The Wexford Carol

The origins of this text is English, but this Irish version originated in the tradition, first recorded on a broadside [a ballad sheet] which states that this version comes from the singing of Fr. Patrick Cummins in 1912, as passed on to him by his mother and grandmother.

Solo Monica Donlon.

Good people all this Christmas time, consider well and bear in mind,

What our good God for us has done in sending his beloved Son.

With Mary holy we should pray, to God with love this Christmas day.

In Bethlehem upon that morn there was a blessed Messiah born.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep,

To whom God's angel did appear, and put the shepherds in great fear.

"Prepare and go", the angel said, "to Bethlehem, be not afraid,

For there you'll find, this happy morn, a princely babe, sweet Jesus born".

With thankful heart and joyful mind the shepherds went the babe to find,

And as God's angel had foretold, they did our saviour Christ behold.

Within a manger he was laid, and by his side the virgin maid

Attending on the Lord of life, who came from earth to end all strife.

Away in a Manger

This text dates from the late 19th century and is probably comes from the Lutheran tradition in America, while the melody was written by by the American composer William J. Kirkpatrick [1838-1921].

Away in a manger,
No crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head:
The stars in the bright sky
Look down where He lays;
The little Lord Jesus,
Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing,
The Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus,
No crying he makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus!
Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side
Until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever,
And love me I pray;
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven
To live with Thee there.

The First Day

A medieval hymn (reconstructed by Professor Brendán Ó'Madagain of University College Galway), sung to invoke Mary's protection. Framing it is an elaborate whistle melody, based on the 18th century Kilmore carol, The First day of the Year, which comes from Co. Wexford.

Solo Kim Lynch, tin whistle Michael McGlynn.

Stiúraigh mé dod’ mholadh, cé nach ollamh mé um éigse

A ghnúis ainglí gan locht thug sú t’ochta dom réiteach

Tiomnaim mé fad’ chomairc, a bhuime mhúirneach an Aen-mhic

Is fá do scéith díon mo chorp, mo chroí, mo thoil is mh’éifeacht.

A theampaill na dtrí bpearsan, Athair Mac is Naomh Spioraid

Guím thú dom fhurtacht uair mo bhreatha is mh’éaga.

A Rioghain, dá dtug an Rí an tAthair, síorbhuíochas,

Óigheacht is bheith ad’mháthair, gabhaim do pháirt dom réiteach.

A shoithig iompair an lóchrainn, a ró-shoillse os cionn gréine

Tarraing mé fad’ dhíon i gcuan as loing diomuan an tsaoghail

A Mhuire mhodhail, mhaiseach is ceannsa, cneasta, maorga,

Ní tuirseach mé fad’ ghairm ‘S tú mo chrann bagair lá an bhaoghail.

Tell me how to praise you, although I am no master of poetry

Angelic face without stain you gave me breast milk to save me.

I throw myself on your protection, loving Mother of the one Son

Under your shield protect my body, my heart, my will and strength

Temple of three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost

I pray to you to aid me in my hour of judgement and death.

Queen who was given by the King, the Father, thanks forever,

Motherhood and virginity, I beseech your part in my salvation.

Vessel who carries the light, great brightness that outshines the sun

Pull me under your protection, from the short journey of life.

Mary, gracious and beautiful, gentle, mild and stately

I don't tire calling to you. You defend me on the dangerous day.

Christmas Day is Come

This carol text dates comes from 18th century Wexford, and has been attributed to Bishop Luke Wadding [d.1686].

Solo Joanna Fagan.

Christmas day is come, let us prepare for mirth,

Which fills the heavens and earth at his amazing birth,

And you, O glorious star, that with new splendour brings

From the remotest parts three learned eastern kings.

Christmas is in glory, all torment past.

What'ere betide us now grant us the same at last.

Through both thy joyous angels in strife and hurry fly.

With glory and hosanna they cry:

Cease you blessed angels clam'rous joys to make:

Though mid-night silence favours, shepherds are awake;

And you, O glorious star, that with new splendour brings

From the remotest parts three learned eastern kings.

