Book Description

This book tells the story of the origin and development of the Christian carol from the Middle Ages, through the period of the Puritan suppression, to the present time. It distinguishes the carol from the hymn, the one being essentially a medieval from of Christian song, the other post-Reformation. It shows how the carol presupposes a different conception of worship, of the church and of the relation between church and society, from that presupposed in the hymn. Many carols from foreign sources, where they have come into English use, are included and there is much information relating to the seasonal hymns, chiefly for Christmas, which are closely associated with the carol tradition. Such compositions as 'Adeste fideles,' 'Christians awake,' and 'Hark, the herald angels sing' (all dating about 1740-1750) are not carols at all thought they are commonly thought to be so. A section on Christmas hymns finds its place in this setting. The author then passes on to the Victorian carol, with its impoverished quality of words and music, and in the course of this he traces the source of the error which has caused modern Christians to regard Christmas as the only season suitable for carol singing. Next comes a reference to the folk song revival of about 1900, followed by a discussion of modern customs in carol singing and the place of the carol in present-day society. Throughout, in support of his text, the author draws on numerous illustrative quotations of both words and music. An appendix contains documents which relate to the history of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, including a statement by the Dean of York, who compiled the present form of the King's College Festival.