SECTION CHRISTMAS SUBJECT
The Ditchling CAROL Carols originated in France, beginning a tradition of singing and dancing in a circle, passing songs of celebration down through the generations. Eventually they became solely associated with Christmas, utilising popular tunes and language popular with everyday folk. One such carol has links to the village of Ditchling as Robert Veitch discovered
T
he composer of the lyric for The Ditchling Carol was William Robert Spencer who was born in 1769. As grandson of the 3rd Duke of Marlborough he was educated at Harrow and Oxford. After a brief stint in Parliament he realised he preferred to write verse and poetry. William Robert Spencer spent his final years in Paris and died there in 1834. Peter Parsons was a Ditchling shoemaker born in 1825. During a healthy period of folk singing within
Sussex, he led the local Glee Club who enjoyed singing and performing in the round. His contribution to The Ditchling Carol was to compose the tune. Ironically, Peter Parsons died on Christmas Eve in 1901. The carol remains popular within the village, and an annual rendition usually takes place during Boxing Day, during an open-air performance of the local Mummers play. www.ditchlinghistoryproject.org/ a-winters-tale.html Listen to a recording of the carol at www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0YE1Zr5rww
Be merry all, be merry all With holly dress the festive all Prepare the song, the feast, the ball To welcome merry Christmas
When you, with velvets mantled o’er Defy December’s tempest’s roar Oh, spare one garment from your store To clothe the poor at Christmas
When generous wine your care controls And gives new joy to happiest souls Oh, spare one goblet from your bowls To cheer the poor at Christmas
Chorus (after each verse) And, oh! remember, gentles gay To you who bask in fortune’s ray The year is all a holiday The poor have only Christmas
When you the costly banquet deal To guests, who never famine feel Oh, spare one morsel from your meal To feed the poor at Christmas
So shall each note of mirth appear More sweet to heaven than praise or prayer And angels, in their carols there Shall bless the poor at Christmas
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