Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 7 - Ande, ande, ande, la marimorena

La Marimorena, or Ande, ande, ande, la marimorena is one of the most popular Spanish  Christmas carols. Its origin is not entirely clear, but a version of it first appeared in 1702. The carol is based on the story that a religious ceremony at the convent of San Francisco (Madrid) was interrupted by zambombas (a Spanish friction drum, consisting of a ceramic pot with a skin and a pole in the middle), cheers, drums and tambourines coming from the nearby tavern Cava Baja. Among the revelers there was María Morena . . . although some say that the marimorena in the song refers to the Virgin Mary (La Virgen Morena, La María Morena, La Moreneta ...). Be that as it may, the expression "armar la marimorena" does seem to have arisen from that disruptive event!

Ande, ande, ande, la marimorena (Go, Go, Go to the Shindig/Ruckus)

Chorus
Ande, ande, ande la marimorena,
   Go, go, go, it's a shindig,
Ande, ande, ande, que es la Nochebuena,
   Go, go, go, it's Christmas Eve,
Ande, ande, ande la marimorena,
   Go, go, go, it's a shindig,
Ande, ande, ande, que es la Nochebuena.
   Go, go, go, it's Christmas Eve.

En el Portal de Belén hay estrellas sol y luna,
   In the manger of Bethlehem, there are stars, the sun and the moon,
la Virgen y San José y el Niño que está en la cuna.
   The Virgin and St. Joseph, and the Baby is in the crib.
Chorus

En el Portal de Belén hacen lumbre los pastores,
    In the manger in Bethlehem, the shepherds make a fire,
para calentar al Niño que ha nacido entre las flores.
   To warm Baby Jesus who was born among the flowers.
Chorus

Una estrella se ha perdido y en el cielo no aparece,
   A star is lost and doesn't appear in the sky,
en el portal se ha metido y en su rostro resplandece.
   It enters the manger and gleams on His face.
Chorus

En el Portal de Belén hay un hombre haciendo gachas,
   In the manger in Bethlehem, there's a man making porridge,
con la cuchara en la mano repartiendo a las muchachas.
   With a spoon in hand, he's distributing it to the girls.
Chorus

Ande la marimorena - Xenia Zawanowska/St. Pociech Foundation

Ande la marimorena - Par de Rumbas

Ande la marimorena - Canta Juego

 

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 6 - Oi tu bitaite, lyliumoj

Oi tu bitaite, lyliumoj (Oh, ye little bee, lyliumoj) is an Advent carol from Lithuania.

SEDULA are six women who are united by their love for traditional folk songs, especially  folklore of all regions of Lithuania. The ensemble focuses mostly on vocal folk music, its creative interpretation and post-folk transformation, with a subtle accompaniment of kanklės (the Lithuanian type of zither), violins, skudučiai (multi-pipe whistles), percussion and other instruments. Interpretations of Sedula are remarkable for their idiosyncratic, transparent and spellbindingly undulating sound of women’s voices. On stage the members of SEDULA wear beautiful costumes recreated after 15th and 16th century examples c. examples.

Oi tu bitaite, lyliumoj - Sedula

Oi, tu bitaite, lyliumoj / Oh, ye little bee, lyliumoj
Maža nedidaite, lyliumoj / Ye tiny little one, lyliumoj
Ar tu nebijojai, lyliumoj / Were you not afraid, lyliumoj
Viena lakiotie, lyliumoj / To fly around alone, lyliumoj
Po žalių girelį, lyliumoj / In the green wood, lyliumoj
Po rakštumynus, lyliumoj? / In the bushes, lyliumoj?

Oi, ko aš bijosiu, lyliumoj / Oh, why would I be afraid, lyliumoj
Viena lakiotie, lyliumoj / To fly around alone, lyliumoj
Po žalių girelį, lyliumoj / In the green wood, lyliumoj
Po rakštumynus, lyliumoj? / In the bushes, lyliumoj?
Tik aš pasbijojau, lyliumoj / I was only scared, lyliumoj
Juodo vanagėlio, lyliumoj / Of the black hawk, lyliumoj
Kad jis neatskristų, lyliumoj / Should he fly over, lyliumoj
Kad jis nenuneštų, lyliumoj ... / Should he take me away, lyliumoj ...

Oi, tu mergela, lyliumoj / Oh, ye lassie, lyliumoj
Balta lelijėla, lyliumoj / Ye white lilly, lyliumoj
Ar tu nebijojai, lyliumoj / Weren't you afraid, lyliumoj
Viena vaikščiotie, lyliumoj / To walk around alone, lyliumoj
Po žalių girelį, lyliumoj / In your father's manor, lyliumoj
Po aukštų klėtelį, lyliumoj? / In the tall barn, lyliumoj?

Oi, ko aš bijosiu, lyliumoj / Oh, why would I be afraid, lyliumoj
Viena vaikščiotie, lyliumoj / To walk around alone, lyliumoj
Po tėvelio dvarą, lyliumoj / In my father's manor, lyliumoj
Po aukštų klėtelį, lyliumoj? / In the tall barn, lyliumoj?
Tik aš pasbijojau, lyliumoj / I was only scared, lyliumoj
Jauno bernužėlio, lyliumoj / Of the young lad, lyliumoj
Kad jis neatjotų, lyliumoj / Should he ride over, lyliumoj
Kad jis neišvežtų, lyliumoj / Should he take me away, lyliumoj
Kad jis neišvežtų, lyliumoj / Should he take me away, lyliumoj
Svetimon šalalėn, lyliumoj ... / To a distant land, lyliumoj...

