Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Comfort and joy

I think it’s time for something substantially traditional for Advent today. Hardly anything is more traditional than “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”. (Note the comma placement; the song is telling us to lighten up/be at peace, not commenting on our existing state of jolliness. It’s reminding us that our burdens are about to be eased by the birth of the Savior.)

The carol dates from the 17th Century, when it was associated with recusant (Roman) Catholic families in England. This was a time when "celebrating" Christmas (the word means "Christ's Mass) was dangerous; Puritans did not hold with such frippery. The melody we know was hooked up to it about a hundred years later.

It was a bit of a palaver to find a version not by Pentatonix; here are my pals at King’s College, Cambridge, singing it, with the congregation during the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols recorded ten years ago.


 

©2024 Bas Bleu

 

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