AA4062
A carol for the Wanderer
Music: Trad. arr. Andrew Adams, Words: Andrew Adams
Voicing: SATB, optional piano
Performance time approx: 1m 45s
Range S: c' – f'' / A: c' – d'' / T: c – f' / B: c – d'
Price code: B
Complexity:
This pagan midwinter carol welcomes Odin (All-Father or Wanderer — the god of wisdom, magic, poetry and music) to the feast. The melody is a dance tune by the 18th century French composer Marin Marais, traditionally used for the carol Masters in this hall.
In Andrew Adams’ enjoyable setting, different pairings of voices echo off each other antiphonally and then come together again, creating cascades of repeated phrases and bursts of effective unison.
An optional piano part uses mostly open chords with no third, as well as playful echoes of the melody line played in thirds and octaves.
Also available for TB.
Masters in this hall,
Sing we all i-o-i-o,
Masters in this hall,
Sing we all i-o.
Masters in this hall,
Open wide the door.
Hear the footsteps now approaching;
Bid him enter we implore.
Masters in this hall,
Heed our news today:
The All-Father has come
And he has much to say.
Masters in this hall,
Heed his words today.
Hear the wisdom he has for you
As he speaks to us, we pray.
Masters in this hall,
Heed our news today:
The Wanderer has come
And he has much to say.
Masters in this hall,
Open wide your eyes.
See the Wanderer before you,
Masters of this hall, arise!
Masters in this hall, heed our news today.
words © Andrew Adams and used with permission.