Kad reiks dovanotie, lyliumoj / I would have to present, lyliumoj
Daugel dovanėlių, lyliumoj / Many dear gifts, lyliumoj
Anytai motulai, lyliumoj / To my mother-in-law, lyliumoj
Šilko prijuostėlį, lyliumoj / A silken apron, lyliumoj
Šešurui tėveliui, lyliumoj / To my father-in-law, lyliumoj
Balti marškinėliai, lyliumoj / White shirt, lyliumoj
Dieveriui brolaliui, lyliumoj / To my brother-in-law, lyliumoj
Margoji juostelė, lyliumoj / A mottled sash, lyliumoj
Mošelai sesiulai, lyliumoj / To my sister-in-law, lyliumoj
Rūtelės šakelė, lyliumoj. / A twig of rue, lyliumoj.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 5 - The Golden Carol

"Legendary lore has provided for us three notable personages, Gasper, Melchior, and Balthasar, commonly known as the Magi, who, guided by the star, were present at or shortly after the Nativity. These were the wise men who, under the direction of the star, traveled to Bethlehem with their gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense - whence the practice of bestowing gifts at the season of the Nativity."      - Joshua Sylvester, from his A Garland of Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern (1861)

The Golden Carol (of the Three Wise Men)

We saw a light shine out a-far,
On Christmas in the morning;
And straight we knew it was Christ's star,
Bright beaming in the morning.
Then did we fall on bended knee,
On Christmas in the morning;
And prais'd the Lord, who let us see
His glory at its dawning.

Oh! Every thought be of His Name,
On Christmas in the morning;
Who bore for us both grief and shame,
Afflictions sharpest scorning.
And we may die (when death shall come,)
On Christmas in the morning;
And see in Heav'n, our glorious home,
That Star of Christmas morning.

The Golden Carol -  arr. by Roger C. Wilson (organ)

 

The Golden Carol -  Life Treasury of Christmas Music

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 4 - Leise rieselt der Schnee

Leise rieselt der Schnee (Softly falls the snow) is one of the most famous Christmas songs in the German language. It was composed in 1895 in Graudenz by the Protestant pastor Eduard Ebel (1839–1905) and published under the title Weihnachtsgruß (Christmas Greeting) in his volume Gesammelte Gedichte (Collected Poems). The composition of the melody is also often attributed to Ebel, but this is uncertain, since Ebel's own publication contains only the text. According to other sources, the melody is a folk tune, which Ebel himself possibly adopted for his poem.

Leise rieselt der Schnee

Leise rieselt der Schnee,
   Softly falls the snow,
Still und starr liegt der See,
   Quiet and frozen rests the lake.
Weihnachtlich glänzet der Wald:
   Christmas-like sparkles the forest:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald.
   Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.

In den Herzen ist’s warm,
   In our hearts it’s warm,
Still schweigt Kummer und Harm,
   Silent are sorrow and grief,
Sorge des Lebens verhallt:
   Life’s worries fade away:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald.
   Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.

Bald ist heilige Nacht;
   Soon it’s Christmas Eve,
Chor der Engel erwacht;
   Choir of angels awakes,
Horch’ nur, wie lieblich es schallt:
   Just hear how lovely it sounds:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald.
   Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here. 

Leise rieselt der Schnee - Die Wiener Sängerknaben

Leise rieselt der Schnee - Helene Fischer

Leise rieselt der Schnee - Die Hollerstauden EvaVeraEva

 

 

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 3 - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

While shepherds watched their flocks is a traditional Christmas carol describing the Annunciation to the shepherds, with words attributed to the Irish hymnist, lyricist and England's poet laureate Nahum Tate. Professor Jeremy Dibble of Durham University has noted that While shepherds watched their flocks was "the only Christmas hymn to be approved by the Church of England in the 18th century and this allowed it to be disseminated across the country in The Book of Common Prayer." This was because most carols, with their roots in folk music, were considered too secular and thus not suitable for use in church services, at least until the end of the 18th century. As a result of its approved status, many tunes have been associated with the carol. In the United Kingdom, the standard hymn tune for While shepherds watched their flocks is "Winchester Old," originally published in Este's psalter The Whole Book of Psalmes (1592). The tune most commonly used in the United States is David Weyman's adaptation of "Christmas", taken from an aria in Handel's opera Siroe (1728), and arranged by Lowell Mason in 1821.

I love the Old Winchester version, so that's the one we'll explore today . . .

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

While shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around

‘Fear not,’ he said, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind

To you in David’s town, this day
Is born of David’s line
The Saviour who is Christ the Lord
And this shall be the sign

The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed
And meanly wrapped in swaddling bands
And in a manger laid

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song

All glory be to God on high
And to the earth be peace
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease!

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Stories of Music

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - The Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Sarah Cantor and Daniel Mayers (recorders)

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Libera

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 2 - Narodil se Kristus Pán (The Lord Christ Was Born)

Narodil se Kristus Pán (The Lord Christ Was Born) is a Czech Christmas carol whose text and melody come from the oldest preserved record of the song in Latin (En Virgo parit filium) and Czech in the Gradual of the Czech Silver Museum in Kutná Hora, written in the late 15th century. But the song itself is considered to be older. Some historians date it back to the 13th century, while others believe it is originally a Hussite hymn from the first decades of the 15th century. The song is regarded as the most popular Czech carol and it is sung regularly today in the Czech Republic during Christmas time. 

Narodil se Kristus Pán, veselme se,
   Christ the Lord is born, let us rejoice
z růže kvítek vykvet nám, radujme se.
   from the rose a flower will bloom for us, let us rejoice.
Chorus: Z života čistého, z rodu královského,
   Of pure life, of royalty,
nám, nám narodil se.
   to us, to us he was born.

Jenž prorokován jest, veselme se,
   It is prophesied, let us rejoice
ten na svět poslán jest, radujme se.
   he is sent into the world, let us rejoice.
Chorus

Člověčenství naše, veselme se,
   Our humanity, let us rejoice
ráčil vzíti na se, radujme se.
   he deserved to take on himself, let us rejoice.
Chorus

Goliáš oloupen, veselme se,
   Goliath robbed, let us rejoice
člověk jest vykoupen, radujme se.
   man is redeemed, let us rejoice.
Chorus

There are so many versions on YouTube that it was hard to choose which ones to feature. Here are some of the best . . .

Narodil se Kristus Pan - Boleslav Polivka

Narodil se Kristus Pán - Moravia Brass Band, Kristýna Daňhelová (soprano)

Narodil se Kristus Pán - on a 34 Key Chromatic Kalimbam

Narodil se Kristus Pán - Folklórní soubor Slatinka

Narodil se Kristus Pán - VUS Ondráš [a more modern interpretation]

Narodil se Kristus Pán - Elthin

Again, this most famous Czech medieval Christmas song was originally written in the 15th century. Because the well-known melody of the song is a little different (created in the 19th century), Elthin has recorded the song in a version that follows the original medieval melody.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas Day (Day 1) - Christ was Born on Christmas Day

The words for this carol come from the Latin hymn Resonet In Laudibus (13th cent), freely translated by the Rev. John Mason Neale. The music originates from Resonet In Laudibus (also known as Nunc Angelorum), the Finnish title of a German tune from the 14th century (from Piae Cantiones (1582), adapted by Rev. Thomas Helmore.

