Benjamin Britten · A Ceremony of Carols, op. 28
1. Procession
Hodie Christus natus est:
hodie Salvator apparuit:
hodie in terra canunt angeli:
laetantur archangeli:
hodie exsultant justi dicentes:
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia!
--
Today Christ is born;
Today the Saviour has appeared;
Today the angels sing,
The archangels rejoice,
Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
Glory be to God in the highest.
Alleluia!
2. Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum, Wolcum,
Wolcum be thou hevenè king.
Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum, born in one morning.
Wolcum for whom we sall sing!
Wolcum be ye Stevene and Jon.
Wolcum Innocentes every one.
Wolcum, Thomas marter one.
Wolcum, be ye, Good Newe Yere.
Wolcum Twelfth Day both in fere,
Wolcum, seintes lefe and dere,
Wolcum Yole!
Candelmesse, Quene of bliss.
Wolcum bothe to more and lesse.
Wolcum be ye that are here.
Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum alle and make good cheer.
Wolcum alle another yere.
Wolcum Yole! Wolcum!
3. There is no Rose
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu:
Alleluya.
For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space:
Res miranda.
By that rose we may well see
That he is God in person three:
Pari forma.
The angels sung the shepherds to:
"Gloria in excelsis Deo",
Gaudeamus.
Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth:
Transeamus.
Alleluia, res miranda, Pares forma, Gaudeamus,
Transeamus.
4a. That yongë child
That yongë child when it gan weep
With song she lulled him asleep;
That was so sweet a melody
It passèd alle minstrelsy.
The nightingalë sang also:
Her song is hoarse and nought thereto:
Whoso attendeth to her song
And leaveth the first then doth he wrong.
4b. Balulalow
O my deir hert, young Jesus sweit,
Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee in my hert
And never mair from thee depart.
But I sall praise thee evermoir
With sangis sweit unto thy gloir;
The knees of my heart sall I bow,
And sing that richt Balulalow!
5. As Dew in Aprille
I sing of a maiden
that is makèles:
King of all kings
to her son she ches.
He came al so stille
there his moder was,
As dew in Aprille
that falleth on the grass.
He came al so stille
to his moder bour,
As dew in Aprille
that falleth on the flour.
He came al so stille
there his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille
that falleth on the spray.
Moder and mayden
was never none but she;
Well may such a lady
Goddes moder be.
--
I sing of a maiden
that is matchless:
King of all kings
for her son she chose.
He came as silently
where his mother was
As dew in April
that falls on the grass.
He came as silently
to his mother's bower
As dew in April
that falls on the flower.
He came as silently
where his mother lay
As dew in April
that falls on the spray.
Mother and maiden
was never none but she:
Well may such a lady
God's mother be.
6. This little Babe
This little Babe so few days old
is come to rifle Satan's fold;
all hell doth at his presence quake
though he himself for cold do shake;
for in this weak unarmèd wise
the gates of hell he will surprise.
With tears he fights and wins the field,
his naked breast stands for a shield;
his battering shot are babish cries,
his arrows looks of weeping eyes,
his martial ensigns Cold and Need
and feeble Flesh his warrior's steed.
His camp is pitchèd in a stall,
his bulwark but a broken wall;
the crib his trench, haystacks his stakes;
of shepherds he his muster makes;
and thus, as sure his foe to wound,
the angels' trump alarum sound.
My soul, with Christ join thou in fight,
stick to the tents that he hath pight.
Within his crib is surest ward,
this little Babe will be thy guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
then flit not from this heavenly Boy.
7. Interlude
8. In Freezing Winter Night
Behold, a silly tender babe in freezing winter night,
In homely manger trembling lies; alas, a piteous sight!
The inns are full, no man will yield this little pilgrim bed.
But forced he is with silly beasts, in crib to shroud his head.
This stable is a Prince's court, this crib his chair of State;
The beasts are parcel of his pomp, this wooden dish his plate.
The persons in that poor attire his royal liveries wear;
The Prince himself is come from Heav'n; this pomp is prizèd there.
With joy approach o Christian wight, do homage to thy King;
And highly praise his humble pomp, which he from Heav'n doth bring.
9. Spring Carol
Pleasure it is
To hear, iwis,
The Birdès sing.
The deer in the dale,
The sheep in the vale,
The corn springing.
God’s purveyance
For sustenance,
It is for man.
Then we always
To give him praise,
And thank him than,
And thank him than.
10. Deo gracias
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond,
Four thousand winter
Thought he not too long;
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
And all was for an apple,
An apple that he took,
As clerkës finden
Written in their book.
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Né had one apple taken been,
The apple taken been,
Né had never Our Lady
A been Heaven's Queen.
