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.

 

buy from oup logo

 

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;

 

ms trust crest 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

 

ms trust crest 177: OUT OF YOUR SLEEP (Nativity)

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 bell

from the Selden manuscript at Oxford, c. 1450. The tune is founded on a Danish chime.

 

ms trust crest 178: IN EXCELCIS GLORIA (2nd tune, Nativity)

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 gloria

from the Harleian manuscript, 1456

 

ms trust crest 183: I SING OF A MAIDEN (General, Medieval)

I sing of a maiden
that is makéless
King of all Kings
To her son she ches.

from the Sloane manuscript, c. 1425

 

ms trust crest 184: ALL BELLS IN PARADISE (General)

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 thing

Origin 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

 

ms trust crest 189: MERRY CHRISTMAS (Secular) adp. from Sir Walter Scott

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.

ms trust crest 194: KINGS IN GLORY (Christmas, Epiphany) Selwyn Image

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: 7

MEDIEVAL

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