Well, I’ve been asked a few times to put
my knowledge and personal taste to the test for a few Madrigal programs, so I decided to go ahead and post them up, with a
few other programs for those who would be interested in a nice set of Medieval/Madrigal programs/concerts. I’m just listing the songs however; one doesn’t get my scripts. J
One thing to note with my selections, while many
conductors today will include some pieces that are modern (such as frequently using “Silent Night” to close a
Christmas madrigal dinner concert), I will not. I will not go past the date of
1650 C.E. (A.D.) for my pieces and even then I consider that “fudging” by 50 years. I do have an exception, however, pieces that are written in Medieval style or sound but have period words.
(A Great & Mighty Wonder or Masters in this Hall are good examples).
Also, although it is usually known to have a
“madrigal” dinner concert for Christmas, the program I’m actually suggesting, so it still stays with the
spirit of the holidays, is more towards a Medieval carol concert. The same goes
for an Easter concert as well. But I have two other concert types, Valentine's
Day & Hunting, that lend themselves more to the madrigals and folk songs, than they do the carol.
In order to help a reader understand when/where
I got these songs, I will use a code which will look like the following: Title (Type of Song, Origin of Song, Song is located in) Composer/Arranger.
The list of codes is as follows:
Type
of Song:
Origin
of Song:
Song
is located in (at least in my library):
-
AOC = Ancient Old Carols
-
OBC = Oxford Book of Carols
-
MB = Music Brittanica
-
OBEM = Oxford Book of English Madrigals
-
CBM = Chester Book of Madrigals A= of Animals, LM = Love & Marriage, DM = Desirable Women,
SD = Smoking & Drinking
-
CFC = Carols for Choirs
1 or 2
-
X = Single Sheet Music
So, if I have a piece that is a German round
by Hans Kapelmeister found in the Chester Book of Madrigals – Animals, entitled “A Hunting Hound” one would
see it listed below thusly: A Hunting Hound (R, G, CBM-A) Hans Kapelmeister (1523
– 1578)
I hope you enjoy this, or that it helps one in
finding selections for a lovely Medieval musical celebration. Please feel free
to write me with comments or corrections (I’m typing this after a long day at work with un-nimble fingers and currently
without my books so this is all from memory which can be rusty… needless to say there will be updates.) and I’ll
be happy to reply.
Tiarna Cinaed
Ulric Amhranai tan Briongloid, mka Jonathan Thorn
Christmas Concert/Dinner:
Processional:
A Great
& Mighty Wonder (Modern written somewhat in style)
(Text from St. Germanus C. 634 – 743) arr.
Paul Fetler. or
Masters
In This Hall (C,F,OBC)
Song of Celebration:
Make
We Joy (C, E, OBC) English text around
1500.
My personal favorite is an SATB version called
“Make We Merry” or
Welcome
Yule ( C, E 15th Century, OBC, tune modern)
Yule Log Procession:
Come
Bring We A Noise (R, E, X) or
Green
Grow’th the Holly (C, E, OBC), Arr. King Henry VIII (1491 – 1547) or
Nos Galan/
aka Deck the Hall (C, W, OBC) DtH words are secular/Pagan
My favorite is an SATB version, arr., David Willcocks (CFC2)
Wassail Procession:
Gloucestershire
Wassail (C, E, OBC)
Presentation of Food:
Boar’s
Head Carol (C, E, OBC)
Doxology:
Oh Come,
Creator Spirit, Come (PC, L 9th Cen, X)
If having a dinner, serve
the main course here. After a few minutes (5 – 10) begin the dinner set.
Dinner Set:
Psallite
(M, G, X) Michael Praetorius (1571
– 1621)
Out of
Your Sleep ( C, E, 15th Century, OBC tune modern)
My favorite version is “Out of Your Sleep”
Sleep
of the Infant Jesus (C, F, OBC)
My favorite version is “The Sleep of the Child Jesus”
arr., Edwin Fissinger
Ding
Dong Merrily on High (C, F, 16th Cen.)
My favorite version is “DDMoH” arr.,
Carol
of the Birds (C, ?, X)
My favorite version is “CotB”, arr., H. Hopson
Fum,
Fum, Fum (C, S, X)
In Dulci
Jubilo (C, G 14th Century, OBC)
A break occurs now, at which
time tables are cleared and dessert is served. After a five to ten minute interval
the concert begins again.
Dessert Set:
In Bethlehem this Christmas Morn (M, FL, X)
Jacobus Clemens non Papa (1510 – 1556)
Tyrley
Tyrlow (words C, E c 1450, OBC)
Joseph
Dearest, Joseph Mine (C, G, OBC)
The Huron
Carol aka Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (C, NA, X)
Originally written by Missonary Jesuit Priests with assistance from members of the Huron Nation.
Veni,
Veni, Emanuel (PC, L, X) aka
Oh Come, Oh Come, Emanuel
Coventry Carol aka By By Lully Lulley (C, E 1591, OBC)
Lo, How
a Rose E’er Blooming (C, G, AOC) Michael Praetorius (1571- 1621)
Allon,
Gay Bergeres (Ch, F 16th Century, X) Guillaume Costeley (1531 –
1606)
Arrangement I use is edited by Parker & Shaw
Kling,
Glockchen (C, G, X )
Recessional:
Willy,
Prithee Go to Bed (M, E, X) Thomas Ravenscroft (c 1590 – c 1633)
St. Valentine’s Day Dinner
Processional:
Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie (D, F, X) “Thoinot Arbeau” (Fr.
