Wexford Carol

The Wexford Carol (Irish: Carúl Loch Garman, Carúl Inis Córthaidh) is a traditional religious Irish Christmas carol originating from County Wexford, and specifically, Enniscorthy (whence its other name), and dating to the 12th century. The subject of the song is that of the nativity of Jesus Christ.

W. H. Grattan Flood transcription

"The Wexford Carol," sometimes known by its first verse, "Good people all this Christmas time," is one of the oldest extant Christmas carols in the European tradition. The song achieved a renewed popularity due to the work of William Grattan Flood (1859 - 1928), who was organist and musical director at St. Aidan's Cathedral in Enniscorthy. He transcribed the carol from a local singer, and had it published in the Oxford Book of Carols, putting Enniscorthy into most carol books around the world.

Bard Francis, of the SCA medieval society comments:

This lovely tune, remarkable for its haunting Mixolydian mode form, is unlikely to be 12th century. The words are maybe older than the tune, which likely came from the wave of Irish Music during the late 18th and through the entire 19th century, American Civil War period. Such rhyming words and tune structure had not been invented sufficiently in the 12th century, and it looks more like the 16th if it can be proven to be earlier than the 18-19th.

The Mixolydian mode can be played with only two chords one step apart on lute or guitar, which makes it an easy and wonderful performance piece for good singers but beginning players. Celtic Woman does it in D and C chords, though there are variations out there.

For the most likely oldest Christmas hymn, I suggest it may be "O Gladsome Light" with words from the 3rd century, tune possibly the 8th as a Nunc Dimittis. Source "Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal," by Pollock. Also the still popular "O Come Emmanuel" may have been written about that time. The main problem is that these ancient Christian tunes, unlike the Celtic tunes, usually had a long oral tradition in the church before musical notation became understandable around the 14th century.

Modern performance

Traditions abound concerning the song. For many years, it was felt that only men should sing it. It was only during the current revival of all things Irish that this has changed. Many popular female artists, such as Julie Andrews in 1966, and Loreena McKennitt in 1987, have recorded versions of the “Wexford Carol." Michael McDonald (singer) covered it on his 2009 album, "This Christmas" as a duet with his wife Amy Holland, using only the first three of the traditional verses. The carol featured as title track on the 2014 collection of traditional Irish Carols The Wexford Carols by the Irish early-music singer Caitríona O'Leary with Tom Jones and Rosanne Cash.

English lyrics

Good people all, this Christmas time,

Consider well and bear in mind

What our good God for us has done

In sending his beloved son

With Mary holy we should pray,

To God with love this Christmas Day

In Bethlehem upon that morn,

There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide,

The noble Virgin and her guide

Were long time seeking up and down

To find a lodging in the town.

But mark right well what came to pass

From every door repelled, alas,

As was foretold, their refuge all

Was but a humble ox's stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep

Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep

To whom God's angel did appear

Which put the shepherds in great fear

Arise and go, the angels said

To Bethlehem, be not afraid

For there you'll find, this happy morn

A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind

The shepherds went the babe to find

And as God's angel had foretold

They did our Saviour Christ behold

Within a manger he was laid

And by his side a virgin maid

Attending on the Lord of Life

Who came on earth to end all strife.

There were three wise men from afar

Directed by a glorious star

And on they wandered night and day

Until they came where Jesus lay

And when they came unto that place

Where our beloved Messiah lay

They humbly cast them at his feet

With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

Irish Lyrics

Ó, tagaig' uile is adhraigí

An leanbh cneasta sa chró 'na luí

Is cuimhnígí ar ghrá an Rí

A thug dár saoradh anocht an Naí.

'S a Mhuire Mháthair i bParrthas Dé,

Ar chlann bhocht Éabha guigh 'nois go caomh,

Is doras an chró ná dún go deo

Go n-adhram' feasta Mac Mhuire Ógh.

I mBeithil thoir i lár na hoích'

Ba chlos an deascéala d'aoirí,

Go follas don saol ón spéir go binn

Bhí aingle 'canadh ó rinn go rinn.

"Gluaisig' go beo," dúirt Aingeal Dé,

"Go Beithil sall is gheobhaidh sibh É

'Na luí go séimh i mainséar féir,

Siúd É an Meisias a ghráigh an saol."

External links

• The history of the entire Kilmore Carols cycle, including this song