Usually, I try to avoid anything Christmassy until December 1st at the earliest. The exception to this rule is Christmas carols. These have to be rehearsed in good time for Christmas so, being a singing sort of person, I can’t really (and don’t want to) avoid them, so I am allowing myself to write about them here, even though it’s only November.
Every year, the people in our church who enjoy singing join together to form a choir for Christmas. We sing one or two choral pieces at the Christmas carol service. This year, I suggested that we sing one of my favourite carols, Love Came Down At Christmas. I think the words are lovely and the tune I know is fairly simple with a nice arrangement for choir. It’s not one of the most popular carols, so I thought it would be something a bit different. However, when potential choir people were discussing this carol at church the other week it became obvious that the tune I know is completely different from the tunes other people know. I discovered that there are several tunes for this carol, as you will see (and hear if you wish to and have the technology) if you followed the link above. This is a beautiful version (if you like choral music, that is) with another tune I don’t know!
The most well known tune seems to be the traditional Irish one (sorry about the cheesy synthesised arrangement!) which is not the one I know well, but someone else at church knew yet another alternative tune and no one knows the one I know! This could make for an interesting sing! It was agreed that we would try to learn the one I know, as it is more of a solo piece for choir rather than a carol, but we have a slight problem in that we don’t have the music!
My mum is kindly trying to find out information from my old choir’s librarian (the very lady who inspired me to follow my chosen career) so hopefully some light will be shed when I visit my parents’ tomorrow. If anyone knows the tune that follows the pattern “Love came down at Chri-i-ist-mas” and changes time signature (I think) in the last verse. If you know who composed it that would be even better. If you know me in real life I’ll hum it (badly) for you!
As I mentioned above, Mr C and I are going to visit my parents in order to see his mum who is visiting from Malaysia at the moment. The C clan are gathering and we have been summoned to join them, which is very nice, but I’m not sure how I am going to keep the blogging momentum going. I might have to do some fiddling of timestamps, but will try not to.
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In addition to the Irish tune you mentioned, there is a tune that is found in Hutchins’ 1918 collection of Carols. You can find it at:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/love_came_down_at_christmas.htm
Best wishes,
Doug
Hallo Lilian and Giraffe
I’m sooo sorry. I tried to get Hazel to go and look through her large collection of music from the days when she sang in the Celebration Choir in Sheffield but she says that she hasn’t got time — and she hasn’t catalogued it (and she thinks she’s an information manager!). The shortage of time is something to do with this hospital visit that we’re going on and a train to catch to London in half an hour from now.
Lots of love
Hazel’s Eeyore
Doug, thanks for your help. I had already looked at this site but none of the tunes there are the one I was looking for. I have now found the tune, which turned out to be by Mansel Thomas (see tomorrow’s post, which I have had to write in advance!).
Dear Hazel’s Eeyore,
Please tell Hazel not to worry about not having time to look for the carol for Lilian. Lilian and I hope that all goes well with the hospital visit.
Lots of love,
Giraffe (and Lilian)