No Masters NMCD21 2004 Words and music from a traditional English Christmas with Barry Coope, Jim Boyes and Lester Simpson, and Fi Fraser, Jo Freya and Georgina Boyes. With bands of carollers and wassail songs, tales of Mowbray Pies and ghosts - and hospitable customs like Mumping and Clementing, the Winter season in the English countryside was a time of fireside celebration and travellers’ voices at the door. Here are songs from Albion's past to be enjoyed at any season. Now, you can't say fairer than that now, can you? This album is the inspiration for this page. There are carol singers and then there are Coope Boyes and Simpson. Add Georgina Boyes and the two Fraser sister, Jo and Fi, and you have a combination that manages to put the magic back into Christmas. Middleton Top Derbyshire, in snow, 2006 |
1. Hark, Hark What News (Good News)
2. While Shepherds Watched their
Flocks by Night
(Sweet Chiming Bells)
3. Drive the Cold Winter Away
4. Diadem
5. Gloucestershire Wassail
6. Personent Hodie*
7. Clementsing
8. I Saw Three Ships
9. King Pharim
10. Hail Smiling Morn
11. The Cherry Tree Carol
12. Peace o’er the World
(The Bradda’ Anthem)
13. Shepherds Rejoice
14. Down in Yon Forest *Words: Latin from 12th Century,
German from 14th century
(several sources give
the date of 1360), from
Piae Cantiones, 1582
Music: "Personent Hodie,"
14th Century. external internet links
a small village, three miles from Lichfield
in Staffordshire.and it's from the website we got the absolutely
delightful picture of the carol singers
from there are other really great photographs as well, illustrating
the life of the village down the years.
and in the photograph below,:Carol singers - ca 1920  |
Fire and Sleet and Candlelight |
