Dec 17, 2021
Originally published as episode 59 on December 21, 2019, this popular episode is being rerun in a slightly improved version.
This is a love letter to the great English Christmas carols, from “There Is No Rose” to “The Boar’s Head”.
Did you know that not just any Christmas song is a carol? The true carol, in all its earthy splendor, is a distinctive product of the Catholic middle ages. Yet our forefathers didn’t limit caroling to Christmas: they wrote carols for every season of the year covering the entire story of our Redemption, not to mention secular topics at times.
This episode explores the origin of carols in England, their cultural meaning, and how they were suppressed by the Puritans and were revived in modern times. And of course, you’ll hear a lot of great music throughout, ranging from historically informed performance to modern arrangements!
Links
Erik Routley, The English Carol https://www.amazon.com/English-Carol-Erik-Routley/dp/0837169895
Andrew Gant, The Carols of Christmas https://www.amazon.com/Carols-Christmas-Celebration-Surprising-Favorite/dp/0718031520
All music in this episode used with permission from the recording artist and/or label.
Agincourt Carol, Alamire https://www.amazon.com/Deo-Gracias-Anglia-Alamire/dp/B008L1GZUO
Nowell sing we both all and some, Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland2
Gabriel From Heaven’s King, Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland2
A Virgin Most Pure, Stairwell Carolers https://www.stairwellcarollers.com/en/o-magnum-mysterium/
Coventry Carol, Harry Christophers and the Sixteen, available on the CORO record label at https://thesixteenshop.com/
Bedfordshire May Carol, Shirley Collins https://mainlynorfolk.info/shirley.collins/records/withinsound.html
Remember O Thou Man, The King’s Singers https://www.amazon.com/Remember-O-Thou-Man/dp/B073JZN754
Wassail (Gloucestershire Wassail, arr. Vaughan Williams), Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland4
Green Growth the Holly, Early Music New York—Frederick Renz, Director https://www.earlymusicny.org/a-renaissance-christmas
My Dancing Day, Robert Shaw Chorale https://www.amazon.com/Songs-Angels-Christmas-Hymns-Carols/dp/B000003D0G
Drive the Cold Winter Away, Owain Phyfe and the New World Renaissance Band https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/nwrb
In the Bleak Midwinter, Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland2
Lullay My Liking (Holst), HSVPA Madrigal Singers (Houston, TX) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw81DCQ3HhI
A Hymn to the Virgin (Britten), VOCES8 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077GC4QVT/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp
There is no rose, Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland2
Thanks to all, but especially to Ross W. Duffin for his generosity with Quire Cleveland’s back catalogue!
Also recommended:
A Waverly Consort Christmas: From East Anglia to Appalachia https://www.amazon.com/Waverly-Consort-Christmas-Anglia-Appalachia/dp/B000002SRK
Other non-famous carols mentioned: Seven Virgins (The Leaves of Life); This Endris Night; Tempus adest floridum (Good King Wenceslas); Kingsfold (I heard the voice of Jesus say); The Cherry Tree Carol; Masters In This Hall; The Golden Carol; Snow in the Street; New Prince, New Pomp
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