Fantasia on Christmas Carols (Ralph Vaughan Williams)

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• (Posted 2022-01-21)  CPDL #67677:     

Editor: Marc Cerisier (submitted 2022-01-21).   Score information: Letter, 25 pages, 432 kB   Copyright: CC BY NC ND

Edition notes: This edition features a completely new idiomatic organ reduction based on the original orchestral score.

• (Posted 2021-10-02)  CPDL #66003:     

Editor: Douglas Walczak (submitted 2021-10-02).   Score information: Letter, 25 pages, 330 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB and Solo Baritone
Genre: Sacred, Carol

Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard

First published: 1912
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

This is the Truth
This is the truth sent from above,
The truth of God, the God of love;
Therefore don’t turn me from your door,
But hearken all, both rich and poor.

The first thing, which I do relate,
That God at first did man create
The next thing, which to you I tell,
Woman was made with him to dwell.

Then after this, ‘twas God’s own choice
To place them both in Paradise,
There to remain from evil free
Except they ate of such a tree.

And they did eat, which was a sin,
And thus their ruin did begin;
Ruined themselves, both you and me,
And all of their posterity.

Thus we were heirs to endless woes,
Till God the Lord did interpose
For so a promise soon did run
That He’d redeem us with a Son.

The Somerset Carol
Come all you worthy gentlemen
That may be standing by.
Christ our blessed Saviour
Was born on Christmas day.
The blessed virgin Mary
Unto the Lord did say,
O we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy!

Christ our blessed Saviour
Now in the manger lay;
He's lying in the manger,
While the oxen fed on hay.
The blessed Virgin Mary
Unto the Lord did pray.
O we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy!

God bless the ruler of this house,
And long on may he reign;
Many happy Christmases
He live to see again!
God bless our generation
Who live both far and near;
O we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy!

Sussex Carol
On Christmas night all Christians sing
to hear the news the angels bring;
on Christmas night all Christians sing
to hear the news the angels bring:
news of great joy, news of great mirth,
news of our merciful King’s birth.

When sin departs before His grace,
then life and health come in its place;
when sin departs before His grace,
then life and health come in its place;
angels and men with joy may sing,
all for to see the newborn King.

From out of darkness we have light,
which made the angels sing this night;
all out of darkness we have light,
which made the angels sing this night:
“Glory to God and peace to men,
now and forevermore. Amen.”