Gloria in excelsis Deo

O Holy Night

Text by Placide Clappeau, 1847, music by Adolphe C. Adam (1803-1856). English translation by John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893).

Solo Lynn Hilary.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O night divine.

Ecce Quod Natura

A 14th century English carol.

Solos Patrick McGinley, Fergus Cahillane, Samuel Kreidenweis. Percussion Noel Eccles & Brian Masterson.

Ecce quod natura

Mutat sua jura,

Virgo parit pura

Dei Filium.

Ecce novum gaudium,

Ecce novum mirum,

Virgo parit filium,

Que non novit virum;

Sed ut pirus pirum

Gleba fert saphirum,

Dei Filium.

Mundum Deus flebilem

Videns in ruina,

Rosam dilectabilem

Produxit de spina,

Que cele regina

Nostra medicina

Et salus hominum.

Nequivit Divinitas

Plus humiliari

Nec nostra fragilitas

Magis exaltari,

Quam celo locari

Deo coequari

Per conjugina.

See how nature

Changes her laws,

A virgin, pure, bears

The Son of God.

Behold the new joy,

Behold the new wonder,

A Virgin gives birth to a son,

She has not known a man

But, as the pear comes from the pear-tree

She bears a sapphire,

The Son of God.

God, seeing the world

Lamentable in its ruin

Has brought forth a delectable

Rose from a thorn

A heavenly queen

Our remedy, the salvation of man.

The Divine

Could not have been made more lowly

Nor could our frailty

Be rasied up more,

And be placed on a level with God

Through this marriage.

Noël Nouvelet

Solos Lucy Champion, Rebecca Winckworth, Rachel Thompson

Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons icy

Dévotes gens, rendons à Dieu merci.

Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet

Quand je m'ésveilly et j'eus assez dormy

Ouvris mes les yeux, vis un arbre fleuri.

Dont il issait un bouton merveilleux.

D'un oiselet bientôt le chant ouïs,

Qui aux pasteurs disait: “Partez d'ici,

En Bethleem trouverez l'agnelet”.

A new Christmas, we sing of Christmas here

Faithful people, let us shout out our thanks to God.

We sing of Christmas for the new King

When I awoke from sleep having slept long enough

I opened my eyes and saw a flowering tree.

There I saw a marvellous flower bud.

Soon we heard a song from a little bird,

who said to the shepherds: “Go from here,

In Bethlehem you will find the little Lamb”.

The First Noël

Traditional Cornish, probably 18th century.

Solo Michael McGlynn

The first Noël, the angel did say,

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noël. Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star

Shining in the east beyond them far,

And to the earth it gave great light,

And so it continued both day and night.

Noël. Born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star

Three wise men came from country far.

To seek for a king was their intent,

And to follow the star where ever it went.

Noël. Born is the King of Israel.

Ther is no Ros

Dating from c.1420 this is one of the finest examples of the English carol form.

Solos Lucy Champion, Michael McGlynn. Harp Anne-Marie O'Farrell

Ther is no ros of swich virtu, as is the ros that bear Jesu,

Alleluia.

For in this ros containëd was heaven and earth in little space,

Res miranda / wonderful thing.

By that ros we may well see, ther be one God in persons three,

Pari forma / of equal form

Gaudete

This version Gaudete comes from the "Piae Cantiones", a 16th century collection of music used at the School of Abo in Finland.

Solo Samuel Kreidenweis

Gaudete, Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine, Gaudete

Tempus adest gratiae hoc quod optabamus

Carmina laetitiae devotae reddamus

Deus homo factus est natura mirante

Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante

Ezechelis porta clausa pertransitur

Unde lux est orta salus invenitur

Ergo nostro cantio psalatiam in lustro

Benedicat domino salus regi nostro

Rejoice, Christ is born from the Virgin Mary, rejoice

The time is present, that time for which we have prayed

Let us render songs of pious joy

God has been made man while nature is amazed (to the wonder of nature)

Christ the king has renewed the world

The closed door of Ezekiel is traversed

Salvation/deliverance is found from where the light has arisen.

Therefore now in our time a song resounds

Praise the Lord: salvation to our king

Silent Night

Silent Night was created on December 24, 1818, when Franz Gruber added music to a poem which Josef Mohr had written two years earlier.

