"Ding Dong Merrily on High" is one of those joyous Christmas tunes that you
makes you want to get up and dance! It is often included in medleys
of "French Carols". But, ironically, this song was not a Christmas carol
in France, but a traditional folk melody. The first time this tune appeared in
print, it was as a dance called "Bransle l'Officiale," part of a collection by
sixteenth-century French composer Jehan Tabourot. The branle was a popular
group dance, in which dancers held hands, formed circles, and then rotated
according to various patterns.
In 1921, Englishman George Ratcliffe Woodward married this tune to English
verses of his own creation. Woodward loved to read older English poetry. For
this song, he used archaic language that might fool a listener into thinking
that the words were centuries old instead of decades.
This 2-part arrangement is based on a standard choral arrangement that you will
hear often at this time of year. You still have about 3 weeks to get
this ready, so find a playing partner and get to work!
Here's a link to a YouTube video of wonderful version of this tune recorded by
the group folk duo "Blackmore's
Night", with a "modernized" set of lyrics.
Enjoy .. and Merry Christmas!
--Tull
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!
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!
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!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
