....and, as so many of you seemed to enjoy the YouTube video I gave you a link to recently, here's another, also showing a carol being sung to the "wrong" tune. This time it's the old favourite "The Holly And The Ivy", here being sung in a Yorkshire pub. The holly and ivy are of course pagan symbols of the old midwinter celebrations and there are those who claim that the song goes back to pre-Christian times. If so then it's a very old song indeed.
But it has always struck me that there's something very odd about these verses. The first part of each verse - and the chorus - sounds as natural and unforced as any folk song. But then comes the convoluted and clumsy versification at the end of each stanza. It sounds to me as if someone at some time has tried hard to make an acceptable church song out of a much older rhyme.
I "borrowed" the video from Dave Burbidge's YouTube channel which is full of excellent singing, some of it from rather unexpected sources.
Merry Christmas.
Take care.
I wish you a very, very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAnd keep the Christmas Carols in tune :-)
Excellent, John. I'd not heard that version before, but it's great - and the atmosphere looks tremendous! A very Merry Christmas to you and all that's good for the New Year.
ReplyDeleteA very Merry Christmas to you John! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you, John.
ReplyDeleteHyvää Joulua.
Merry Christmas to you from the north coast of California!
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of the song I was making up my own words to have it make more sense and rhyme better. A good Christmas to you and all you know.
ReplyDeleteI like it! A Merry Christmas to you and yours from Minnesota, US!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very happy Christmas, John. I have really enjoyed exploring with you this year, I learnt a lot!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you! Thanks for your continued blog visits. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd a merry christmas to you too :)
ReplyDeleteJohn, I played this over several times after you shared it via email. I love the old fellow in the front row, spectacles gleaming as he chimes in with his high tenor harmony. Each chorus appears to inspire him to greater vocal improvisation.
ReplyDeleteThank you--and wishing you a good Christmas.
Have a very Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteThat video did some serious damage to one of my favorite carols, but the attendees of the pub sure look like they were having a rollicking good time. Merry Christmas, John.
ReplyDeleteOH, I thought the pub choir was so fun -- had never heard the song before , so enjoyed. Happy Holidays -- barbara
ReplyDeleteLovely! Happy Boxing Day John and A Very Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete