Three Ancient Carols
For Soprano, Harp, Violin, and Flute or Recorder
This set contains three carols from the 13th-16th centuries, two for Christmas, and one for the Annunciation. These settings incorporate some of the flavor of traditional settings of these carols, but also use more modern harmonies at times.
The Basque Carol:
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
All hail, said he, thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify His holy Name."
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
The Salutation Carol:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutation of the Angel Gabriel
Tidings true there be come new, Sent from the Trinity
By Gabriel to Nazareth, City of Galilee.
A clean maiden and pure virgin, By her humility
Shall now conceive the Person Second in Deity.
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutation of the Angel Gabriel
When that he presented was Before her fair visage,
In most demure and goodly wise He did to her homage;
And said, “Lady, from heaven so high. That Lordes heritage,
For he of thee now born will be, I'm sent on his message.
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutation of the Angel Gabriel
Then bespake the Maid again And answered womanly,
“Whate'er my Lord commandeth me I will obey truly.”
With “Ecce sum humillima Ancilla Domini;
Secundum verbum tuum,” She said, “Fiat mihi.”
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutation of the Angel Gabriel
Personent Hodie:
Personent hodie
voces puerulae,
laudantes iucunde
qui nobis est natus,
summo Deo datus,
et de vir, vir, vir
et de vir, vir, vir et de virgineo ventre procreatus
In mundo nascitur,
pannis involvitur praesepi ponitur stabulo brutorum, rector supernorum. Perdidit, dit, dit,
Perdidit, dit, dit, perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.
Magi tres venerunt,
munera offerunt, parvulum inquirunt, stellulam sequendo, ipsum adorando, aurum, thus, thus, thus,
aurum, thus, thus, thus, aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo.
Personent hodie
voces puerulae,
laudantes iucunde
qui nobis est natus,
summo Deo datus, Ideo, o, o,
Ideo, o, o, ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.
for information on obtaining sheet music, please contact me at WalkerWilliamsMusic@gmail.com
For Soprano, Harp, Violin, and Flute or Recorder
This set contains three carols from the 13th-16th centuries, two for Christmas, and one for the Annunciation. These settings incorporate some of the flavor of traditional settings of these carols, but also use more modern harmonies at times.
The Basque Carol:
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
All hail, said he, thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify His holy Name."
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
The Salutation Carol:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutation of the Angel Gabriel
Tidings true there be come new, Sent from the Trinity
By Gabriel to Nazareth, City of Galilee.
A clean maiden and pure virgin, By her humility
Shall now conceive the Person Second in Deity.
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutation of the Angel Gabriel
When that he presented was Before her fair visage,
In most demure and goodly wise He did to her homage;
And said, “Lady, from heaven so high. That Lordes heritage,
For he of thee now born will be, I'm sent on his message.
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutation of the Angel Gabriel
Then bespake the Maid again And answered womanly,
“Whate'er my Lord commandeth me I will obey truly.”
With “Ecce sum humillima Ancilla Domini;
Secundum verbum tuum,” She said, “Fiat mihi.”
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutation of the Angel Gabriel
Personent Hodie:
Personent hodie
voces puerulae,
laudantes iucunde
qui nobis est natus,
summo Deo datus,
et de vir, vir, vir
et de vir, vir, vir et de virgineo ventre procreatus
In mundo nascitur,
pannis involvitur praesepi ponitur stabulo brutorum, rector supernorum. Perdidit, dit, dit,
Perdidit, dit, dit, perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.
Magi tres venerunt,
munera offerunt, parvulum inquirunt, stellulam sequendo, ipsum adorando, aurum, thus, thus, thus,
aurum, thus, thus, thus, aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo.
Personent hodie
voces puerulae,
laudantes iucunde
qui nobis est natus,
summo Deo datus, Ideo, o, o,
Ideo, o, o, ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.
for information on obtaining sheet music, please contact me at WalkerWilliamsMusic@gmail.com