Ding Dong Merrily on High
[simpleazon-image align=”right” asin=”B000004CVK” locale=”us” height=”300″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51A08GDQT1L.jpg” width=”306″]”Ding Dong Merrily on High” is a Christmas carol. The tune first appeared as a nonreligious dance tune known under he title “Branle de l’Official” in Orchésographie, a dance book written by Jehan Tabourot (1519– 1593). The lyrics are from English composer George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848– 1934), and the carol was first published in 1924 in his The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter, And Other Seasons. Woodward took an interest in church bell ringing, which no doubt aided him in writing it. Woodward was the author of several carol books, including Songs of Syon and The Cowley Carol Book. The macaronic design is particular of Woodward’s enjoy traditional poetry. Charles Wood harmonised the tune when it was released with Woodward’s text in The Cambridge Carol Book. More recently, Sir David Willcocks made an arrangement for the second book of Carols for Choirs.
The song is especially kept in mind for the Latin refrain:.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
[Magnificence! Hosanna in the greatest!] where the sung vowel sound “o” of “Gloria” is fluidly sustained through a lengthy rising and falling melodic sequence.
Ding Dong Merrily on High : Lyrics
Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav’n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv’n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
E’en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And “Io, io, io!”
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
