Wexford Carol Explained
The Wexford Carol or the Enniscorthy Carol (ga|Carúl Loch Garman, Carúl Inis Córthaidh) is a traditional religious Irish Christmas carol originating from Enniscorthy in County Wexford.[1] The subject of the song is the nativity of Jesus Christ.
W. H. Grattan Flood transcription
"The Wexford Carol", sometimes known by its first verse "Good people all this Christmas time", is of uncertain origins, and, while it is occasionally claimed to be from the early Middle Ages, it likely was composed in the 15th or 16th century based on its musical and lyrical style.[2] The song achieved a renewed popularity due to the work of William Grattan Flood (1859–1928), who was organist and musical director at St. Aidan's Cathedral in Enniscorthy. He transcribed the carol from a local singer and had it published in The Oxford Book of Carols, putting Enniscorthy into most carol books around the world.
English lyrics
1. Good people all, this Christmas time,Consider well and bear in mindWhat our good God for us has doneIn sending His beloved SonWith Mary holy we should pray,To God with love this Christmas DayIn Bethlehem upon that morn,There was a blessed Messiah born.
2. The night before that happy tide,The noble virgin and her guideWere long time seeking up and downTo find a lodging in the town.But mark how all things came to passFrom every door repelled, alas,As was foretold, their refuge allWas but a humble ox's stall.
3. Near Bethlehem did shepherds keepTheir flocks of lambs and feeding sheepTo whom God's angels did appearWhich put the shepherds in great fearPrepare and go, the angels saidTo Bethlehem, be not afraidFor there you'll find, this happy mornA princely Babe, sweet Jesus, born.4. With thankful heart and joyful mindThe shepherds went the babe to findAnd as God's angel had foretoldThey did our Saviour Christ beholdWithin a manger He was laidAnd by his side the virgin maidAttending on the Lord of LifeWho came on earth to end all strife.
5. There were three wise men from afarDirected by a glorious starAnd on they wandered night and dayUntil they came where Jesus layAnd when they came unto that placeWhere our beloved Messiah layThey humbly cast them at His feetWith gifts of gold and incense sweet.[3]
Irish lyrics
1. Ó, tagaig' uile is adhraigíAn leanbh cneasta sa chró 'na luíIs cuimhnígí ar ghrá an RíA thug dár saoradh anocht an Naí.'S a Mhuire Mháthair i bParrthas Dé,Ar chlann bhocht Éabha guigh 'nois go caomh,Is doras an chró ná dún go deoGo n-adhram' feasta Mac Mhuire Ógh.2. I mBeithil thoir i lár na hoích'Ba chlos an deascéala d'aoirí,Go follas don saol ón spéir go binnBhí aingle 'canadh ó rinn go rinn."Gluaisig' go beo," dúirt Aingeal Dé,"Go Beithil sall is gheobhaidh sibh É'Na luí go séimh i mainséar féir,Siúd É an Meisias a ghráigh an saol."[4]
Melody
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global =
soprano = \relative c'
alto = \relative c'
tenor = \relative c
bass = \relative c
verse = \lyricmode Irish = \lyricmode
\score \score Source[5]
Modern performance
Traditions abound concerning the song – for example, that only men should sing it. However, many popular female artists, such as Julie Andrews in 1966 and Loreena McKennitt in 1987, have recorded versions of it, the former including an additional verse beginning "And buckets yore did rain that night."
- The Irish singing group Celtic Woman included the Wexford Carol on their 1999 Christmas album A Christmas Celebration and 2019 album The Magic of Christmas.
- Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss recorded the song for Ma's 2008 holiday album, Songs of Joy & Peace.
- In 2002 John Rutter recorded his arrangement with the Cambridge Singers featuring baritone Stephen Varcoe.
- Anthony Kearns (The Irish Tenors) performs it annually and has featured on TV across the USA at Christmas.
- The Irish Tenors performed their version as the third track on their 1999 Christmas album Home For Christmas.
- Michael McDonald covered it on his 2009 album This Christmas as a duet with his wife Amy Holland, using only the first three of the traditional verses.
- The carol featured as title track on the 2014 collection of traditional Irish Carols The Wexford Carols by the Irish early-music singer Caitríona O'Leary, with Tom Jones and Rosanne Cash.
- Irish folksinger Cara Dillon featured the song on her 2016 album Upon a Winter's Night.
- The English boys' choir Libera performed an arrangement of the carol on their 2013 album, , recorded at Armagh Cathedral.
- Country artist Trace Adkins recorded a version of the hymn on his 2013 Christmas album The King's Gift.
- The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed an arrangement by conductor Mack Wilberg on its 2016 album Hallelujah!.
- On 28 November 2017, it was performed by flautist Ashley Snell in Leonard Auditorium at Wofford College.
- In the Fall of 2018, Daywind Records in Nashville, Tennessee, released A Winter Carol by the Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame family, The Nelons. It features The Wexford Carol as the second track on the album.
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Spangenberg . Lisa . December 20, 2010 . The Wexford Carol / Carúl Loch Garman . 23 December 2019 . Celtic Studies Resources (digitalmedievalist.com). http://www.digitalmedievalist.com/2010/12/20/the-wexford-carol-carul-loch-garman/
- Web site: Relatively Unsung Christmas Songs: December 15: "Wexford Carol" . 15 December 2016.
- Web site: Enniscorthy Carol. Yet Another Digital Tradition Page. December 23, 2019.
- "Ceol na Nollag" issued in Dublin by Cló Chaisil in cooperation with Foras na Gaeilge
- The Oxford Book of Carols (1964) [1928], pp. 30–31, Percy Dearmer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Martin Shaw (eds.), Oxford University Press
