Page 24 - 200712 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2007

24 History of Beloved Carols 24 History of Beloved Carols The History of Some of hiding and prays to the Virgin Mary. A letter the Czech Republic. St. Stephen's feast day was The History of Some of the Most Beloved from Schubert to his father and step-mother celebrated on 26th December which is why this the Most Beloved refers to his music to Ave Maria: song is sung as a Christmas carol. "My new songs from Scott's Lady of the Christmas Carols Lake especially had much success. They also Hark the Herald Angels Sing! Christmas Carols Hark the Herald Angels Sing! wondered greatly at my piety, which I expressed “Hark the herald angels sing” Christmas Christmas carols are based on Christian in a hymn to the Holy Virgin and which, it Carol was written by Charles Wesley, brother of lyrics and relate, in the main, to the Nativity. appears, grips every soul and turns it to John Wesley founder of the Methodist church, Christmas carols were introduced in to church devotion." in 1739. A sombre man, he requested slow and services by St Francis of Assisi in the 12th The original words by Sir Walter Scott solemn music for his lyrics and thus “Hark the century. As for the word carols, "carol" is a are detailed below and include many references herald angels sing” was sung to a different tune derivative of the French word caroller, the to the Latin "Ave Maria" prayer. This, no doubt, initially. Over a hundred years later Felix interpretation of which means dancing around inspired an unknown person to fit the Latin Mendelssohn (1809-1847) composed a cantata in a circle. Carol and carols, eventually came to "Ave Maria" prayer text to Schubert's notes, and in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's mean not only to dance but included music and it almost succeeds with a couple of exceptions. invention of the printing press. English lyrics - hence modern Xmas Carols. The adapted Latin words of Ave Maria prayer ( musician William H. Cummings adapted The joyous themes for many Christmas Hail Mary ) is now the version most commonly Mendelssohn’s music to fit the lyrics of “Hark carols were banned in England by the staunch performed with the music of Schubert. the herald angels sing” already written by Protestant Oliver Cromwell and many of the Wesley. very old Christmas carols were subsequently A Away in a Manger! way in a Manger! lost for all time. Christmas carols were only Away in a manager is always the first It Came Upon A Midnight Clear! It Came Upon A Midnight Clear! fully popularised again during the Victorian era carol that children are taught. Away in a Manger It Came Upon a Midnight Clear was written by when they again expressed joyful and merry was originally published in 1885. The Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849. The carol themes in their carol lyrics as opposed to the publication of Away in a Manger was in a started life as a poem written by its author who normal, more sombre, Christian lyrics found in Lutheran Sunday school book and this created was a minister living in Massachusetts at the hymns. As religious observances in the United the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a time. The music for It Came Upon A Midnight States and England were closely linked the Manger were actually written by Martin Luther Clear was composed by American musician popularity of Christmas carols grew in both himself. The author is unknown. The music to Richard Storrs Willis in 1859 who was inspired countries in the 19th century. Many Christmas Away in a Manger was composed by William J. by the words of the poem. traditions are relatively recent such as Santa Kirkpatrick in 1895. Claus and reindeer and bear no relation to O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Christmas carols. Deck the Halls! O Christmas Tree is a traditional Deck the Halls! The music to Deck the Halls is believed German Carol. The author of the lyrics are Carol Of The Bells Lyrics to Welsh in origin and was reputed to have come unknown as is the composer of the lyrics. The Carol Of The Bells Lyrics The Carol of the Bells lyrics were added from a tune called "Nos Galan" dating back to tradition of bringing a tree inside and decorating to the original folk music from the Ukraine by the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth century it with candy, baubles and bells was started in Peter Wilhousky. The lyrics and words to this Mozart used the tune to Deck the Halls for a the nineteenth century and is immortalized in popular Christmas song celebrate the festive violin and piano duet J.P. McCaskey is the carol O Christmas Tree lyrics. season and its traditions such as the pealing of sometimes credited with the lyrics of Deck the church bells at Christmas and of the singing of Halls but he only edited the Franklin Square O Little Town of Bethlehem ! O Little Town of Bethlehem ! Christmas Carols - caroling. The original Song Collection in which the lyrics were first Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) of Ukrainian lyrics to the song was entitled published. The first publication date of Deck the Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town Shchedryk meaning bountiful and were Halls is 1881. The author is unknown but the of Bethlehem in 1868, following a pilgrimage to traditionally sang to celebrate the New Year. words are said to originate in America. the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine especially Angels from the realms of glory! God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen! at night time hence the lyrics of O Little Town Angels from the realms of glory! God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen! The author of Angels From the Realms God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen was first of Bethlehem. His church organist Lewis of Glory was an Irishman called James published in 1833 when it appeared in Redner (1831-1908) wrote the melody to O Montgomery. He came from a religious family "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," a Little Town of Bethlehem for the Sunday school background and sadly his parents, who were collection of seasonal carols gathered by children's choir. missionaries died following their vocation. William B. Sandys. The lyrics of God Rest Ye Angels From the Realms of Glory was written Merry Gentlemen are traditional olde English The First Noel ! The First Noel ! in 1816. The music for Angels From the Realms and are reputed to date back to the 15th century The First Noel is unknown in origin but of Glory was composed by Henry Smart. The although the author is unknown.. It is believed is generally thought to be English dating back to lyrics of Angels From the Realms of Glory tell that this particular carol was sung to the gentry the sixteenth century. There is a misconception the story of the shepherds, sages and Saints. by town watchmen who earned additional that the First Noel was French and it is believed money during the Christmas season. God Rest that this is because of the French spelling of A Ave Maria Ye Merry Gentlemen continues to be enjoyed. Noel as opposed to the olde English Anglo- ve Maria The Ave Maria was composed in about The lyrics to this simple carol are reputed to be Saxon spelling of the word as in Nowell. After 1825 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) when he one of the oldest carols. England was captured by the Normans was twenty-eight years old and filled with numerous words were adopted from the Good King Wenceslas! devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was Good King Wenceslas! Norman French language and Noel was re-spelt written for voice and piano and first Published The words to the carol "Good King as Nowell, early printed versions of this carol in 1826 as Op 52 no 6. The words most Wenceslas" were written by John Mason Neale use the Nowell spelling. The First Noel was first commonly used with Schubert's music are not and published in 1853, the music originates in published in 1833 when it appeared in the words that the composer originally set to Finland 300 years earlier. This Christmas carol "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," a music. Franz Schubert actually wrote the music is unusual as there is no reference in the lyrics collection of seasonal carols gathered by for an excerpt from the poem "The Lady of the to the nativity. Good King Wenceslas was the William B. Sandys. Lake" by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), which king of Bohemia in the 10th century. Good King was translated into German by Adam Storck. Wenceslas was a Catholic and was martyred VISIT Schubert called his piece Ellens dritter Gesang following his assassination by his brother THE ‘X’ ZONE RADIO SHOW WEBSITE (Ellen's third song). In this particular excerpt Boleslaw and his supporters, his Saint's Day is from the poem the heroine, Ellen Douglas, is in September 28th, and he is the Patron Saint of WWW.XZONERADIO.COM