Advent Calendar – 16th December, 2020
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar
16th December, 2020
Up Good Christen (Christian) Folk
The words of this carol are by G R Woodward and the music is a setting by him of a melody from Piae Cantones (1582). This was a book of sacred songs first published in Finland but which became known in England in the 19th century.
It appeared in the Cowley Carol Book of 1902 edited by Wood and Woodward. The words are the sort of thing that a city Wait, or Waite (an official nightwatchman) might sing or call out during his night watch hours at Christmas.
Ding-dong, ding: Ding-a-dong-a-ding.
1 Up! good christen folk, and listen
How the merry church bells ring,
And from steeple bid good people
Come adore the new-born King:
2. Tell the story how from glory
God came down at Christmas-tide,
Bringing gladness, chasing sadness,
Showering blessings far and wide,
3. Born of mother, blest o’er other,
Ex Maria Virgine,
In a stable (’tis no fable),
Christus natus hodie.
Recorded on Erat Grecian Harp (1830s)
https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Up!_Good_Christen_folk_and_listen_(George_Ratcliffe_Woodward)
Songs of Christmas arr. Margery Hargest Jones, Boosey & Hawkes, London, 1993