English Village Carols (CD)

English Village Carols: Traditional Christmas Carolling from the Southern Pennines Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, SFWCD40476 (CD, 1999)

Recordings made by Ian Russell. Some tracks previously appeared on A People's Carol or on cassettes published by Village Carols.

"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." Smithsonian Folkways website

Tracklist

Carollers from the Royal Hotel, Dungworth
1. Awake, Arise, Good Christians
2. Pentonville

Carollers from the Black Bull, Ecclesfield
3. Hark, Hark!
4. How Beautiful Upon the Mountain

Carollers from the Blue Ball Inn, Worrall
5. Sweet Chiming Bells
6. Star of Bethlehem

Carollers from the Fountain Inn, Ingbirchworth
7. Prodigal Son
8. Foster

Carollers from Castleton
9. Hark, Hark!
10. Shepherds Rejoice

The Little John Singers from Hathersage
11. Peace O'er the World
12. Hail Smiling Morn

Carollers from the Travellers Rest, Oughtbridge
13. Mount Zion
14. Jacob's Well

The Foolow Carollers
15. Raise, Christians, Raise
16. Marshall

The Coal Aston Carollers
17. Expectation
18. Lo! The Eastern Magi Rise

Beeston Methodist Carol Choir
19. Angels from the Realms
20. Three Harks

A Festival of Village Carols, Grenoside
21. The Christmas Tree
22. Merry Christmas