AMERICAN CAROLS
by William Berry

Verne Windham
Conductor, Spokane Youth Orchestra/
Music Director, Spokane Youth Symphony

Kristina Ploeger
Artistic Director, Spokane Area Children’s Chorus

I. Prelude
II. Happy Children
III. Heavenly Dove/The Blooming Wilderness
IV. As Joseph Was A-Walking
V. Weeping Mary
VI. Oh Jerus’lem in the Morning!
VII. Jesus Born in Bethlea
VIII. Sister Mary
IX. O, Poor Little Jesus
X. Shepherds Rejoice
XI. Brightest and Best
XII. The Seven Joys of Mary
XIII. The Royal Band

American Carols was commissioned by The Cathedral and The Arts Association for performance in December 2003 by the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus and the Spokane Youth Orchestra. This commission and performance were made possible by a grant from The Johnston-Hanson Foundation; Elizabeth J. Hanson, Chairman.

Thirteen American shape note, African-American and white spirituals, and folk melodies from the 1860s and earlier comprise this Christmas collection. The goal in setting them was to present the texts and the melodies in a form which would reflect the roots and spirit of the originals in a contemporary framework. As a result, the orchestrations neither attempt to be traditional folk representations nor are they intended to supplant or overwhelm the historic material with current techniques, but are timeless settings in keeping with the simple, sturdy nature of the songs themselves.

Researching sources for American Carols yielded a number of unknown and lesser known songs from which to choose. Selection for inclusion was based on texts and melodic material in order to create a flow in terms of the story as well as musical unity and contrasts. The order of the movements is centered around this flow. Therefore, although the movements can be excerpted and performed separately, the work is written to be performed and heard as a continuous whole.

The search revealed such a wealth of material that there was no need to rely on any of the several more familiar carols. Listeners may well be acquainted with a few of those included, but it is likely that audiences will be hearing most of these for the first time.

Over time, these wonderful tunes have been set aside or forgotten. If this collection serves as a catalyst for returning a few of these to their rightful place in the repertory and helps people to celebrate the rich legacy of American song, it will be a success. I am hoping that these versions of the carols will sound natural and familiar, even on the first hearing, and will bring happiness to musicians and audiences for a long time to come.

It is gratifying that this premiere recording of American Carols features the very same young musicians for whom it was written and who gave the work its first performance.

- William Berry

I Prelude

II Happy Children
John G. McCurry, 1853;
Sacred Harp shape note singer

Children of the heavenly King,
As ye journey let us sing;
Sing your Saviour’s worthy praise,
Glorious in his works and ways.

I want to get as happy as I well can be,
Lord send salvation down.

III Heavenly Dove/The Blooming Wilderness
William C. Davis 1854/1853;
Sacred Harp shape note singer

Heavenly Dove
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove,
With all thy quick’ning powers,
Come, shed abroad a Saviour’s love,
And that will kindle ours.

The Blooming Wilderness
The Prince of salvation is coming, prepare
A way in the desert his blessings to share,
He comes to release us from sin and from woes,
And bids the rude wilderness bloom like a rose.

IV As Joseph Was A-Walking
Appalachian Spiritual; British text [Brit. origin]

As Joseph was a-walking, he heard an angel sing:
“This night shall be the birthnight of Christ, the
heav’nly King.”

“He neither shall be borned in house nor in the hall,
Nor in a King’s palace, but in an oxen’s stall.”

“He neither shall be washen in white wine nor in red,
But in the clear spring water with which we were
christened.”

“He neither shall be clothed in purple nor in pall,
But in the fair white linen that usen babies all.”

“He neither shall be rocked in silver nor in gold,
But in a wooden cradle that rocks upon the mold.”

“On the sixth day of January His birthday shall be,
When the stars and the elements shall tremble with
glee.”

As Joseph was a-walking, thus did the angel sing;
And Mary’s Son at midnight was born to be our King.

V Weeping Mary
Attr. John G. McCurry in Sacred Harp;
text in English Primitive Methodist Hymn Book,
1823; Traditional in N.Y. State revivals 1820s

Are there anybody here like Mary a-weeping?
Call to my Jesus and He’ll draw nigh.
Glory, glory, glory, glory,
Glory be to my God on high.

VI Oh Jerus’lem in the Morning!
Christmas Eve watch-night shout

Mother Mary, what is the matter?
Oh, Jerus’lem in the morning!
Father Joseph, what is the matter?
Oh, Jerus’lem in the morning!
A baby born today.
Oh, Jerus’lem in the morning!
Born in the manger.
Oh, Jerus’lem in the morning!