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day 

Christ was born on Christmas Day;
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay;
Christus natus hodie:
The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary.

He is born to set us free,
He is born our Lord to be,
Ex Maria Virgine:
The God, the Lord, by all ador’d forever.

Let the bright red berries glow
Ev’rywhere in goodly show;
Christus natus hodie:
The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary.

Christian men, rejoice and sing;
‘Tis the birthday of a King,
Ex Mariâ Virgine:
The God, the Lord, by all ador’d forever.

. . . continues here:
Night of sadness
Morn of Gladness
Evermore:
Ever, Ever:
After many troubles sore,
Morn of gladness evermore and evermore.
Midnight scarcely pass'd and over,
Drawing to this holy morn,
Very early, very early
Christ was born.

. . . or here:
He came among us at Christmas time
At Christmas time in Bethlehem
Men shall bring him from far and wide,
Love’s diadem
Jesus, Jesus;
All the world this day is come to praise you.

Joseph, Dearest Joseph mine,
Help me cradle the Child divine.
God reward thee and all that’s thine,
In paradise," so prays the mother Mary.

Gladly dear one, Lady mine
Help I cradle this Child of thine.
God’s own light on us both shall shine,
In paradise," as prays the mother Mary.

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day - Eddie Lewis (trumpet)

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day - Chichester Cathedral Choir

Christmas Day - Christ was Born on Christmas Day - Robert Shaw Chorale

And for those who've made it this far . . .  here are two unusual tunes of the season that I'm not sure what to call. One is from Ukraine, the other a Medieval Dutch song of the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.

Добрий вечір тобі пане господарю (Good evening to you, Mr. Host!)

Good evening to you, Mr. Master

Chorus:
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!  (The chorus is repeated after each line)

Cover the tables and everything with carpets,

And put kalachi from spring wheat.

Because three holidays will come to visit you:

And that the first holiday is Christmas,*

And the second holiday is St. Basil's Day,

And the third holiday is Holy Epiphany.

And that the first holiday will bring you comfort,

And that the second holiday will bring you happiness,

And that the third holiday will bring fate to all of us,

He will send us all fate, Ukraine will.

Het Was Een Maget Uitverkoren (There was a maiden chosen)

Het was een maged uitverkoren
   There was a Maiden chosen,
Daar Jezus af woude zijn geboren
   As Jesus wished to be born,
Chorus: Dies ben ik vro, o - o - o - o
   Therefore I am glad
Benedicamus Domino
   Let us bless the Lord

Te Nazareth al in die stede
   In Nazareth already in that city
Daar is een maged rein van zede
   There is a Maiden clean in morals
Chorus

Daar kwam een groot gezant van Gode
   There came a great messenger from God
Want Gabriël die was de bode
   Was Gabriel that messenger
Chorus

Maria, weest gegroet en blijde
   Mary, hail and glad,
Maar Maria haar zeer vermijdde
   But Maria very much avoided her
Chorus

En wilt niet vrezen maged schone
   None will fear such a beautiful Maiden
Gods moeder zult gij zijn idoone
   God's mother shall you be known
Chorus

God Heilig Geest zal in u komen
   God the Holy Spirit will come into you
Gelijk de dauw valt op de blommen
   As the dew falls on the flowers
Chorus

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 1 - Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night)

The Sussex Carol is a popular carol in Britain, sometimes referred to by its first line "On Christmas night all Christians sing." Its words were first published by Luke Wadding, a 17th-century Irish bishop, in a work called Small Garland of Pious and Godly Songs (1684). It is unclear whether Wadding wrote the song or was recording an earlier composition. Both the text and the tune to which it is now sung were collected by Cecil Sharp in Buckland, Gloucestershire, and by Ralph Vaughan Williams, who heard it sung by Harriet Verrall of Monk's Gate, near Horsham, Sussex (hence "The Sussex Carol") on May 24, 1904. (Thank you to Wikipedia!)

The Sussex Carol

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring.
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new-born King.

All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore, Amen!

There are oh so many versions to choose from. These are just some . . . I had to stop myself at some point! Happy Christmas Eve!

The Sussex Carol - Maddy Prior

The Sussex Carol - Voces8 Scholars

The Sussex Carol - Richard Knepp (guitar)

The Sussex Carol - arr. Wilcox / King's College Choir, Cambridge

The Sussex Carol - arr. by James Griffin (piano)

The Sussex Carol - arr. by Elaine Hagenberg

The Sussex Carol - Trond Bengtson (lute)

The Sussex Carol - Shoshanna Godber (harp)

The Sussex Carol - Daniel Faris (violin)

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 2 - Herders, Hij is Geboren

Here's a beautiful Dutch/Belgian carol celebrating the shepherds and their arrival in Bethlehem. I couldn't find much information on it (especially since I couldn't easily read through all the Dutch Google search results for this carol!). The text appears to be based on the 1669 carol Love-vier in den Kerstnacht, Leuven ([something] on Christmas night); and the music from De gheestelijcken leeuwercker (no luck with any translation here) (Antwerp, 1645). A lovely carol nevertheless!

Herders, Hij is Geboren

Herders hij is geboren in 't midden van de nacht
   Shepherds, He is born in the middle of the night
Die zolang van tevoren de wereld heeft verwacht
   He, Whose birth the world anticipated
Vrolijk o, herderkens zongen ons d'engelkens
   Rejoice, O shepherds, the angels sang to us
Zongen met blijde stem: Haast u naar Bethlehem
   They sang with joyful voice - Hurry to Bethlehem!

Wij arme eenvoud'ge lieden gelijk de boeren zijn
   We poor, unfortunate people, like as the farmers are
Ons wekten ons geberen en in de maneschijn
   Our neighbors woke us, and in the moonlight
Liepen met blij geschal, naar deze arme stal
   We walked with joyful sounds to this lowly stable,
Daar ons de eng'lenzang allemaal toe bedwang
   And there we heard the angel voices together in joyful strains.

