Advent Calendar – 19th December, 2020
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar
19th December, 2020
Blessed Be That Maid Mary
John Rutter noted in 2003 in his sleeve notes for the Cambridge Singers Christmas Album that the words and music of this carol had separate origins.
They were put together in the Cowley Carol Book of 1902 edited by Wood and Woodward (1848-1934). The origin of the melody was the Lute Book c1590 by William Ballet whilst the text is a modernisation by Woodward of words from the fifteenth century Sloane Manuscript.
Next year incredibly will mark 60 years since the publication of Carols for Choirs in which David Willcocks’ setting appeared for the first time! This book (and its successors) feel as iconically a part of Christmas as mince pies!
1. Blessed be that Maid Marie;
Born He was of her body;
Very God ere time began,
Born in time the Son of man.
Refrain:
Eya! Ihesus hodie
Natus est de Virgine.
2. In a manger of an ass
Jesus lay and lulled was;
Born to die upon the Tree
Pro peccante homine.
Refrain
3. Sweet and blissful was the song
Changed of the Angel throng,
“Peace on earth,” Alleluya.
In excelsis gloria.
Refrain
4. Fare three Kings from far-off land,
Incense, gold and myrrh in hand;
In Bethlehem the Babe they see,
Stelle ducti lumine.
Refrain
5. Make we merry on this fest,
In quo Christus natus est;
On this Child I pray you call,
To assail and save us all.
Refrain
Recorded on Erat Grecian Harp (1830s)
Source: Carol #734,
Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)
https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/
Hymns_and_Carols/
blessed_be_that_maid_marie.htm