English Village Carols: Traditional Christmas Carolling from the Southern Pennines

Various Artists SFW40476

In the village pubs of small towns around Sheffield, England, enthusiastic singers continue a centuries-old tradition of secular Christmas carol singing. Older than the more familiar Victorian conception of carols, and excluded from the church services, these village carols are performed unaccompanied or with only a few instruments. Recorded live in the pubs, filled with the spontaneous joys of singers, the clinking of glasses, and murmur of the other patrons, these are a unique and beautiful form of holiday cheer and community expression. 71 minutes, photos, map, and a 28-page booklet.
Country(s) United Kingdom
Keyword(s) Carols; Christmas music; Music--British Isles
Language(s) English

Year of Recording 1999
Record Label Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Source Archive Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Credits Produced by Ian Russell ; Compiled by Ian Russell ; Liner Notes by Ian Russell ; Cover photo by Brian Shuel ; Design by Visual Dialogue

Download Liner Notes

101	Awake, Arise, Good Christians	Carollers from the Royal Hotel, Dungworth	3:49
102	Pentonville	Carollers from the Royal Hotel, Dungworth	4:46
103	Hark, Hark!	Carollers from the Black Bull, Ecclesfield	3:09
104	How Beautiful Upon the Mountain	Carollers from the Black Bull, Ecclesfield	2:24
105	Sweet Chiming Bell	Carollers from the Blue Ball Inn, Worrall	4:03
106	Star of Bethlehem	Carollers from the Blue Ball Inn, Worrall	4:42
107	Prodigal Son	Carollers from the Fountain Inn, Ingbirchworth	3:37
108	Foster	Carollers from the Fountain Inn, Ingbirchworth	4:13
109	Hark, Hark!	Carollers from Castleton	2:17
110	Shepherd's Rejoice	Carollers from Castleton	3:20
111	Peace O'er the World	The Little John Singers from Hathersage	2:31
112	Hail Smiling Morn	The Little John Singers from Hathersage	2:36
113	Mount Zion	Carollers from the Travellers Rest, Oughtibridge	3:27
114	Jacob's Well	Carollers from the Travellers Rest, Oughtibridge	4:25
115	Raise, Christians, Raise	The Foolow Carollers	1:55
116	Marshall	The Foolow Carollers	2:38
117	Expectation	The Coal Aston Carollers	2:18
118	Lo! The Eastern Magi Rise	The Coal Aston Carollers	1:43
119	Angels from the Realm	Beeston Methodist Church Choir (Beeston, England)	2:27
120	Three Harks	Beeston Methodist Church Choir (Beeston, England)	2:12
121	The Christmas Tree	Village Carollers from Grenoside	5:11
122	Merry Christmas	Village Carollers from Grenoside	3:41

Click to enlarge

11.98

9.99

21.98