Als wij daar zijn gekomen: Ziet een klein kindeke
   When we arrived there, we saw a little child
Leit op 't stro nieuw geboren, zoet als een lammeke
   Lying on the straw, newly born, sweet as a little lamb.
D'oogskens van stond af aan, zag men vol tranen staan
   The little eyes opened, and people saw them full of tears,
't Weende van druk en rouw, in deze straffe kou
   It cried out of stress and sorrow in this severe cold.

ik nam mijn fluitje, een ander die nam zijn moezeltjen
   I took my little flute and another took his little bagpipe
En dus fluiten en zongen voor 't zoete kindeke
   And so whistled and sang for the sweet little Child:
Na, na, na kindje teer, sus, sus en krijt niet meer
   Na, na, na, delicate baby - Hush and cry no more,
Doet uw klein' oogjes toe, zij zijn van 't krijten moe
   Close Your eyes; they are tired from crying.

't Kindje begon te slapen, de moeder sprak ons aan
   The little Child began to sleep, and the mother said to us:
Lieve herderkens samen, wilt zoetjes buiten gaan
   Dear shepherds, would you leave, one by one
U-lie' zij peis en vree, dat brengt mijn kind u mee
   You have peace and harmony, which was brought to you by my Child,
Want 't is God uwen Heer: komt morgen nog eens weer.
   Because He is God, your Lord. Come back again tomorrow!

"Vrolijk O herderkens" zongen ons d' engelkens
   Rejoice, oh shepherds, the angels sang to us
Zongen met blijde stem "haast u naar Bethlehem"
   They sang with joyful voice: Hurry to Bethlehem!

Herders, Hij is Geboren

Herders, Hij is Geboren

Herders, Hij is Geboren - arr. Jetse Bremer / Netherlands Chamber Choir

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 3 - We Three Kings of Orient Are

At the time he was writing We Three Kings in 1857, John Henry Hopkins Jr. was serving as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Although he originally worked as a journalist for a New York newspaper and studied to become a lawyer, he chose to join the clergy upon graduating from the University of Vermont. Hopkins studied at the General Theological Seminary in New York City and after graduating was ordained a deacon in 1850.

During his final year of teaching at the seminary, Hopkins wrote We Three Kings for a Christmas pageant held at the college. It was noteworthy that Hopkins composed both the lyrics and music; contemporary carol composers usually wrote either the lyrics or music, but not both. Originally titled Three Kings of Orient, it was sung within his circle of family and friends. Because of the popularity it achieved among them, Hopkins decided to publish the carol in 1863 in his book Carols, Hymns, and Songs. It was the first Christmas carol originating from the United States to achieve widespread popularity, as well as the first to be featured in Christmas Carols Old and New (1867-78), a prestigious and influential  collection of carols that was published in the United Kingdom. In 1916, the carol was printed in the hymnal for the Episcopal Church; that year's edition was the first to have a separate section for Christmas songs. We Three Kings was also included in the Oxford Book of Carols (1928), which praised the song as "one of the most successful of modern composed carols." (Thank you, Wikipedia, for this detailed information on John Henry Hopkins and We Three Kings).

We Three Kings of Orient Are

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

 Chorus
 O star of wonder, star of night,
 Star with royal beauty bright,
 Westward leading, still proceeding,
 Guide us to Thy perfect light.

Gaspar
Born a King on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign . . . Chorus

Melchior
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh:
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him God on high . . . Chorus

Balthazar
Myrrh is mine; it’s bitter perfume;
Breathes a life of gathering gloom:
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb . . . Chorus

Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Heav’n sings Hallelujah,
Hallelujah the earth replies . . . Chorus

We Three Kings of Orient Are - Robert Shaw Chorale

We Three Kings of Orient Are - William Chunestudy Men's Chorus

We Three Kings of Orient Are - (arr. by Rutter) The Cambridge Singers

We Three Kings of Orient Are - Eclipse 6

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 4 - Przybiezeli do Betlejem (They Came to Bethlehem)

The text of Przybiezeli do Betlejem (They Came to Bethlehem) appeared in Symphonies of the Angels by Jan Żabczyc (1631) as the 31st symphony. This original text differs in rhythm from the text of the modern version, and there is no refrain (Chwała na wysokości / Glory to God on High). However, the last word of each stanza is repeated four times. Żabczyc did not include the melody for the carol, proposing instead the use of melodies from common Polish dances of the time. Over the centuries, the carol has undergone numerous changes, which is why its current form differs from the original. The melody underwent certain modifications, as evidenced by a quotation of a fragment of the melody of this carol in the 18th-century Christmas instrumental Symphonia de Nativitate (1759). The text, with its current melody, appeared for the first time in Mioduszewski's Pastorals and Carols with Melodies (1843). The version currently used in Polish churches today appeared in Siedlecki's Śpiewnik (1878). (A big THANK YOU to Polish Wikipedia for this information). As you can hear from the many performances online, it is a very upbeat and popular carol for the Polish Christmas season. I've tried my best to determine which verses are used in each performance below. Cieszyć się! (Enjoy!)

Przybiezeli do Betlejem

1. Przybieżeli do Betlejem pasterze,
   Shepherds hurried to Bethlehem,
Grając skocznie Dzieciąteczku na lirze.
   Playing on the lyre for Jesus.

Refrain:
Chwała na wysokości / Glory to God on High
Chwała na wysokości / Glory to God on High
A pokój na ziemi / And peace on earth
Chwała na wysokości / Glory to God on High
Chwała na wysokości / Glory to God on High
A pokój na ziemi / And peace on earth

2. Oddawali swe ukłony w pokorze
   They bowed down in humility,
Tobie z serca ochotnego, o Boże!
   Bowing willingly from the heart, O God!
Refrain

3. Anioł Pański sam ogłosił te dziwy,
   Angels of the Lord announced these wonders,
Których oni nie słyszeli, jak żywi.
   A Savior is born from on high.
Refrain

4. Dziwili się napowietrznej muzyce
   They marveled at the music from above
i myśleli, co to będzie za Dziecię?
   And wondered, can it be the Child?
Refrain

5. Oto mu się wół i osioł kłaniają,
   Here's his ox and ass,
Trzej królowie podarunki oddają.
   The three kings give gifts.
Refrain

6. I Anieli gromadami pilnują,
   And angels in groups guard
Panna czysta Wraz z Józefem piastują.
   The chaste virgin with Joseph nursed him.
Refrain

7. Poznali Go Mesyjaszem być prawym,
   they knew him to be righteous Messiah,
Narodzonym dzisiaj Panem łaskawym.
   the gracious Lord, who was born today.

