AA4060
Masters in this hall
Music: Trad. arr. Andrew Adams, Words: William Morris (1834 – 1896)
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 carol is based on a dance tune by the 18th century French composer Marin Marais, and words by the 19th century English artist, textile designer, socialist and writer William Morris. Both tune and words have entered folk tradition, and many slightly different versions exist. The chief theme of the traditional carol is God’s arrival to raise the poor and cast down the rich.
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, hear ye news today,
Brought from over sea, and ever I you pray:
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth: [helped]
To us is born God’s son so dear.
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell sing we loud!
God today hath poor folk raiséd
And cast a-down the proud.
Ox and ass him know,
Kneeling on their knee.
Wondrous joy had I
This little babe to see.
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! ...
This is Christ the Lord,
Masters be ye glad
For Christmas is come in
And no folk should be sad.
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell sing we loud!
God today hath poor folk raiséd
And cast a-down the proud.
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth:
To us is born God’s son so dear.
William Morris, adapted by Andrew Adams