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THE COWLEY CAROL BOOK
For Christmas, Easter, and Ascensiontide
COMPILED AND ARRANGED BY
GEORGE RATCLIFFE WOODWARD, MUS.DOC AND CHARLES WOOD, MUS.DOC.
A.R.MOWBRAY & Co. LIMITED
LONDON AND
OXFORD
First Series
1902
Second Series 1919
Complete Edition 1947
Voor de index, klik hier
PUBLISHERS' NOTE
THE Cowley Carol Book was for many years published in two Series. For
greater convenience a combined volume has now been substituted, with a
single list of Contents. Both Prefaces have been retained, as being of
interest in revealing the origins and sources of this famous collection
of carols.
1947
PREFACE TO THE FIRST SERIES
IN answer to a request that he should compile a small volume of Carols
for use in the Church of S. John the Evangelist, Cowley, the Editor of
this work put forth, in the Autumn of z9oi, a series of thirty-nine Carols,
entitled, The Cowley Carol Book. This publication has been well received,
and already a Second Edition is called for. The Editor has gladly availed
himself of this opportunity to enlarge and improve his book. All the words
contained in the first will be found in the second issue, but additions
have been made. Here and there some of the harmonies, however, have been
altered slightly, or written anew.
The contents and treasures of those most admirable collections of Carols
for Christmas-tide, 1853, and Carols for Easter-tide, 1854, by the Rev.
J. M. Neale and the Rev. T. Helmore, have again been freely drawn upon.
In the New Edition (containing sixty-five Carols in all) no fewer than
twenty-one can claim Dr. Neale for their Author. His words are given unaltered,
except in one case (No. 50) where, owing to the exigencies of the music,
a short Latin phrase has been substituted for two Alleluyas. Concerning
the words of the other Carols, some, as Nos. 4o and 42, are in Latin;
others, as Nos. 2 and 32, are of old English origin. For the remainder
the Editor is himself responsible. They are, for the most part, translations
of Latin or German Carols, ranging from the XIIth to the XVIth Century.
In half a dozen instances, for some fine old melody's sake, the Editor
has written words of his own. Fault has been found with the Latin lines
which occur here and there interspersed amongst the English verse; but
the Editor ventures to think that the rhythm and association of the original
tongue is sufficient excuse for his not having altered the arrangement.
The source of the tunes, as well as of the words, is given, as far as
possible, over the head of each Carol. From Peter of Nyland's Piae Cantiones
again many of the loveliest airs in this book have been gathered. In Nos.
1 and 65 (3rd Tune), the chief melody is assigned, as was the custom of
the XVIth Century, to the Tenor voice. Mr. W. S. Rockstro recommends a
more general return to this practice. Nos. 11, 12 (1st Tune), 14, 22,
43, and 63, have more the character of Chorales than of Carols. Their
venerable age, intrinsic merit, and skilful treatment by Joh. Seb. Bach
almost compelled their admission into the first edition. It was proposed
to remove them from the present issue (they being more fit for insertion
in a forthcoming volume of German Chorales), but the publishers begged
that they might be retained.
It is the Editor's duty and pleasure to thank Mr. B. Luard Selby, Mr.
W. Shebbeare, Mr. E. W. Goldsmith, and especially the Rev. G. H. Palmer,
and Dr. Charles Wood, for much valuable help and good taste in harmonizing
the melodies. The fact that Dr. Charles Wood has revised and passed the
proof-sheets of the music is a guarantee of its correctness. Among the
faithful departed, the Editor records his gratitude for the learning and
labours of the Revs. John Mason Neale, Thos. Helmore, Wm. John Blew, John
Rob. Lunn, and of all the other well-known or unknown authors of the words
and tunes contained in this collection.
G. R. W.
CADENABBIA, 1902
PREFACE TO THE SECOND SERIES
THIS small volume of seven-and-thirty Carols is intended to be a continuation
of The Cowley Carol Book, published by Messrs. Mowbray & Co. in the
October of 1902.
As regards the words thereof. Whenever traditional, original, or translated
material happened to be ready at hand (the words exactly agreeing with
the metre, rhythm, and character of the music note), then the labour,
skill, poetry, and piety of Dr. John Mason Neale, and of others, has again
been readily laid under contribution. But, because the greater part of
the melodies, chosen for this second series of Cowley carols, demanded
words in some peculiar or outlandish measure; and because your modern
Carol-writer, as a rule, dislikes to be tied down to any unusual and difficult
metre, that particular editor of this book, who is chiefly responsible
for the selection of the aforesaid tunes, had no alternative but himself
to set to work, and translate, or write, fresh carols, such as they are,
but anyhow so versified and rimed as to suit the requirements of the music.
This is the sole reason for the frequent recurrence of the initials, G.
R. W. If there be an old-world ring in some of these new Carol-words,
apology is neither needed, nor conceded on the part of the author thereof:
for it seems only fitting and appropriate that the words should be in
keeping with the somewhat antiquated tunes whereto they have here been
wedded.
Concerning the melodies. Be it repeated that these are, all of them, more
or less ancient; and be it observed that, so far as is possible, the sources
thereof are given in the head-lines over every carol in turn.
As for the harmonies. These are written in accordance with the style and
musical rules of the age, century, or country, wherein the tunes themselves
seem, or are known, to have originated.
Dr. Charles Wood (who corrected the proof-sheets of the music in the former
volume of Cowley Carols, and to whom that book was indebted, inter alia,
for the settings of "Blessed be that Maid Marie," "Sweet
was the Song the Virgin sung," "This joyful Eastertide")
is good enough to allow his name to figure, as coeditor, on the title-page
of this present collection, which also contains many specimens of his
handiwork.
It may be mentioned that six of the carols, viz. Nos. 67, 68, 70, 73,
82, and 83, have already appeared in Songs of Syon (Schott & Co.),
1910; but, in order that they may become more accessible to people in
general, the above are now drafted into this second series of The Cowley
Carol Book. But for the outbreak of the Great European War, this, or a
similar, gathering together of carols had been printed in time for the
Christmas of 1914.
Lastly, it is a pleasing duty gratefully to acknowledge the kindness and
courtesy of the following publishers and gentlemen, who have given us
free leave to make use of some of their musical work or copyright. Their
names are as follows: Messrs. Chappell & Co. (New Bond Street) for
permission to reprint William Byrde's setting of "Shall I go walk
the woods so wild" (Carol No. 78); Messrs. Augener & Co., and
Mr. Charles Volkert (Great Marlborough Street), for similar leave to reproduce
three arrangements of old English dances by Dr. John Bull (Carols Nos.
69, 78, and 102); and Mr. E. W. Goldsmith for his harmonization of the
tune of "Gathering peascods" (Carol No. 82).
G. R. W.
HIGHGATE, 1919 .
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