8. My Go także Bogiem, Zbawcą już znamy
   We also know him as God, the Savior
I z całego serca wszyscy kochamy.
   and we all love him with all our hearts.

Przybiezeli do Betlejem - Krzysztof Janicki [verses 1, 2, 3, 1]

 

Przybiezeli do Betlejem - Mała Armia Janosika [1, 2, 3]

 

Przybiezeli do Betlejem - Studio Accantus [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Przybiezeli do Betlejem - Filharmonia Narodowa [1, 3?, 4?, 5, 7, 2?, 8?]

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 5 - This Endris Night

This Endris Night (also Thys Endris Night, Thys Ender Night or The Virgin and Child) is a 15th-century English carol. Two versions from the 15th-century survive, one republished in Thomas Wright's Songs and Carols Now First Printed, From a Manuscript of the Fifteenth Century, and the other in the possession of the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has been praised for the unusual delicacy and lyrical flourish for a poem of the period. (thank you Wikipedia!)

This Endris Night

This endris night I saw a sight,
A star as bright as day,
And ev'r among, a maiden sung,
Lully, bye bye, lullay.

This lovely lady sat and sang,
And to her child did say,
My son, my brother, father dear,
Why liest thou thus in hay?

My sweetest bird, tis thus required,
Though I be king veray,
But nevertheless I will not cease
To sing Bye bye, lullay.

The child then spake in his talking,
And to his mother did said,
Yea, I am known as heaven-king
In crib though I be laid.

For angels bright down on me light;
Thou knowest 'tis no nay.
And for that sight thou may delight
To sing, 'Bye bye, lullay.

Now, sweet son, since thou art a king,
Why art thou laid in stall?
Why ne thou ordained thy bedding
In some great kinge's hall?

Methinks 'tis right that king or knight
Should lie in good array.
And then among, it were no wrong
To sing By, by, lullay.

Mary mother, I am thy Child,
Though I be laid in stall;
For lords and dukes shall worship Me,
And so shall kinges all.

Now tell, sweet Son, I Thee do pray,
Thou art me Lief and Dear—
How should I keep Thee to Thy pay,
And make Thee glad of cheer?

My dear mother, when time it be,
Thou take Me up on loft,
And set Me then upon thy knee,
And handle me full soft.

And in thy arm thou hold Me warm,
And keepe night and day,
And if I weep, and may not sleep,
Then sing, By, by, lullay.

Now sweet Son, since it is come so,
That all is at Thy will,
I pray Thee grant to me a boon,
If it be right and skill.

That child or man, who will or can
Be merry on my day,
To bliss Them bring - and I shall sing,
Lullay, by, by, lullay.

This Endris Night - Green Matthews

This Endris Night - arr. Vaughan Williams / Roanoke College Choir

This Endris Night - The Sixteen

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 6 - D'ou viens tu Bergère?

Versions of this perennially favorite carol have been collected in the Brittany and Poitou regions of France, and a much longer version was found in the Périgord region. All these regions are located along the Atlantic coast in Western France. In addition, another French version and an English version of this carol can be found in Canada. Thanks to Mama Lisa's World for the information and translation of today's carol (or should we say . . . Noël!)

D'où viens-tu bergère / Where Do You Come From, Shepherdess?

D'où viens-tu bergère, d'où viens-tu ?
 Where do you come from, shepherdess, where do you come from?
D'où viens-tu bergère, d'où viens-tu ?
 Where do you come from, shepherdess, where do you come from?
Je viens de la crèche voir l'enfant Jésus,
    I come from the manger to see Baby Jesus,
Sur la paille fraîche il est étendu.
    He's lying on fresh straw.

Est-il beau, bergère, est-il beau ?
    Is he beautiful, shepherdess, is he beautiful?
Est-il beau, bergère, est-il beau ?
    Is he beautiful, shepherdess, is he beautiful?
Plus beau que la lune et que le soleil,
    More beautiful than the moon and the sun,
Sur la terre aucune n'a vu son pareil.
    No woman on earth has seen his like.

Est-il seul, bergère, est-il seul ?
    Is he alone, shepherdess, is he alone?
Est-il seul, bergère, est-il seul ?
    Is he alone, shepherdess, is he alone?
Saint Joseph son père, Saint Jean son cousin,
    St. Joseph his father, St. John his cousin,
Et sa bonne mère lui donnant le sein.
    And his good mother's suckling him.

Quoi de plus bergère, quoi de plus ?
    What else, shepherdess, what else?
Quoi de plus bergère, quoi de plus ?
    What else, shepherdess, what else?
Le bœuf avec l'âne lui soufflent dessus
    The ox and the donkey blow upon him
Et de leur haleine réchauffent Jésus.
    And with their breath they warm Jesus.

Est-ce tout, bergère, est-ce tout ?
    Is that all, shepherdess, is that all?
Est-ce tout, bergère, est-ce tout ?
    Is that all, shepherdess, is that all?
Quatre petits anges descendus du ciel
    Four little angels come down from heaven
Chantent les louanges du Père Éternel.
    Singing praises to the Everlasting Father. 

D'ou viens tu Bergère? - Chorale Atelier des arts

 

D'ou viens tu Bergère? - The College of Europe Choir

D'ou viens tu Bergère? - Chanticleer (arr. Sirett)

D'ou Viens-tu Bergere! - Helene Baillargeon and friends

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 7 - The Linden Tree Carol

The English Linden Tree Carol has its origin in the German hymn Es stot ein lind im himelrich, which first appeared in Loufenberg's Geistliche Lieder (around 1420). George R. Woodward prepared an English translation of it for The Cambridge Carol-Book (1924), with music harmonized by G.H. Palmer. We've found a performance of a German version with the group Hessen Vokal. (. . . sorry that the only German text we found doesn't match up with what they're singing!). Following that we have a number of fine performances of the Woodward/Palmer English language version. Enjoy!

