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Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear
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Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear |
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Subject: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 13 Nov 13 - 07:40 PM Looking through the works of G. F. Root on pdmusic, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear", words by E. H. Sears, a midi to a three verse version by Root is quite different from the melody I know (by Willis). In American Memory, there are seven examples of sheet music, all with different authors. Are any of these musical scores used today? Rev. Sears wrote five verses. In carol sings, few of us (certainly not me) can get past the first verse. The original words appeared in 1849 in The Christian Register. The music used today is "Carol," by Richard Storrs Willis, 1850; www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com This site has several examples of sheet music, including the 1849 score by Willis. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Nigel Parsons Date: 14 Nov 13 - 04:36 AM We (St Catherine's Church choir Cardiff (Wales)) Use Arthur Sullivan's Noel and All four verses I can't say that we've ever used a different tune. (I've been in the choir 50+ years as S.A.T & B) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Edthefolkie Date: 14 Nov 13 - 07:32 AM I have a suspicion (nothing concrete) that at least the first part of Sullivan's tune is traditional - some people say this, others claim he "got it from a friend", etc. etc. Anybody know? I wish Sir Arthur had specified his sources. Much easier with something like "O Little Town Of Bethlehem". Tune Forest Green. Adapted and partially composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Collected by him from Mr Garman of Forest Green in Surrey, up the road from RVW! Simples. I was told at school that "O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing" referred to the American Civil War. However the words predate the conflict so maybe that's another elegant schoolmasterly theory exploded. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Phil Cooper Date: 14 Nov 13 - 08:34 AM The song was written in response to the Mexican/American war. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Edthefolkie Date: 14 Nov 13 - 09:24 AM Aha! Thanks Phil. The history teacher who taught us about the American Civil War also informed us that Saladin had a sword so sharp that it could cut a cushion in half. Imagine my later hilarity, on reading "1066 And All That", to find that Richard "Gare De Lyon" practised cutting anvils with his enormous sword; whereas the Saracens had swords which were only useful for cutting cushions in half. I think the history master may have occasionally wound us up...... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Nigel Parsons Date: 14 Nov 13 - 10:00 AM Ed: Isn't "Gare de Lyon" an airport, or railway station? I thought the king was "Coeur de Lion". Of course, yours may be a direct quote. Messrs Sellar & Yeatman have a lot to answer for. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 14 Nov 13 - 12:26 PM Gee, Nigel, why does the Methodist hymnal leave out verse five? What does a Baptist hymnal do? Am I missing some doctrinal point? Verse 5 For lo! The days are hastening on By prophet bards foretold, When with the ever circling years Comes round the age of gold; When peace shall over the earth Its ancient splendours fling; And the whole world sends back the song Which now the angels sing. Full sheet music of the 1850 Willis arrangement at Cyberhymnal (also the Sullivan of 1871. Hymnsandcarolsofchristmas has alternate verse 5 if you are interested, Nigel. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Date: 14 Nov 13 - 08:35 PM Why do we never hear that even more amazing radical verse: Yet with the woes of sin and strife, The world hath suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled, Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not, The love song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing. It's rarely printed and still more rarely sung. Yet it's part of the song, folks! (And interestingly, this is my second attempt to post it. My first vanished in electron-land.) Bob |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 14 Nov 13 - 08:45 PM Bob Coltman quotes the third verse. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: It Came Upon the Midnight clear From: Phil Cooper Date: 14 Nov 13 - 11:09 PM We actually sing four of the five verses, including the ones mentioned here when we do our Bittersweet Christmas Band shows. There's a youtube version of us singing it. However I don't think it's relevant to the original posting. |
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