Jehan Tabourot) (1519-1595)
Song of Celebration:
Sing
We at Pleasure (M, E, OBEM) Thomas Weelkes (c 1575 – 1623)
Toasting Song:
Come
Drink to Me (R, E, X) Thomas Ravenscroft
(c 1590 – c 1633)
Presentation of Food:
A Little
White Hen (M, G, X/CBM-A ) Antonia Scandello (1517 – 1580)
Doxology:
Dona Nobis Pacem
Dinner Set:
Fair
Phyllis I Saw (M, E, OBEM) John Farmer (c 1565 – c 1605)
Mon Coeur
Se Recommande a Vou (M, F, CBOM – LM) Anonymous
Come
Away, Sweet Love (M,E, OBEM) Thomas Greaves (? - ?)
O, Occhi
Manza Mia (M, I, X ) Claude Le Jeune (1528 – 1600)
Mother,
I will Have a Husband (M, E, OBEM) Thomas Vautor (c 1580 - ?)
Whenever
I Marry (R, E, CBOM – LM) William Laws
Il Est
Bel et Bon (M, F, CBOM – A) Pierre Passereau (1509 – 1547)
Dessert Set:
Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron (F, E, X) Anonymous
Joan, Come Kiss Me Now (R, E, CBOM – DW) Thomas Ravenscroft (
c 1590 – c 1633)
So Well
I Know Who’s Happy (M, I, X) Orazio Vecchi (1550 – 1605)
Sadly
I Recall Thy Vow (M, P, X) Mikolai of Cracolu
See What
A Maze of Error (M, E, OBEM) George Kirbye (c1565- 1634)
I Love
My Love (F, E, X) Anonymous, arr. Gustav Holst
The Turtle
Dove ( F, E, X) Anonymous, arr. R. Vaughn-Williams
Weep,
Weep, Mine Eyes (M, E, OBEM) John Wilbye (1574 – 1638)
L’innamorato
(M, I, X) Giacomo Gastoldi (c 1550? – 1622?)
Recessional:
So Ben, Mi, c'ha Bon Tempo (M, I, X) Orazio Vecchi (1550
– 1605)
Another
good piece to use, instead of "So Well I know Who's Happy" would be I Cannot Conceal It (Ie Ne L'o Se Dire)
by Pierre Certon (? - 1572) arrg. by Norman Greyson.
Easter Dinner
Processional:
Agincourt Carol (C,
F 15th C, MB)
Song of Celebration:
Hilariter (C, G, X) Melody
from Kolnisches Kirchengesang 1623,
Alice Parker & Robert Shaw arrg. One version can also be found in OBC. or
Now Glad of Heart (C, G 16th C, X) Austin C. Lovelace A version of ths can be
found, too, in the OBC.
Procession of the Tree(s)
& Flowers, & Eggs: (Usually birch or yew trees)
Candlemas Eve (C, E, OBC) or
We've Been Rambling (C, E, Words from The Golden Bough)
Jonathan-Jetski Thorn (1969 - Present) or
Flower Carol (C, L, OBC) Translation from Piae Cantiones,1582
AND
Easter Eggs (C, R, OBC) Although this song is listed 1877, it would probably date even further back, especially
since the custom of egg decorating & begging dates back to the early crusades. So, I've made this "date" exception.
Toasting Song:
Good Health, All Gathered Here (M,
E, X) Erasmus Widmann (c 1572 – c 1634)
Presentation of Food:
Spanish Easter Carol of the Lambs (C/F,
S, X ) ? Gaul
Doxology:
Carol of Beauty (C, F, OBC)
Dinner Set: Spring, Customs, and Easter
Spring Has Come (C, L, OBC) Translation
from Piae
Cantiones,1582. or use the setting, "A Spring Carol" arrg. by Robert Wetzler.
Mothering Sunday (F, G 14th C, OBC )
Christ the Lord is Risen Again (A,
G, X) Michael Weisse (1480-1534) Tr. Catherine Winkworth, arrg. David H. Williams.
From Out of a Wood (M,C,
OBC) Arrg. I use is by Arnold Freed. In the OBC it's is listed as "The Birds"
Now is the Month of Maying (M,
E, X) Thomas Morley (c 1557 – c 1603)
Come, Let Your Hearts be Singing (M,
I (writen in G), X) Giovanni Gastoldi ( ? - 1622) arrg. by Norman Greyson
Alleluia, Alleluia Jesus Christ is
Risen Today (A, text L 14th C, X) William Ferris
Carol of the Easter Bells (C,
?, X) ? Broadman arrg.
Dessert Set: The Easter Story
Wake
Ye & Join the Singing (?, G, X) Heinrich Scheidmann (1956 - 1663) arrg. by Roger Granville
Gesthsemane
(Modern - SATB, E, X) Frank Pooler ( Yes, alas & alack, it is a modern piece, but the only one I've
seen that talks of the garden and still feels somewhat appropriate in musical style.)
At the Cry of the First Bird (C,
Text Ir, X) David W. Guion, arrg. by John Hastings. The text is from 12 C. "The Speckled
Book" ancient Irish poetry. A version of the carol is in OBC
At
the Cross Her Vigil Keeping (Modern, text L 13th C, X) Michael Larkin
In
Jospeh's Lovely Garden (F, S, X) ClarenceDickinson
Angelus
autem Domini (Matin, L, X) Felice Anerio
Magdalen,
Cease from Sobs & Sighs (C, G 1623, X) arr. Peter Hurford.
Words from The Cowley Carol Book
A
Gaelic Easter Carol (C, Ir, X) Alfred H. Johnson Words
& another tune may also be found in the OBC
Resurrection
Carol (C, F, X) Jason Roberts Words & tune may also be found
in the OBC under "Love is Come Again."
Recessional:
My Friends We Now Must Leave Thee (M, G, X) Heinrich Isaac (1450
– 1517)
