- accessibility |
- contact us |
- home |
- music lists |
- permissions |
- sitemap
Music & Song
home » music-lists » hymns-and-carols » the oxford book of carols
The Oxford Book of Carols
Published in 1928, The Oxford Book of Carols quickly became a classic with its combination of original tunes and texts, as well as more modern compositions.
Many of Shaw's Christmas carols and arrangements are still available separately, (see Christmas) but far better value is the classic OBC itself, which still in print.
Listed below are Shaw's compositions and arrangments. Of the whole, his researches resulted in the greater part of the publication.
SHAW's ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS with 1st verse –from OBC Part IV : traditional carols with tunes by modern composers;
172: MAKE WE MERRY (Christmas, secular)
Make we merry, both more and less,
For now is the time of Chris-te-mas, of Christmas...from the Commonplace Book of Richard Hill, c. 1425
Out of your sleep, arise and wake,
For God mankind now hath y-take
All of a maid without any make ;
Of all women she beareth the bellfrom the Selden manuscript at Oxford, c. 1450. The tune is founded on a Danish chime.
Christo paremus cantica,
In excelsis gloria.When Christ was born of Mary free,
In Bethlehem in that fair city,
Angels sung e'er with mirth and glee,
In excelsis gloriafrom the Harleian manuscript, 1456
I sing of a maiden
that is makéless
King of all Kings
To her son she ches.from the Sloane manuscript, c. 1425
Over yonder's a park, which is newly begun:
All bells in Paradise I heard them a-ring,
Which is silver on the outside and gold within:
And I love sweet Jesus above all thingOrigin uncertain, recovered in the middle of the nineteenth century in North Staffordshire
SHAW's ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS with 1st verse –from OBC Part V : carols by modern writers and composers
On Christmas Eve the bells were rung,
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
The Damsel donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Fort to the wood did merry-men go;
To gather in the mistletoe;Then drink to the holly berry,
With hey down, hey down derry!
The mistletoe we'll pledge also,
And at Christmas all be merry,
At Christmas all be merry.
Three Kings in great glory of horses and men
Of horses and men,
In haste come a-riding o'er mountain and fen,
O'er mountain and fen ;
For their King is a-waiting, and lo they would bring,
The best of their treasure to give to their King,
To give to their king.
SHAW's ARRANGEMENTS listed in numerical order according to type.
Carols may be listed more than once when they are suitable for more than one occasion.
ADVENT
5: The Praise of Christmas All hail to the days that merit more praise
41: Righteous Joseph When the righteous Joseph wedded was
114: No Room in the Inn When Caesar Augustus had raised a taxation
133: Carol of the Advent People look East. The time is near (Eleanor Farjeon)
134: If Ye Would Hear the angels sing (with RVW)
CHRISTMAS EVE
1: Christmas Eve The Lord at first did Adam make
66: The Cherry Tree Carol: Part II As Joseph was a-walking
134: If Ye Would Hear the angels sing (with RVW)
CHRISTMAS
3: Sunny Bank As I sat on a sunny bank, on Christmas Day in the morning
4: A Virgin most Pure as prophets do tell
6: Irish Carol Christmas Day is come; lets all prepare for mirth
8: Somerset Carol Come all you worthy gentlemen
11: God Rest you Merry, Gentlemen let nothing you dismay
13: God’s Dear Son God's dear Son, without beginning
14: Wexford Carol Good people all, this Christmas-time
18: I saw Three Ships I saw three ships come sailing in
20: Yeoman’s Carol Let Christians all with joyful mirth
25: A Gallery Carol Rejoice and be merry
33: While Shepherd’s Watched their flocks by night (1st tune)
116: A Babe is Born all of a may
117: Immortal Babe, who this dear day
118: Sussani A little child there is yborn
119: Angels, from the Realms of glory
121: Falan-tiding Out of the orient crystal skies
122: Herrick’s Carol What sweeter music can we bring
CHRISTMAS (SECULAR)
19: Boar’s Head Carol The boar's head in hand bear I
32: Somerset Wassail Wassail, and wassail
171: Shakespeare’s Carol (1st tune) Blow, blow thou winter wind,
172: Make we Merry, both more or less
ST. STEPHEN
26: Saint Stephen was a holy man
136: Good King Wenceslas looked out
INNOCENTS DAY (Dec. 28th)
22: Coventry Carol Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child
140: The Band of ChildrenThe stars shall light your journey (Frank Kendon)
NEW YEAR
15: Wassail Song Here we come a-wassailing
28: Greensleeves The old year now away is fled
32: Somerset Wassail Wassail, and wassail
EPIPHANY
13: God’s Dear Son God's dear Son, without beginning
23: Make we Joy now in this feast
25: A Gallery Carol Rejoice and be merry
27: The First Nowell the angel did say
29: This New Christmas Carol
116: A Babe is Born all of a may
117: Immortal Babe, who this dear day
118: Sussani A little child there is yborn
119: Angels, from the Realms of glory
121: Falan-tiding Out of the orient crystal skies
139: Infinite Light The greatness of God in his love has been shown
140: The Band of ChildrenThe stars shall light your journey (Frank Kendon)
NATIVITY
37: The Angel Gabriel from God was sent to Galilee
38: The Holly and the Ivy, when they are both full grown
39: This Endris Night tune: RVW; fa-burden: MS
40: Wonder Tidings, What tidings bringest thou, messenger
41: Righteous Joseph When the righteous Joseph wedded was
80: Three Kings Three Kings are here, both wealthy and wise
82: Patapan Willie, take your little drum, with your whistle , Robin come!
