Four Carols based on piano pieces by Nielsen and Poulenc
and Evening Canticles based on part songs
arranged by Duncan Saunderson
for male voice choir
1. Watts' Cradle song -
2. King Herod and the Cock -
3. Ye sons of man -
4. Ding Dong Ding -
5. Magnificat based on part songs by Sir Arthur Sullivan, Thomas F. Walmisley and Samuel Webbe
6. Nunc Dimittis based on Sir Arthur Sullivan's The Long Day Closes
This one-
The first professional perfomance (with one voice to a part) of the carols was given at a concert on 20 December 2006 at Trinity College Chapel, Oxford featuring Liedertafel
Words of the Carols and Canticles
1. Watts' Cradle song
Hush my dear, lie still and slumber
Holy Angels guard thy bed
Heav'nly blessings without number
Gently falling on they head
Sleep my babe, thy food and raiment
House and home thy friends provide
All without thy care and payment
All thy wants are well supplied
How much better thou'rt attended
Than the son of God could be
When from Heaven he descended
And became a child like thee
Mayst thou live to know and fear him
trust and love him all thy days
Then go dwell with him forever
See his face and sing his praise
2. King Herod and the Cock
There was a star in David's land,
so bright it did appear.
In-
and brightly it shined there.
The wise men soon espied it
and told the king on high,
A princely babe was born that night
no king could e'er destroy.
"If this be true," King Herod said,
"as thou hast told to me,
this roasted cock that lies in the dish
shall crow full fences three
The cock soon thrustened and feathered well
by the work of God's own hand
and he did crow full fences three
in the dish where he did lie.
3. Ye sons of man
(Solo)
Ye sons of men with me rejoice
and and praise the heaven with heart and voice
For joyful tidings you we bring
of this heav'nly babe the new born King
Tutti
Who from his mighty throne above
came down to magnify his love
to all such as would him embrace
and and would be born again in grace
The night of his nativity
the people in the heavens did see
strange wonders which did them surprise
but none the reason could surmise
Within a manger there he lay
His dress was neither rich nor gay
In him you truly there might see
a pattern of humility.
4. Ding Dong Ding
Ding dong ding a dong a ding [etc]
Up good Christian folk and listen
How the merry church bells are ringing
and from steeple bid good people
come adore the new born King
born of mo-
ex Maria Virgine
In a stable, 'tis no fable, Christus natus Hodie
ding dong ding dong [etc]
Tell the story
how from glory
God came down at Christmastide
bringing gladness
chasing sadness
show'ring blessings far and wide
ding-
5. Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me; and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, and is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
6. Nunc dimittis
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, and is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.