Solo Lynn Hilary, Michael McGlynn

Silent night Holy night

All is calm all is bright

'Round yon virgin Mother and Child

Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,

Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glories stream from heaven afar,

Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;

Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent Night, holy night

Son of God loves pure light.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus Lord at Thy birth.

Angelus ad Virginem

This three voice version comes from the Dublin Troper ca. 1360.

Solo Michael McGlynn, harp Andreja Mahlir, percussion Noel Eccles & Brian Masterson

ANGELUS ad Virginem subintrans in conclave

Virginis formidinem demulcens inquit “Ave.

Ave, Regina virginum, caeli terraeque Dominum

concipies et paries intacta salutem hominum,

tu porta caeli facta medela criminum”.

Quomodo conciperem quae virum non cognovi?

Qualiter infringerem quod firma mente vovi?

Spiritus Sancti gratia perficiet haec omnia;

ne timeas, sed gaudeas, secura quod castimonia

manebit in te pura Dei potentia.

Ad haec virgo nobilis respondens inquit ei:

“Ancilla sum humilis omnipotentis Dei.

Tibi caelesti nuntio, tanti secreti conscio

consentiens et cupiens videre factum quod audio;

parata sum parere Dei consilio”.

By the Angel to the Virgin nimble in the chamber

Soothing the Maiden’s fear he said, "Hail.

Hail, Queen of Virgins, from the Lord of heaven and earth.

You shall conceive, untouched, and give birth to the salvation of men.

You shall be the gateway for the remedy to all sin.

“How can I conceive when I have not known a man?

How can I break with firm intent that which I have vowed?”

“Do not be frightened, for all of this will be realized through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, for he will preserve your chastity

You will remain pure through the power of God”.

To this the noble Virgin replied, saying:

"I am the lowly handmaid of the Almighty God.

To you the heavenly messenger, who knows so many secrets

I consent and eagerly await that which is to come;

I am ready to obey the counsel of God ".

Crist and St. Marie

St. Godric was an English visionary who lived in the 12th Century. This vision is of the soul of his sister, Burgwen, who was recently dead, suspended on an altar between Christ and St. Mary endlessly singing the following words:

Solos Lucy Champion, Kim Lynch & Joanna Fagan.

"(Lord have mercy/Christ have mercy) Christ and St. Mary have brought me to this altar

so that I may not touch the ground with my bare feet."

Codhlaím go Suan

The text of this simple hymn, text and music written by Michael McGlynn, is based on medieval Irish poetry. It integrates the incoming Christian imagery with the simple earthiness inherent in paganism.

Solo Lynn Hilary, harp Anne-Marie O'Farrell, violin Aingeala de Burca.

Téann sé leis an ngaoth,

Tagann s'e ar na dtonnta.

Comhlíonann sé mo ghuí

Nuair a ghlaochaim i ndoircheacht na hoíche:

Nochtar é sa tús san leanbh nua bheirthe,

Maireann sé sa chríoch ar scaradh anam is coirp;

Suan, suan, suan, codhlaím go súan, a Íosa;

Suan, suan, suan, codhlaím go sámh id' chroí.

Do sharú níl ann ar throicaireacht nó grá,

Ní féidir do chumhacht a thuiscint.

Is tusa mo mhuinteoir s'treoraí, codhlaím go suan id' chroí:

He comes with the wind, he goes on the waves.

He hears my prayer,

When I call him in the darkest moment of the night.

I sleep softly in your heart my Christ.

Naked he stands at the dawn in the new-born child

He is there at the end as the soul parts from the body.

There is no one so full of mercy and love,

There is no way to understand your goodness.

You are my teacher and guide, I sleep softly In your heart.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

This melody is from 16th century French sources, with lyrics by George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934).

Gloria, hosanna in excelsis.

Ding dong merrily on high in heav'n the bells are ringing.

Ding dong verily the sky is riv'n with angels' singing.

E'en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen

And i o, i o, i o by priest and people sungen

Pray ye dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers;

May ye beautifully rhyme your even-time song, ye singers