84: The Cradle He smiles within his cradle
85: Puer Natus A boy was born in Bethlehem
87: Rocking Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir (tr. Percy Dearmer)
88: Waking-time Neighbour, what was that sound I pray
89: Sion’s DaughterO Sion's daughter, where art thou?
91: In the Town Take heart, the journey's ended
123: Chanticleer All this night shrill chanticleer
124: Summer in Winter Gloomy night embraced the place
143: The World’s Desire The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap
177: Out of your Sleep arise and wake
CANDLEMAS (Feb 2nd)
126: Candlmas Eve Down with the rosemary and bays (R. Herrick)
ANNUNCIATION
37: The Angel Gabriel from God was sent to Galilee
41: Righteous Joseph When righteous Joseph wedded was
LENT
38: The Holly and the Ivy, when they are both full grown
66: The Cherry Tree Carol: Part III Then Mary took her young son
102: Gabriel’s Message does away
139: Infinite Light The greatness of God in his love has been shown
140: The Band of Children The stars shall light your journey (Frank Kendon)
MOTHERING SUNDAY
145: Mothering Sunday It is the day of all the year
PASSIONTIDE
35: Sans Day Carol Now the holly bears a berry
44: The Lamb of God. Awake, awake , ye drowsy souls
93: Mary’s Wandering Once Mary would go wandering
144: White Lent (Ash Wednesday to the Eve of Passion Sunday) Now quit your care
PALM SUNDAY
146: The Merchant’s Carol As we rode down the steep hillside
EASTER
35: Sans Day Carol Now the holly bears a berry
44: The Lamb of God. (Part II) It was early in the morning
46: The Bellman’s Song The moon shines bright, and the stars give a light
94: Easter Eggs Easter eggs! Give to him that begs!
97: The Secret Flower This child was born to men of God
147: Easter Carol Cheer up, friends and neighbours
149: Love is Come Again Now the green blade riseth
ASCENSION
127: God is Ascended up high, Alleyluya
WHITSUN
97: The Secret Flower This child was born to men of God
153: Song of the Spirit When Christ blessed his disciples (Percy Dearmer)
154: The Spirit Winds of God unfailing fill the sunlit sails (Geoffrey Dearmer)
SPRING
96: Hilariter The whole bright world rejoices now
99: Flower Carol Spring has now unwrapped the flowers
126: Candlmas Eve Down with the rosemary and bays (R.Herrick)
155: April Now April has come (Geoffrey Dearmer)
MAY
48: May-Day Garland I've brought you hear a bunch of may!
49: Furry Day Carol Remember us poor Mayers all!
SUMMER
96: Hilariter The whole bright world rejoices now
128: Welcome, Summer Now welcome, Summer, with thy sun-ne soft (Chaucer)
129: Pleasure it is to hear, I wis
156: Summer Time Lift your hidden faces (Rose Fyleman)
157: Summer Carol The dawn wind is now breaking (Geoffrey Dearmer)
HARVEST
129: Pleasure it is to hear, I wis
159: Golden Sheaves Sing to the Lord of harvest
AUTUMN
38: The Holly and the Ivy when they are both full grown
WINTER
50: Nos Galan Now the joyfull bells a-ringing
GENERAL :
46: The Bellman’s Song The moon shines bright, and the stars give a light
58: Jacob’s Ladder As Jacob with ladder was weary one day
60: Job Come all ye worthy Christian men
64: A New Dial In those twelve days let us be glad
65: The Decree Let Christians all with one accord rejoice
70: Joys Seven The first good joy that Mary had
71: My Dancing Day To-morrow shall be my dancing day
72: Wondrous Works When Jesus Christ was twelve years old
100: The Message A message came to a maiden young
101: Gems of Day All the gay gems of the day
102: Gabriel’s Message does away
106: So, Brother Now brothers lift your voices
107: Praise to God in the highest! Bless us, O Father!
108: The Kingdom O I have seen a Kings new Baby
109: O Little One Sweet, O Little One mild
110: Jesus of the Manger Sing, good company, frank and free!
111: The Builders Sing all good people gathered
112: Eia, Eia To us in Bethlehem city
130: Watts’s Cradle Song Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber
139: Infinite Light The greatness of God in his love has been shown
161: The Shepherd Down in the valley where summer's laughing beam (L. Binyon)
162: Bell Carol In every town and village (Steuart Wilson)
163: The Three Traitors It was about the deep of night (Walter de la Mare)
165: Golden Mornings They saw the light shine out afar (A.F. D)
166: Carol of Service Up my neighbour, come away (Steuart Wilson)
167: Carol of the Kingdom When Jesus was a baby (Steuart Wilson)
CRADLE SONGS
130: Watts's Cradle Song Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber
LEGENDARY
54: King Herod & the Cock There was a star in David's land
66: The Cherry Tree Carol (Part 1) Joseph was an old man;
also extra tune– Appendix No: 7MEDIEVAL
62: All and Some Nowell sing we, both all and some
PRAISE
160: Angels Holy, high and lowly (John Stuart Blackie)
164: Carol of Beauty Praise to the Lord, who made all beauty (Steuart Wilson)
SUITABLE FOR USE IN PROCESSION
4: A Virgin most pure, as the prophets do tell
27: The First Nowell the angels did say
111: The Builders Sing all good people
119: Angels, from the Realms of glory
160: Angels holy, high and lowly
194: Kings in Glory Three kings in great glory of horses and men
