Changes

One genre of carol is the “Wassail” song. Various of these have been collected over the years.  They are songs to do with the tradition – now sadly diminished – of a group, often the children of the village but not always, going from door to door begging fruit and cakes and ale and asking God to bless the household that was generous to them. They were always cheerful, loud and sometimes even bawdy.

One genre of carol is the “Wassail” song. Various of these have been collected over the years.  They are songs to do with the tradition – now sadly diminished – of a group, often the children of the village but not always, going from door to door begging fruit and cakes and ale and asking God to bless the household that was generous to them. They were always cheerful, loud and sometimes even bawdy.

Collections of Christmas Carols have been published since the early days of printing. In 1521 Wynkyn de Worde published a collection from which one carol, ''The Boar’s Head Carol'' is still sung each Christmas Day at [[Oxford University| Queen’s College, Oxford]]. Most [[Europe]]an countries have published collections , mostly made before and during the busy days of national folksong collecting during the late 1800s and into the 20th century. In America, many indigenous carols have been of the “commercial” sort although one, ''I Wonder as I Wander'', is of a depth rarely encountered and is almost alone in its musing on both the birth and the death of Christ.

Collections of Christmas Carols have been published since the early days of printing. In 1521 Wynkyn de Worde published a collection from which one carol, ''The Boar’s Head Carol'' is still sung each Christmas Day at [[Oxford University|Queen’s College, Oxford]]. Most [[Europe]]an countries have published collections , mostly made before and during the busy days of national folksong collecting during the late 1800s and into the 20th century. In America, many indigenous carols have been of the “commercial” sort although one, ''I Wonder as I Wander'', is of a depth rarely encountered and is almost alone in its musing on both the birth and the death of Christ.

In [[Australia]], the composer W. G. James wrote a set of six Christmas carols with the words by John Wheeler appropriate for the country’s hot December climate. They are of the traditional carol type and eminently singable. One can be heard here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wqoFg6Vabo

In [[Australia]], the composer W. G. James wrote a set of six Christmas carols with the words by John Wheeler appropriate for the country’s hot December climate. They are of the traditional carol type and eminently singable. One can be heard here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wqoFg6Vabo