Jon say, “Again learnt from the Oxford Waits, and also recorded with Bellowhead for the BBC 4 Christmas show. This track wasn’t broadcast but it was streamed on the website and I’m pretty sure it’s still there. I was quite chuffed with it.” Amen to that, it’s great and is still here. You can also link to the homepage for the show here and will probably have a couple of days’ i-player grace to watch the whole broadcast, but you’ll also see it’s being shown again on Saturday 18th at 8.00pm. It’s worth working through the extra clips of which, Remember Oh Thou Man is one of a baker’s dozen.
You can buy the December digital album now from all good download stores.
Sorry folks, a bit of a cock-up on the scheduling front again. I’ve no idea what happened there, but as usual in these cases (ahem!), better late than never.
Now that was very nice indeed, even though not Baptist or pagan!
Skyman, I managed to submit my comment under Holly & Ivy this early morning after a few attempts, noted new day’s song had not come through, but AFSAD page then decided not loading at all. Don’t think I broke it tho!
I’m finding that Mudcat has very little information on most of the carols Jon has recorded for December. I thought maybe we should play “catchup” and post lyrics for these carols, but they’re generally readily available on the Internet. Desides, carols are not particularly conducive to discussion because they usually have a single text and a known author (although they often use a wide variety of melodies), so there’s little to disagree about.
So, I decided not to launch a major Mudcat Carol Catchup Project.” The best Website I’ve seen for carols is http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com – it has very good page on today’s song.
So, I’ll be lazy and relax and enjoy learning about these carols, and leave the research work this month to http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com
We sing very few of these carols in the United States, since we have a good collection of our own carols. I’m finding Jon’s carol recordings to be an excellent learning experience.
-Joe Offer, The Mudcat Cafe-
There’s a great version of this by Richard Thompson, Judith Owen and Debra Dobkin in the Black Cab Sessions
The BBC do not let you watch their TV programmes outside of the UK for some stupid reason. The Bellowhead Christmas Concert, is however available in 6 parts on You Tube.
Starting here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4mqmLShfTo
I found it a couple of months ago and it is ALWAYS available there. (unless someone makes them take it down)
There is also a long and not particulary compimentary discourse on Mudcat with regard to this Show. I am not going to give a link to it, look it up if you wish, but to be fair, read the whole thread. I actually enjoyed the show.
JohnB
Would love to put this song on the Christmas songs CD they have at Tesco. Jingle Bells playing amongst the vegetables, Santa Baby in the frozen foods, then Therefore Repent! somewhere by the shelves of Christmas crackers.
The excellent Richard Thompson/Judith Owen/Debra Dobkin version of this was toured on his 1000 Years of Popular Music – and is on the CD/DVD set of the same name. It was possibly the inspiration for the national anthem (take it out of its minor key, and you will get the idea).
“Send her victorious, happy and glorious…” By ‘eck you’re onto something there Neil! I think I’ll play this one on Christmas morning when I’ve sneaked downstairs in me thermal v*** (yes, Muzza, I always wear a v****; something akin to Bruce Willis in Die Hard, although weedier with about half his muscles, hahaha!).
Now come on Peter…………..far from me to be pedantic but on your second try (above) you spelled v*** incorrectly as v****……..we must keep up the standard.
Sorry Muzza, one too many asterisks; forgot ’twas a four letter word, hahaha!
Muzza how could you use the dratted “V” word when Peter and I are avoiding it like the plague.
I have never heard this before and found it a little too sombre for my taste.
I will post a reminder about this but last year over on t’other blog I did an alternative advent calendar throughout December. It is all now on the new blogs archive, but I haven’t reposted the individual days. I have however scheduled the Christmas Day bonanza of all 25 tracks in one neat little player for a reappearance on the big day. i know some of you quite enjoyed it last year and it might provide a slighly off kilter and decidedly secular alternative to Aled overload. It’s too much hassle to post all of the tracks individually, partly due to the new format, but if there are any you really loike you’ll find some info on each in the archives. As I’ve siad I’ll remind you all closer to the day.
Simon you have joined with JaJoDi and caught the spelling bug. Dearie me!!
The verses were probably written in the 16th century and it became a very well used west gallery carol. It is listed in my old edition of The Oxford Book of Carols edited by, amongst others, R. Vaughan Williams, and is credited to T. Ravenscroft in 1611. There is a footnote which refers to a variation contained in Thomas Hardy’s ‘Under The Greenwood Tree’. You will find it in Chapter 4, Going the Rounds, with a wonderful description of the musicians and singers of the village serenading the occupants of the scattered dwellings on Christmas Eve. It begins – Remember Adam’s fall, Oh thou man.
If you would like to hear a beautiful performance of the reading and the carol, go to The Globe in Hay on Wye on 23rd December, for a Christmas concert by ‘The Village Quire’. http://www.villagequire.org.uk
I just love this! Written in 1611 – very appropriate for the 400th anniversary of King James’ Bible. Wonder if that sparked a flurry of religious song-writing in or around that year?
Thank you, John B, for your erudite & informative entry. I wish I knew stuff! And thank you, Jon B, for a very moving rendition. If it weren’t for the mundanity of the necessity to get cat provisions in now, I would dive into the Village Quire this instant! Saving that pleasure for later. Still got some song catch-up to do for this month as well, so bobbing abaht a bit!
@Diana
VEST-VEST-VEST-VEST-VEST
Phew- glad I got that off my chest!
@Admin Simon……….. you have done a great job on the Alternative advent calendar…so many songs…so little time aaarrrgghh
I really like this one and enjoyed the BBC link……
Beautifully sung on Saturday Thank you Jon
My yearly visit to this song and still like Jon’s singing of it……
I don’t know what it is about this song but I do love to hear Jon sing it at this time of year….
Lindy Lou…..you peeked at a song two days ahead of time!
I’m just going to say a special ‘vest’ for Daina
HEY IT’S MY dear old mum’s birthday today…she got to 76 but would have been 119 today!(1899)
The link to the website screening of this is still available….just checked it out yearly fix time!
Day early Muzza will really miss hearing Jon singing this at The Royal this year..
Unfortunately the link does not work in all locations.
Nearly missed the yearly fix of this lovely song..
Jon sang this on his zoom meeting on Tuesdays lovely