A Collingham Carol!

EAST TRENT CHURCHES
Besthorpe, Clifton, Collingham,
Girton, Harby, Holme, Langford, South Scarle, Thorney, Winthorpe

A Collingham Carol!

The words to this Christmas Hymn you will undoubtedly know very well. They were written in c1700 by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715); inspired, of course, by the Shepherds' story¹.

This original three-part version of the choir carol (soprano, alto, and men) has been specially composed by a talented local musician, teacher, pianist, piano tuner, and composer Nicholas Wynne; for the Anglican Collingham Churches' augmented choir for the Christmas Carol Service 2006. The Editorial Team have taken the liberty of naming it (appropriately we think) 'A Collingham Carol'².
Note: Nicholas has also produced a more sophisticated version for a four part choir, and organ. If you are interested please check with him for details.

A Collingham Carol

(16 bar introduction)

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
(2 bar interlude)
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

'Fear not,' said he -
For mighty dread had seized their troubled mind -
'Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind'.

'To you in David's town this day
Is born of David's line
A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign':
(7 bar interlude)

'The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed.
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid'.
(7 bar interlude)

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:

'All glory be to God on high,
And on the earth be peace.
Good-will henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease.
(10 bar postlude)

The Collingham Carol received its premier performance at the Anglican Collingham Churches Carol Service on 22 December 2006. It was enthusiastically sung by the choir and was extremely well received by the packed congregation.

Lovely isn't it? Like Another Try?

© Original tune by Nicholas Wynne (2006). © This arrangement by Dr J Eric Ashton (2006).

< < < Click the choristers' surplices to return to Vestry Notes

Footnote 1 This is arguably one of the most famous (and best loved) stories in the world. If you're interested and want to check the story out - grab the family bible and start with Luke 2 for more info (It's a cracker!). Return to story

Footnote 2 A few technical points (not too boring, we hope) may be of interest: Nicholas' music is written in a graceful simple triple time - 3/4 (waltz time to us ordinary mortals, and long favoured by early Christian Church leaders as being associated with the Trinity). This is a significant change from the same carol we all know and love, set to a tune first published in Thomas Este's Psalter in 1592 (in common time 4/4). Nick's tune starts in the key of F major (one flat; oh! sorry, you knew that), then - in bar 35 - moves to the key of D flat major (yes five flats - a challenge for the organist?) lapsing into the associated key of B flat minor - in bar 84 - (still five flats you may recall). Then there is a phased withdrawal from this mysterious minor key through B flat major - for a short visit starting in bar 108 - (2 flats - whew, relief for organist?) and finally - in bar 116 - brightly coming home in the original key of F major. Can you hear the changes? However, enough of these rather dry technicalities, we hope you have enjoyed Nick's fine tune and sung along with him and the Anglican Collingham Churches augmented Choir. Return to story

Our Priest in Charge of East Trent Churches & the Editorial Team thank our 91,734 page-visitors for supporting us up to beginning of July, 2010

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