Blog Post No.4 The Carol Singers
Cornish Language Greeting
Nadelik lowen ha blydhen
nowyth da.*
In English means
Have a happy Christmas and a peaceful New
Year
FromSandra, George, &
Bryn
In Penhalvean Cottage
Click below
The Carol Singers
Carol singers in Penzance 1826.
Christmas in times past
Christmas Carols.
William Bottrell, (Old Celt)* wrote the
following in the Christmas 1872 edition of the "One & All"
magazine:-
Some of us remember when it was a custom, in the parishes ofWest Cornwall , for a few elderly persons to meet in
Church, late on
Christmas Eve, and sing till after midnight ,
a good number of cheerful, quaint old carols, which were quite different from
the solemn Christmas hymns that have supplanted them.
The favourite carols, for the most part, contained such legends as are preserved in the Mystery or old Miracle Plays, which continued to be performed in the western parishes, on Sunday afternoons, down toElizabeth
Such, for instance, are the circumstances referred to in the Cherry-Tree carol, beginning with “Joseph was an old man, an old man was he.
Some of us remember when it was a custom, in the parishes of
The favourite carols, for the most part, contained such legends as are preserved in the Mystery or old Miracle Plays, which continued to be performed in the western parishes, on Sunday afternoons, down to
Such, for instance, are the circumstances referred to in the Cherry-Tree carol, beginning with “Joseph was an old man, an old man was he.
Enjoy Cornish carols and lots more by purchasing
Hard Copies of the Cornish Carol Books.
At:-
Christmas In Camborne
Cross Street is gay. The chip shops crowded.
Crowned with a blue electric star
The gift tree by the fountain shimmers,
Superbly tall if angular.
In Trelowarren Street the lights do dazzle
The shops are having a mini boom
From the church tower, the bells are ringing,
Incessant, through the afternoon.
Early are the windows lighted
Tempting shoppers to come inside.
Children's noses pressed to windows
Trying to see what mother buys.
Grandpa's had enough of shopping
He goes and finds a place to rest
Lifts a glass in celebration
He says this Christmas will be the best.
Whilst deep below ground at South Crofty
A miner's chorus begins to sing.
"Hark the glad sound" a tune by Merritt,
Throughout the levels, they let it ring.
And as they sing it in the pump room
Others come from out the ends
No need for cornets or euphoniums,
Their voice alone the message sends.
This band of brothers joining together,
To tell the tale of a baby boy.
So even in the darkest tunnel
They spread the message of Christmas joy
Much later when their 'core' is ended
With friends, they'll gather in the square
Their wives and children all together
Singing the rousing Carolare.
Breathless, with boxes in a jumble
The taxi drivers come and go.
Madam Chairman pulls the handle
Lights up the tree, oh, what a show.
And little children looking heavenward
Cluster mittened in the Square
They talk of Santa, half affrighted,
Waiting in the cold night air.
Now the town band strikes up the anthem
Unemployed Miner's voices bring
They've come to join our celebration
Lift their voices and with us sing.
"Hark, the glad sound! the Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne,
Crowned with a blue electric star
The gift tree by the fountain shimmers,
Superbly tall if angular.
In Trelowarren Street the lights do dazzle
The shops are having a mini boom
From the church tower, the bells are ringing,
Incessant, through the afternoon.
Early are the windows lighted
Tempting shoppers to come inside.
Children's noses pressed to windows
Trying to see what mother buys.
Grandpa's had enough of shopping
He goes and finds a place to rest
Lifts a glass in celebration
He says this Christmas will be the best.
Whilst deep below ground at South Crofty
A miner's chorus begins to sing.
"Hark the glad sound" a tune by Merritt,
Throughout the levels, they let it ring.
And as they sing it in the pump room
Others come from out the ends
No need for cornets or euphoniums,
Their voice alone the message sends.
This band of brothers joining together,
To tell the tale of a baby boy.
So even in the darkest tunnel
They spread the message of Christmas joy
Much later when their 'core' is ended
With friends, they'll gather in the square
Their wives and children all together
Singing the rousing Carolare.
Breathless, with boxes in a jumble
The taxi drivers come and go.
Madam Chairman pulls the handle
Lights up the tree, oh, what a show.
And little children looking heavenward
Cluster mittened in the Square
They talk of Santa, half affrighted,
Waiting in the cold night air.
Now the town band strikes up the anthem
Unemployed Miner's voices bring
They've come to join our celebration
Lift their voices and with us sing.
"Hark, the glad sound! the Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.
Available to read as a pdf file by going to this URL
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