Ding Dong! Merrily On High : Recording
- Tune: Bransle De L’Official, a traditional French melody by an anonymous composer arranged by Charles Wood (1866 – 1926). Public Domain.
- Performance ℗ 2020 Richard Irwin Music®, All rights reserved. ISRC UKTU21900263.
- Meter: 77 77 and Refrain.
Ding Dong! Merrily On High : Free MP3 Download
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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!
- Lyricist: George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934). Public Domain.
- Meter: 77 77 and Refrain.
Bransle De L’Official History
The tune first appeared as a secular dance tune known under the title “Branle de l’Official” in Orchésographie, a dance book written by the French cleric, composer and writer Jehan Tabourot (1519–1593). It was used as a carol tune as late as 1924 by George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848 – 1934) in his The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter, And Other Seasons. As can be seen in how Woodward adapted the tune that he took a great interest in church bell ringing. In this adaption, I have tried to let the bells have their own voice.
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