Es steht ein Lind im Himmelreich, / There is a linden in the kingdom of heaven,
der blühen alle Äste / all the branches bloom
une Engel singen allzugleich, / and angels sing together
dass Jesus sei der Beste. / that Jesus is the best.

Es kam ein Bote klar und rein / A messenger bright and pure came
herab auf diese Erde, / down to the earth,
ging zur verschlossenen / went through the locked
Tur herein mit englischer Gebärde. / Door with an angelic demeanor.

Gegrüßet seist, Maria / Hail Mary
Du, die Krone aller Weiben, / You, the crown of all women,
Ein Kind wird Gott Dir schenken zu, / To you will God give a child,
und Du wirst Jungfrau bleiben. / and a Virgin will you remain.

Es steht ein Lind im Himmelreich - arr. by Uwe Henkhaus / Hessen Vokal

 

 

There stood in heav'n a linden tree;
But, tho' 'twas honey laden,
All Angels cried, 'No bloom shall be
Like that of one fair Maiden.'

Sped Gabriel on wingèd feet,
And pass'd through bolted portals
In Nazareth, a Maid to greet,
Blest o'er all other mortals.

'Hail Mary!' quod that Angel mild,
'Of woman-kind the fairest:
The Virgin ay shalt thou be styled,
A babe although thou bearest.'

'So be it!' God's hand-maiden cried,
'According to thy telling.'
Whereon the Angel smartly hied
Up home-ward to his dwelling.

This tiding fill'd his mates with glee:
'Twas pass'd from one to other,
That 'twas Marie, and none but she,
And God would call her Mother.

 The Linden Tree Carol - Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge

The Linden Tree Carol - DR VokalEnsemblet

 

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 8 - El Desembre congelat / Midden in de winternacht

Today brings us another carol that crosses borders, and with that, a confusion as to its origin. Sometimes listed as a "traditional Dutch carol," this one is anything but. The melody was known by 17th and 18th century keyboard composers (Daquin, Balbastre and Dandrieu) and the original text - El Desembre congelat (Cold December) - is Catalan (northeastern modern Spain) in origin. The carol probably dates from the late Middle Ages, and its motifs (shepherds, flutes, drums) give a picture of the late medieval Christmas experience. As to its Dutch connection, in 1948 Dutch poet and writer Harry Prenen wrote a new text for this old melody - Midden in de winternacht (Midwinter's Night) - which gave the carol a new life as a "traditional Dutch(!)" Christmas staple. Very enjoyable either way!

El desembre congelat

El desembre congelat / Frozen December
Confús es retira. / Confused, he retreats.
Abril de flors coronat / April crowned with flowers
Tot el món admira / The whole world admires
Quan en un jardi d'amor / When in a garden of love
Neix una divina flor. / A divine flower is born.
D'una ro ro ro, / From a ro ro ro,
D'una sa sa sa, / From a sa sa sa,
D'una ro, d'una sa / From a ro, from a sa
D'una rosa bella / A beautiful rose,
Fecunda i poncella. / Sweet and fertile lady

El primer pare causà / The first parent caused
La nit tenebrosa / The dark night
Que a tot el món ofuscà / That overshadowed the whole world
La vista penosa / The sad sight
Mes en una mitja nit / Month in the middle of the night
Brilla el sol que n'és eixit / The sun that came out of it shines
D'una bel bel bel / Of a bel bel bel
D'una la la la / Of a la la la
D'una bel, d'una la / Of a bel, of a la
D'una bella aurora / Of a beautiful dawn
Que el cel enamora. / May the sky fall in love.

El mes de maig ha florit / The month of May has blossomed
Sense ser encara / Without being yet
Un lliri blanc y polit / A white and polished lily
De fragancia rara / Of rare fragrance
Que per tot el mon se sent / That is felt all over the world
De llevant fins a ponent / From east to west
Tota sa sa sa / All is sa sa sa
Tota dul dul dul / All is dul dul dul
Tota sa, tota dul / All is sa, all is dul
Tota sa dulcura / Everything is sweetness
I olor, amb ventura. / All throughout the garden. 

El Desembre Congelat - Camerata de Cançó Tradicional

El Desembre Congelat - Cor Madrigal

 

and more here  and  here!

. . . and a beautiful contemporary, jazz-flavored verion

El Desembre Congelat - Meritxell i Judit Neddermann

Midden in de winternacht

Midden in de winternacht, / In the middle of the winter night,
ging de hemel / the sky opened
Die ons heil der wereld bracht, / Who brought us salvation to the world
antwoord op ons hopen / answer to our hopes
Elke vogel zingt zijn lied, / Every bird sings its song,
herders waarom zingt gij niet / shepherds, why don't you sing
Laat de citers slaan, / Let the harps strike,
blaast de fluiten aan / blow the whistles
Laat de bel, laat de trom, / Sound the bell, sound the drum,
laat de beltrom horen: / sound the bell drum:
Christus is geboren! / Christ is born!

Vrede was er overal, / Peace was everywhere
wilde dieren kwamen / wild animals came
Bij de schapen in de stal, / With the sheep in the stable
en zij speelden samen. / and they played together.
Elke vogel zingt zijn lied, / Every bird sings its song,
herders waarom zingt gij niet / shepherds, why don't you sing
Laat de citers slaan, / Let the harps strike,
blaast de fluiten aan / blow the whistles
Laat de bel, laat de trom, / Sound the bell, sound the drum,
laat de beltrom horen: / sound the bell drum:
Christus is geboren! / Christ is born!

Ondanks winter sneeuw en ijs, / Despite winter snow and ice,
bloeien alle bomen, / all trees bloom,
want het aardse paradijs / for the earthly paradise
is vannacht gekomen. / has come tonight.
Elke vogel zingt zijn lied, / Every bird sings its song,
herders waarom zingt gij niet / shepherds, why don't you sing
Laat de citers slaan, / Let the harps strike,
blaast de fluiten aan / blow the whistles
Laat de bel, laat de trom, / Sound the bell, sound the drum,
laat de beltrom horen: / sound the bell drum:
Christus is geboren! / Christ is born!

