In order to build a repertoire we’ve borrowed a few songs from the Sheffield tradition, but we’ve also researched a number of carols specific to the West Country and, indeed to Wiltshire. We intend to build on these year on year so that we increase the number of unique, local songs in the repertoire. Thus in 2012 we added Carlingcott, which comes from just 11 miles away. We don’t want to supplant the standard church carols, but add to them, so we also sing a few carols that you will have certainly sung before.
Here is a list of the carols that we will sing this year. Clicking on the links will give you the words and score of many of them. Candy Verney, Sian Penlington and Chris Samuels have also recorded many of the parts to help you learn them. (If you want to hear what some of them sound like in the wild, go to the Recordings page to hear to live recordings made in a carol sing).
Local Carols from Wiltshire and Somerset Angels Written by Stephanie Brown of Monkton Farleigh, 2015. Words by James Montgomery, 1816. Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) Score (pdf) Awake and Join the Cheerful Choir Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) All parts (sung) Score (pdf) Carlingcott Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) All parts (sung) Score (pdf) Green Grows the Holly Written by Anne Gregson of Bradford on Avon, words by Henry VIII Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) All parts (sung) Score (pdf) Halsway Carol Written by Nigel Eaton with words by Iain Fisk, 2011. Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) Score (pdf) I Hear Along Our Street (The Dunster Carol) Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) The carol as sung by the Hotwell Howlers Score (pdf) Nailsbourne Beasts Song Tune (sung) Chorus harmony (sung) Both parts (sung) Score (pdf) Carols from the Yorkshire Tradition Diadem Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) Score (pdf) Hail Smiling Morn Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) Both parts part (sung) Score (pdf) Sweet Chiming Bells Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) Score (pdf) While Shepherds Watched (Cranbrook) There are records of this being sung in Rode just 3 miles away so perhaps we should claim this for our own! Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) All parts (sung) Score (pdf) Other Carols and Wassails Boar's Head Carol Verse only harmony (sung) Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) All parts (sung) Score (pdf) Ding Dong Merrily on High Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) Score (pdf) Malpas Wassail Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) All parts (sung) Score (pdf) The Holly and the Ivy Score (pdf) Silent Night Score (pdf) Solos and Duets I Wish You a Merry Christmas Words (pdf) The Christmas Tree Words (pdf) The Mistletoe Bough Words (pdf) Carols We No Longer Sing but which may come back someday Angels from the Realms of Glory Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) All parts (sung) Score (pdf) Behold Once More the Day is Come Soprano part (sung) Alto part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) Score (pdf) Jacob's Well Soprano part (sung) Tenor part (sung) Bass part (sung) All parts part (sung) Score (pdf)