| Share page |
|
— 184 — |
||
|
mentions one to be sung to the tune of King Solomon. Several of the existing carol tunes are very pleasing, and are of considerable antiquity; one or two of them, according to repute, having been known in Cornwall for three hundred years and upwards; and some of the northern tunes are, probably, equally old, though the age may be a little overstated. The natives of Cornwall have been famous for their carols from an early date. Scawen says, they had them at several times, especially at Christmas, which they solemnly sang, and sometimes used in their churches after prayers, the burthen of them being " Nowell, nowell, good news, good news, of the gospel."
Henry the Eighth, and his children, being skilled in music, and keeping also the Christmas feast with great magnificence, carol singing flourished; and Latin hymns being abolished at the time of the Reformation, the carols became still more in vogue, and were sung throughout the kingdom. At the grand Christm asses, at the Inns of Court, the master of the revels was, after dinner and supper, to sing a carol or song, and command other gentlemen to sing with him; but it is to be assumed that he selected such "other gentlemen" as could respond properly to his call. The Roman Catholics observed the custom equally with the Reformed church.
" And carols sing in prayse of Christ, and for to help them heare, The organs answere every verse with sweete and soleinne cheare."
The carols at this time seem to have been of two descriptions : one of a serious sort, sung commonly in churches, and through the streets, and from house to house, as they were in Shakespeare's time, ushering in the Christmas morning ; and the other of a more convivial nature, and adapted |
||