Zie daar staat de morgenster, / Behold the morning star,
stralend in het duister / shining in the dark
Want de dag is niet meer ver, / For the day is not far off,
bode van de luister / messenger of glory
Die ons weldra op zal gaan, / Who will soon come upon us,
herders blaast uw fluiten aan / shepherds blow your whistles
Laat de bel bim-bam, / Let the bell bim-bam,
laat de trom rom-bom / let the drum rom-bomb
Kere om, kere om, / Turn around, turn around,
laat de beltrom horen / play the bell drum
Christus is geboren! / Christ is born!

Midden in de winternacht - Brigidakerk te Geldrop Kerstconcert

Midden in de winternacht - Berlin Radio Choir

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 9 - Бог предвічний (God Eternal was born)

God Eternal was born is a Ukrainian Christmas carol. It tells the Gospel story of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem and the events of Christmas. This carol is one of the most famous in Western Ukraine. In many regions of Galicia (Western Ukraine, on the border with Poland), it is sung first at the Christmas dinner table. It is also performed in churches after the liturgy, starting at Christmas and ending with the Ascension of the Lord. Ivan Franko (poet, writer, political activist, ethnographer) considered God Eternal was born to be the best of all Ukrainian church songs, calling it a pearl among carols.

Here are all the verses to God Eternal was born. I'm not sure how many verses are used in the performances below.

God Eternal was Born
The eternal God was born
Came today from heaven
To save all his people,
And was comforted.

Born in Bethlehem:
Messiah, our Christ
And our Lord, for all of us
We were born.

The Angel of God introduced himself:
Forward to the shepherds,
And yesterday to stars
And the beasts of the earth.

As the Virgin gave birth to a Son,
The star is where Christ is
The Bride is Precious
She gave birth to a son.

The Three Kings Bring Gifts
To the city of Bethlehem,
Where is the Virgin Mary
The son has given birth.

The star appeared to them
On the way, oh God,
At will, at the donkey
She announced to them:

Three kings, where are you going?
We are going to Bethlehem
Best wishes, peace
And we will return.

Returned another way,
Bad, shameless,
Godless Herod
They didn't tell.

The Angel says to Joseph:
With the Baby and with the Mothers,
With a foal, a colt
Nai is buried.

"Thank God!" let's sing
Glory to the Son of God
And to our Lord
Let's bow down.

God Eternal was Born - National Bandurist Chapel of Ukraine

 

God Eternal was Born - Hoosli Ukrainian Male Chorus

God Eternal was Born -  the School of Anna Yaroslavna

God Eternal was Born - Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic, Hamtramck, Michigan

 

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 10 - O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green)

The words for the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem were written in 1868 by Phillips Brooks, rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia. He had spent a year traveling abroad from 1865-1866, which (according to Chris Fenner at the Hymnology Archive) "included a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where he participated in a service lasting from the late hours of Christmas Eve through early hours of Christmas morning, 1865. This experience was the seed of his desire to write a hymn on the subject."

Brooks wrote O Little Town of Bethlehem for his Sunday service on 27 December 1868, and called on his organist, Lewis H. Redner to write a tune for it. Busy with his own musical duties, Redner left the fulfillment of this tune request till the night before Brooks' Sunday service. Redner wrote, "I was roused from sleep late in the night hearing an angel-strain whispering in my ear, and seizing a piece of music paper I jotted down the tune as we now have it, and on Sunday morning before going to church I filled in the harmony. Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868."

This perennial Christmas favorite was first published, text and tune together, in William R. Huntington’s The Church Porch: A Service Book and Hymnal for Sunday Schools (1874), with Redner’s tune dubbed ST. LOUIS. This is how the carol is most often heard in the United States.

In the United Kingdom, O Little Town of Bethlehem is sung to the tune FOREST GREEN, a folk tune collected from a Mr. Garman in Surrey, England, and transcribed by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The original song is entitled The Ploughboy's Dream:

I am a ploughboy stout and strong as ever drove a team,
Now three years since I slept in bed I had an awful dream . . .

At this same time Vaughan Williams was working as editor of The English Hymnal (1906), with part of his duties being the collection and preservation of English folk tunes. It was his decision to adopt the tune of The Ploughboy's Dream, now dubbed FOREST GREEN, with his own harmonization, to the text of O Little Town of Bethlehem and to include it in The English Hymnal. The rest, as they say, is history!

O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green) - David van Ooijen (guitar)

O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green) - Winchester Cathedral Choir

O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green) - Timothy J. Campbell (organ)

O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green) - Magical Strings

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 11 - Die Hirten auf dem Felde (The Shepherds in the Field; English version: As Lately We Watched)

Today's carol was a bit of a challenge for me. I had found the text and music last year and squirreled it away for future use. The version I had found came from a 1964 hymnal, with the title As Lately We Watched, and it listed the text as "Anonymous" and the tune as an "Austrian Carol." So far, so good.

As I searched for information on the carol, though, I got more and more confused. When a website listed the carol, the most that was given was that it was a "19th century Austrian carol." My go-to resource for information on Christmas carols - Hymns and Carols of Christmas.com - said: "from Austria comes this traditional carol, sung to a tune similar to the old English We Wish You a Merry Christmas." And this information appears to come from The Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook (1981; rev. 2003).

OK. So if it was a traditional Austrian carol, there should be a number of performances on YouTube. Plenty of performances in English, but most of them were the contemporary, "island flavored" version by Kirby Shaw.

I tried a different tack. I searched using the German title of the carol. There was ONE recorded version! Yikes - not what you would expect for a typical "traditional" carol. And the vocalist sang words close to the German text I found on many websites, but she constantly sang something that didn't quite match up with the "traditional" version. On top of that, there were a number of other performances of Die Hirten auf dem Felde, but not with the tune that I had in my possession.

I then realized that I had seen somewhere a listing of Die Hirten auf dem Felde which referred also to Auf, auf, ihr Hirten. I tried searching THAT German title. More YouTube performances, but most - I didn't check them all! - with a different tune than what I had. And the German Wikipedia page for Auf, auf, ihr Hirten presented music that was definitely not the music that I had.

Well, how about doing a German language search using "Österreichisches Weihnachtslied" (Austrian Christmas Carol)? I came across some modern carol collections that contained the song, but I was starting to think that maybe this was NOT a traditional carol, and that, perhaps, one listing on the internet had spawned all these references to a "traditional 19th century Austrian carol." Who knew?! Now fake news regarding Christmas!!!

