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December 11, 2007
Alfred Burt carols and Bethlehem Down
Tim: I’ve been listening to the Alfred Burt carols recently. Every time I come back to them I discover new things in them: an archaic turn of phrase (“I met a stranger yest’-er’en”), a diminished chord in an unexpected place, a perfect marriage of text and melody, etc. In the lyrics there are some profound theological truths, like the foreshadowing of Christ's suffering and death in the Kings' gifts (from "Jesu Parvule"):
'Tis Thy joy to see
Kings on bended knee,
off'ring gifts to Thee,
sweet Son of Mary.
But Thou may'st not know
what these gifts fore-show
of thy future woe,
blest Babe of Mary.
It is really interesting to hear Christmas carols written with jazz-influenced chord progressions. Most carols are strictly diatonic and easy to digest musically. The chromaticism in the Burt carols matches well the wonder of Christ's birth and mystery of the gospel portrayed in the lyrics.
Another obscure carol I love is called "Bethlehem Down" by Bruce Blunt & Peter Warlock.
“When He is King we will give him the King's gifts,
Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,
Beautiful robes,” said the young girl to Joseph,
Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down.
Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight
Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold,
Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
When He is King they will clothe him in grave-sheets,
Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,
He that lies now in the white arms of Mary,
Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down.
Here He has peace and a short while for dreaming,
Close huddled oxen to keep him from cold,
Mary for love, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
The contrasts in the first and third verses are amazing, encompassing Christ's roles as King and as suffering servant, obedient unto death:
Beautiful robes / grave-sheets
gold for a crown / wood for a crown (i.e. crown of thorns)
Myrrh - sweetness / embalming
music stuff | By Tim and Jo | 9:20 AM
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Comments
I want to hear that one by Peter Warlock, because he's cool!
Posted by: Grace at December 22, 2007 2:59 PM