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syracuse-singers / xmas

Syracuse Caroling
https://syracuse-singers.github.io/xmas/
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New: Glad Christmas Comes #36

Open tomkeays opened 10 months ago

tomkeays commented 10 months ago

A new carol using verses from a poem, "December", written by the English poet, John Clare, and found in his book, "A Shepherd's Calendar", published in 1827. Clare's work is now recognized for his "celebrations of the English countryside and sorrows at its disruption. His work underwent major re-evaluation in the late 20th century; he is now often seen as a major 19th-century poet." Wikipedia

Glad Christmas Comes ~ John Clare (c. 1827) / Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden (2023)

Glad Christmas comes, and every hearth Makes room to give him welcome now, E'en want will dry its tears in mirth, And crown him with a holly bough; Though tramping 'neath a winter sky, O'er snowy paths and rimy stiles, The housewife sets her spinning by, To bid him welcome with her smiles.

The singing waits – a merry throng At early morn, with simple skill, Yet imitate the angels song, And chant their Christmas ditty still; And, 'mid the storm that dies and swells By fits, in hummings softly steals The music of the village bells, Ringing round their merry peals.

When this is past, a merry crew, Bedecked in masks and ribbons gay, The Morris Dance, their sports renew, And act their winter evening play. The clown turned king, for penny praise, Storms with the actor's strut and swell; And Harlequin, a laugh to raise, Wears his hunch-back and tinkling bell.

Each house is swept the day before, And windows stuck with evergreens The snow is besom'd from the door, And comfort crowns the cottage scenes. And oft for pence and spicy ale, With winter nosegays pinned before, The wassail-singer tells her tale, And drawls her Christmas carols o'er.

Thou day of happy sound and mirth, That long with childish memory stays, How blest around the cottage hearth I met thee in my younger days! About the glowing hearth at night, The harmless laugh and winter tale Go round, while parting friends delight To toast each other o'er their ale

Glad Christmas comes, now every heart Makes room to give him welcome now, Unite in fellowship and mirth And crowns him with a holly bough Now tramping 'neath a winter sky With merry heart and singing voice Let all men set their troubles by To bid him welcome and rejoice

Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden: https://elizacarthy.bandcamp.com/track/glad-christmas-comes

The lyric transcription and liner notes are from Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden's 2023 recording, "Glad Christmas Comes".

We were excited to discover a John Clare poem that seemed eminently singable and that might therefore (when furnished with a new tune) be a wholly new addition to the canon. Sadly whilst working through the many many verses in Eliza's kitchen we came upon the "for Pence and Spicy Ale" verse. "Yup" said Eliza's dad... "that's where we got it from." (Title of the seminal 1977 Watersons album... not so original after all then.) Originally published as "December" in The Shepherd's calendar 1827. The tune and the slightly tweaked final verse is by us. (J)

tomkeays commented 10 months ago

There is no music transcription, so we'll have to do it ourselves. It will probably be as fraught as ever...