Fear not . . .

At last I came across a reference to a collection called Deutscher Liederhort (literally: German Song Horde). After a bit more digging, I found an online version of this three volume compilation of German/Austrian folk songs, published between 1892-94. And finally, in volume 3, there, at tune No. 1944 was the music and the text to Die Hirten auf dem Felde! But that was not the end of it. There was a reference to the collection Oesterreichische Volkslieder mit ihren Singeweisen (Austrian folk songs and their tunes), published in 1819 by Franz Ziska and Julius Max Schottky. That was ALSO online (a big thank you to Google for their efforts to scan important old books and making them available online!), and there, on page 44 was the source, as collected by Ziska and Schottky, of Die Hirten auf dem Felde with the first line of text: Auf, auf, ihr Hirten!

The text itself must be in a "Lower Austrian" (Tyrolian?) dialect, because even with my limited knowledge of German I can see that there are words used that are not in the vocabulary of contemporary German. Here's the first verse in the original and then the updated version:

Af, af, ehs Hiärtn, nid schlafts ma so lang!
De Nacht is vaganga, nu dagt es ja schon.
Schauts nuär dahear!
Schauts nuär dahear!
Wie sairizt das Stearndl je lenga je mear.

(Auf, auf, ihr Hirten, nicht schlaft mir so lang
die Nacht ist vergangen, nun saget es schon.
Schaut's nur daher, schaut's nur daher
wie glänzet das Sternlein je länger je mehr.

Up, up, you shepherds, don't sleep so long
the night has passed, now say it soon.
Just look at it, just look at it
how that little star shines so long and so bright.)

Here's the first verse of the version sung on the one performance I found online:

Auf, auf, ihr Hirten, schlaft nur nicht so lang
die Nacht ist vergangen, dru zeitlich mir bang
Schaut's nur daher
Schaut's nur daher
wie glänzet das Sternlein und leuchtet so zier.

Up, up, you shepherds, just don't sleep so late
the night has passed, I'm afraid of the time
Just look at it
Just look at it
how the little star shines and does so gracefully.

Die Hirten auf dem Felde/The Shepherds in the Field

And to make things simple, an instrumental version with Aruna Bhasker (harp)

 

And now . . . the English version:

As lately we watch'd o'er our fields through the nigh,
A star there was seen of such glorious light.
All through the night, angels did sing,
Carols so sweet of the birth of our King.

A king of such beauty was ne'er before seen,
And Mary his mother was so like a queen.
Blessed be the hour, welcome the morn,
For Christ our dear Savior on earth now is born.

His throne is a manger, his court is a loft,
But troops of bright angels, in lays sweet and soft,
Him they proclaim, our Christ by name,
And earth, sky and air straight are filled with his fame.

Then shepherds, be joyful; salute your new King,
Let hills and vales ring to the song that ye sing.
Blessed be the hour, welcome the morn,
For Christ our dear Savior on earth now is born.

As Lately We Watched - The Oakwood Waits

and one of the "island flavored" versions, with the Spectrum Choral Academy

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 12 - Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

I can't believe we are here again . . . at 12 days before Christmas! So, there's nothing really to be done but to start exploring some gorgeous music for the 2022 Holiday season.

We'll begin with a classic American Christmas spiritual - Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow. I've found a number of websites which delve deeply into the origin of this song:

C. Michael Hawn's History of Hymns: 'Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow'

and

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow at the Hymnology Archive

They both make for fascinating reading into the origins and historical framework of this traditional (or so it appears) tune.

 C. Michael Hawn writes:

"Though the dating of Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow may not be until the Reconstruction Era, the memory of days in bondage would have lingered among the formerly enslaved Africans. The first known publication of Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow was a text-only printing in the body of a short story titled Christmas-Gifts by Ruth McEnery Stuart (1891). In the story, slaves were participating in a Christmas celebration hosted by their Louisiana plantation owner family. During an entertaining dance, two of the slaves began to sing the spiritual. Stuart was known for her use of dialect, and the spiritual was published as follows:

Dey’s a star in de eas’ on Chris’mas morn,
Rise up, shepherd, and foller!
Hit’ll take yer ter de place whar de Saviour’s born,
Rise up, shepherd, and foller!
Ef yer taken good notice ter de angels’ words,
You’ll leave yo’ flocks and leave yo’ herds,
An’ rise up, shepherd, and foller!
Leave yo’ sheep
An’ leave yo’ lamb,
Leave yo’ ewe
And leave yo’ ram,
An’ rise up, shepherd, and foller!

The singers invited the others to join in on the refrain:

Foller, foller, foller, foller,
Rise, O shepherd, rise an’ follow,
Foller de star o’ Bethlehem!

The story continues with this additional stanza that shifts the imperative to “rise” from “shepherd” to “sinner”:

Oh, dat star’s still shinin’ dis Chris’mas day.
Rise, O sinner, an’ foller!
Wid an’ eye o’ faith yo’ c’n see its ray.
Rise, O sinner, an’ foller!
Hit’ll light yo’ way thro’ de fiel’s o’ fros’.
While it leads thro’ de stable ter de shinin’ cross.
Rise, O sinner, an’ foller!
Leave yo’ father,
Leave yo’ mother,
Leave yo’ sister,
Leave yo’ brother,
An rise, O sinner, an’ foller!

Additional stanzas were improvised.

The spiritual’s first appearance with music was in The Southern Workman (January 1902), following a letter to the editor by W.B. Davenport of Staunton, Virginia, titled A Sermon to Farmers, describing the need to employ African Americans in agriculture.

Eileen Guenther notes, 'by far, the largest number of spirituals is in the call-and-response style, in which a leader sings a line or more of text, and a group responds with a refrain.' Even though the Hampton edition provides melody only, with no indication of alternating call-response, it was most likely sung in this manner. Most current hymnals include rubrics for the leader to sing a phrase with the choir and congregation responding, “Rise up, shepherd, and follow.” A refrain for all singers concludes each stanza.

Let's start with a true Gospel version, and then select from some of the many different arrangements available!

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

 

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow - sung by Odetta

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow - arr. Stacey V. Gibbs / USC Chamber Singers

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow - The King's Singers

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow - arr. by Rutter / The Cambridge Singers