This lost world to redeem Sweet bells... Glad message of the Christmas bells Of God Whose name is love. Oh may this music all our days Our hope and comfort prove. Sweet Bells... Foxen will be performing this version at the Leigh Folk Carol Concert this year (St Clement's Church, Leigh on Sea, December 11, 2016) as the While Shepherds Watched lyrics have been bagged for another tune. Good job there is such diversity in the world of folk carols. |
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07 Nov 16 - 12:12 PM (#3818719) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: Reinhard The lyrics bradfordian cited are from Nowell Sing We Clear's 1995 CD "Hail Smiling Morn!". They are a combination of the chorus from "While Shepherds Watched" and the poem "A Song for Christmas Eve" by Clara Broughton Conant as the liner notes stated: "Hail, Smiling Morn!, Old Foster, and Jacob's Well are from the Yorkshire pub Christmas singing traditions found in several parts of the city of Sheffield. Our versions are taken from The Joy of Christmas: Words & Music of Traditional & Local Carols, compiled and presented by Worrall Male Voice Choir, privately published, ca. 1980. Sweet Chiming Bells is from the same source, though it was originally another setting of "While Shepherds Watched." We loved the tune and the chorus but didn't feel the verses suited them very well. The solution was to add the poem "A Song for Christmas Eve" by Clara Broughton Conant from Kriss Kringle Recitations, Dialogs and Songs for Christmas, compiled by Hal J. Weigle (Chicago: Meyer and Brother, 1914). Over the years, our "fifth man," friend and sound technician, Steve Voorhees, has produced Christmas related curiosities on his perennial search of yard sales and antique stores. Compared with LPs of "Calypso Christmas" and "Christmas Rap" this little book of poems and stories yielded pure gold." |
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07 Nov 16 - 12:41 PM (#3818728) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: Joe Offer Dang! I'd swear John Roberts sings "Sweet CHARMING Christmas bells"! Mondegreen on my part, I suppose. Joe |
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07 Nov 16 - 01:15 PM (#3818741) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: McGrath of Harlow Good mondegreens like that are how we get interesting variants. I like that one, Joe. I might sing it. I reckon it could take off with a few Mudcatters choosing to sing it that way. |
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07 Nov 16 - 05:17 PM (#3818778) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: bradfordian John Foxen, thank you very much for those lyrics. I was picking up that there was a Sally Army connection. Seems the Brigadier composed a handful of songs (listed on CCLI.com) Reinhard, thank you for the background to the Clara Conant version. bradfordian (well impressed with the Mudcat community) |
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07 Nov 16 - 06:46 PM (#3818798) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: bradfordian In the video quoted by leena, the choir sing the first verse as per Richards,(quoted by Foxen) thence forth sing different words. I have sent an email to the church featured in the video requesting information on their version. |
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08 Nov 16 - 02:22 PM (#3819043) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: Anglo To add to Reinhard's accurate comments above, Sweet Chiming Bells as we (Nowell Sing We Clear) found it was yet another setting of While Shepherds Watched. Over the years we incorporated many versions of these wonderful lyrics into our annual concerts and into our recordings, but finding the poem and using it with the Chiming Bells chorus enabled us to use the song independent of Shepherds. John Foxen seems to be doing the same thing with another different and charming set of words. |
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08 Nov 16 - 05:53 PM (#3819086) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: bradfordian Here is a youtube vid of the Clara Conart poem set to Sweet Chiming Bells tune.(They sing the first 3 verses only) Who is this choir? Maybe a group from the Scottish town of Biggar. Anglo, Reinhard, any info on Clara Conart? Sweet Chiming Bells -Clara Canart version bradfordian |
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09 Nov 16 - 08:35 AM (#3819259) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: bradfordian I now believe the choir featured in the above video is Loud and Proud LGBT choir based in Scotland. I have contacted them for information on their version. bradfordian |
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09 Nov 16 - 10:08 AM (#3819287) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: GUEST,henryp Clara Broughton Conant - this may be her; From Notable American Women Hannah O'Brien Chaplin September 5 1809 - Feb 18 1865 Married July 12 1830 Thomas Jefferson Conant, Professor of languages at Waterville College, Maine. They had ten children, including Clara Broughton. Another possibility; From Ancestry website John Conant; Born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, USA on 2 Feb 1773 to Ebenezer Conant and Lydia Oaks. John married Charity Waite Broughton and had 10 children. He passed away on 30 Jun 1756 [1856?] in Brandon, Vermont, USA. Charity Waite Broughton; Born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, USA on 14 Jul 1772 to Waite Broughton. Charity Waite married John Conant and had 10 children. She passed away on 12 Dec 1851 in Brandon, Massachusetts [Vermont?], USA. Clara Conant; Born to John Conant and Charity Waite Broughton. Both families had links to writing and journalism. |
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09 Nov 16 - 10:20 AM (#3819295) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: GUEST,henryp Two short stories from 1870 and 1873; Serial: Overland monthly and Out West magazine. Title: Grandmother's Story [Volume 5, Issue 5, Nov 1870; pp. 475-479] Author: Conant, Clara B. Collection: Making of America Journal Articles Article URL: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moajrnl/ahj1472.1-05.005/471 Serial: Overland monthly and Out West magazine. Title: Catching a Butterfly [Volume 10, Issue 4, Apr 1873; pp. 315-322] Author: Conant, Clara B. Collection: Making of America Journal Articles Article URL: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moajrnl/ahj1472.1-10.004/311 |
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09 Nov 16 - 10:49 AM (#3819304) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Chiming Bells From: GUEST,henryp And from The Literary World, Boston, 27 September 1890 Publishers' Announcements American Tract Society - The society promises for the fall season in its special field of religious publications: Winnie Lorimer's Visit by Clara B Conant |