Blessèd be the time
That apple takèn was.
Therefore we moun singen:
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
11. Recession
Hodie Christus natus est:
hodie Salvator apparuit:
hodie in terra canunt angeli:
laetantur archangeli:
hodie exsultant justi dicentes:
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia!
--
Today Christ is born;
Today the Saviour has appeared;
Today the angels sing,
The archangels rejoice,
Today the righteous rejoice, saying:
Glory be to God in the highest.
Alleluia!
Benjamin Britten · Hymn to the Virgin
Of one that is so fair and bright
Velut maris stella,
Brighter than the day is light,
Parens et puella:
I cry to thee, thou see to me,
Lady, pray thy Son for me
Tam pia,
That I may come to thee.
Maria!
All this world was forlorn
Eva peccatrice,
Till our Lord was y-born
De te genetrice.
With ave it went away
Darkest night, and comes the day
Salutis
The well springeth out of thee.
Virtutis.
Lady, flow'r of ev'rything,
Rosa sine spina,
Thou bare Jesu, Heaven's King,
Gratia divina:
Of all thou bear'st the prize,
Lady, queen of paradise
Electa:
Maid mild, mother es Effecta.
Effecta.
--
Of one that is so fair and bright
Like a star of the sea,
Brighter than the day is light,
Both mother and maiden:
I cry to thee, thou see to me,
Lady, pray thy Son for me
So pure,
That I may come to thee.
Mary!
All this world was forlorn
Because of Eve, a sinner,
Till our Lord was y-born
Through you, his mother.
With ave it went away
Darkest night, and comes the day
Of Salvation
The well springeth out of thee.
Of Virtue.
Lady, flow'r of ev'rything,
Rose without thorn,
Thou bare Jesu, Heaven's King,
By divine grace:
Of all thou bear'st the prize,
Lady, queen of paradise
Chosen:
Maid mild, mother es Effecta.
You are made.
Gustav Holst · In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty —
Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom Angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.
Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But only His Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.
John Rutter · There is a flower
There is a flower sprung of a tree,
The root thereof is called Jesse,
A flower of price,
There is none such in paradise.
This flower is fair and fresh of hue,
It fadeth never, but ever is new;
The blessed branch this flower on grew
Was Mary mild that bare Jesu,
A flower of grace;
Against all sorrow it is solace.
The seed hereof was Goddes sand (gift),
That God himself sowed with his hand,
In Nazareth that holy land,
Amidst her arbour a maiden found;
This blessed flower
Sprang never but in Mary's bower.
When Gabriel this maid did meet
With ‘Ave Maria’ he did her greet;
Between them two this flower was set
And safe was kept, no man should wit (know),
Till on a day
In Bethl’em it could spread and spray.
When that fair flower began to spread,
And his sweet blossom began to bed (grow),
Then rich and poor of every land
They marvelled how this flower might spread,
Till kinges three
That blessed flower came to see.
Angels there came from heaven's tower,
To look upon this freshele flower,
How fair he was in his colour,
And how sweet in his savour,
And to behold
How such a flower might spring in gold.
There is a flower sprung of a tree,
The root thereof is called Jesse,
A flower of price;
There is none such in paradise.
Herbert Howells · A Spotless Rose
A spotless Rose is blowing
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter
And in the dark midnight.
The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For through our God’s great love and might
The blessed babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter’s night.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky · The Nutcracker: Waltz of the Flowers
Harp solo (arr. Alexander Boldacev)
traditional · Paraphrase on ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’
Harp solo (arr. Carlos Salzedo)
traditional · Paraphrase on ‘Greensleeves’
Harp solo (arr. Carlos Salzedo)
I Wonder as I Wander (arr. Andrew Carter)
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
how Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
for poor ordn'ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
when Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow stall
with wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
but high from the Heavens a star's light did fall
and a promise of ages it then did recall
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing;
Or all of God's angels in Heav'n for to sing,
He surely could have it 'cause he was the King!
I Saw Three Ships (arr. David Willcocks)
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the angels in heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the angels in heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
The Holly and the Ivy (arr. John Rutter)
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as any flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour.
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to do us sinners good.
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To redeem us all.
The Twelve Days of Christmas (arr. Ian Humphris)
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven swans-a-swimming
Six geese-a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight maids-a-milking
Seven swans-a-swimming
Six geese-a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids-a-milking
Seven swans-a-swimming
Six geese-a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten lords-a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids-a-milking
Seven swans-a-swimming
Six geese-a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords-a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids-a-milking
Seven swans-a-swimming
Six geese-a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords-a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids-a-milking
Seven swans-a-swimming
Six geese-a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
