15th December
Masters in this Hall
lyrics -William Morris (1834 - 1896), music - Marin Marais (1656 -1728)
arr. Danielle Perrett & David Gough
William Morris wrote this in 1860 and set his words to a melody collected by Edmund Sedding from the organist of Chartres Cathedral but which actually originated as a dance tune for Marin Marais’ opera Alcyone of 1706 and underwent various incarnations thereafter. Sedding published the carol in ‘Nine Antient and Goodly Carols for the Merry Tide of Christmas ‘(1860). Morris and Sedding had been working together in an architect’s office but enjoyed singing partsongs. In the poem (which originally had twelve verses) a country lad tells of how he joined the shepherds making their way to Bethlehem to see the Christ child. The fact that the news of Christ’s birth is brought by a poor man to his ‘Masters’ is in keeping with Morris’ socialist beliefs and indeed with many assertions in the Bible that the poor and meek will be lifted up whilst an admonition is issued to the proud.
Masters in this hall, hear ye news today.
Brought from over sea and ever I you pray
Chorus:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on Earth, born is God’s Son so dear
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell sing we loud
God today hath poor folk raised and cast a-down the proud
Going o’er the hills, through the milk-white snow
Heard the lambs to bleat and saw the wind to blow
Chorus
Shepherds, many a one, sat among the sheep
No man spoke more word than they had been asleep
Chorus
Shepherds should of right leap and dance and sing
Wherefore do you sit before this wondrous thing
Chorus
Then to Bethle’m town, went we two by two
Saw the new-born babe laid in a manger low
Chorus
Ox and ass there were down on bended knee
Wondrous joy had I this little babe to see
Chorus
This is Christ the Lord, masters be ye glad
Christmas is come in, and no man should be sad
Chorus
Recorded on Erat Grecian Harp (1830s),
Epiphone 355 guitar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_in_This_Hall
http://www.goldenhindmusic.com/lyrics/MASTERS.html