Refrain [Mother Mary; Father Joseph]
Wrapped in swaddlin’ clothes.
Stall was his cradle.

Refrain
Born in Bethlehem.
Baby born today.

VII Jesus Born in Bethlea
Traditional folk hymn from Virginia

Jesus born in Bethlea, Jesus born in Bethlea,
Jesus born in Bethlea and in the manger lay,
And in the manger lay, and in the manger lay.
Jesus born in Bethlea and in the manger lay.

Down came an angel, down came an angel,
Down came an angel to tell the world around,
To tell the world around, to tell the world around.
Down came an angel to tell the world around.

VIII Sister Mary
African American Spiritual

Refrain
Sister Mary had-a but one child,
Born in Bethlehem
And-a every time-a the baby cried
She-a rocked him in the weary land,
She-a rocked him in the weary land.

O three wise men to Jerusalem came,
They travelled-a very far,
They said, “Where is he, born King of the Jews,
For we have-a seen his star?”

King Herod’s heart was troubled;
He marvelled but his face was grim;
He said, “Tell me where the child may be found,
I’ll go and worship him,
I’ll go and worship him.”

Refrain

An Angel appeared to Joseph,
And gave him this-a command,
“Arise ye, take your wife and child,
Go flee into Egypt’s land.

For yonder comes old Herod,
A wicked man and bold,
He’s slaying all the children
From six to eight days old,
From six to eight days old.”

Refrain

IX O, Poor Little Jesus
Traditional African American Spiritual

O, poor little Jesus,
This world gonna break Your heart.
There’ll be no place to lay Your head, my Lord,
O, poor little Jesus.

O, Mary, she the Mother,
O, Mary she bow down and cry,
For there’s no place to lay His head, my Lord,
O, poor little Jesus.

Come down, all you holy angels,
Sing ‘round Him with your golden harps,
For someday He will die to save this world,
O, poor little Jesus.

X Shepherds Rejoice
L.P. Breedlove, Sacred Harp shape note singer

Shepherds, rejoice! lift up your eyes,
And send your fears away;
News from the regions of the skies -
“A Saviour’s born today!”

“Jesus, the God whom angels fear,
Comes down to dwell with you;
Today he makes his entrance here,
But not as monarchs do.

“No gold nor purple swaddling bands,
Nor royal shining things:
A manger for his cradle stands,
And holds the King of kings.

“Go, shepherds, where the infant lies,
And see his humble throne!
With tears of joy in all your eyes,
Go, shepherds, kiss the Son!”

Thus Gabriel sang, and straight around
The heavenly armies throng;
They tune their harps to lofty sound,
And thus conclude the song:

“Glory to God that reigns above!
Let peace surround the earth;
Mortals shall know their Maker’s love,
At their Redeemer’s birth.”

Lord! and shall angels have their songs,
And men no tunes to raise?
O may we lose our useless tongues,
When they forget to praise!

Glory to God that reigns above,
That pitied us forlorn!
We join to sing our Maker’s love,
For there’s a Saviour born.

XI Brightest and Best [Star of the East]
American Folk Hymn [Southern shape note hymn]

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on His cradle the dew drops are shining,
Low lies His bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all.

Shall we then yield Him in costly devotion,
Odors of Edom, and off’rings divine,
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

XII The Seven Joys of Mary
American folk carol; 15th cent. English poem

The first joy of Mary was the joy of one:
That the blessed Jesus was born to be her Son,
Born to be her Son, O my Father in glory,
Born to be her Son.

The next joy of Mary was the joy of two:
That her Son Jesus could read the Scripture through.
Refrain

The next joy of Mary was the joy of three:
That her Son Jesus could make the blind to see.
Refrain

The next joy of Mary was the joy of four:
That her Son Jesus could turn the rich to poor.
Refrain

The next joy of Mary was the joy of five:
That her Son Jesus could raise the dead alive.
Refrain

The next joy of Mary was the joy of six:
That her Son Jesus could bear the crucifix.
Refrain

The last joy of Mary was the joy of seven:
That her Son Jesus could open the gates of heaven.
Refrain

XIII The Royal Band
W. T. Power; Sacred Harp shape note singer

Hosanna to Jesus, my soul’s fill’d with praises,
Come, O my dear brethren, and help me to sing,
No music so charming, no look is so warming,
It gives life and comfort, and gladness within.

Hosanna is ringing; O how I love singing,
There’s nothing so sweet as the sound of his name,
The angels in glory, repeat the glad story,
Of love which in Jesus is made known to man.