Another of the popular Sheffield selection and one form across the Atlantic it seems form the pen Of Charles Lewis Hutchins of Concord, New Hampshire born in 1838. He was fairly prolific, although this is from quite late in his life, published in 1916, four years before his death. Should you wish to know more about the right reverend, link here.
You can buy the December digital album now from all good download stores.
I understand from Hymns and Carols of Christmas that Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins was the collector and editor of ‘Carols Old and Carols New’ (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), not the author of the individual songs. The source listed there is ‘words from the “Parish Visitor”‘ which I presume was a parish newsletter.
What a lovely rousing start to Sunday. Doubt I’ll be singing it at church later though.
Thanks Reinhard, I can’t remember where I picked up the authorship and haven’t added a link. Some of these carols are hard to find much of substance about. I guess the subject tends to restrict them to hymnal usage and so often they are simply reposted for church purposes. If anyone can add to the story please do.
Reinhard’s Mainly Norfolk has this hymn attributed differently, to one William Mount of Worrell, a forbear of John Dawson:
http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/folk/songs/awakearisegoodchristians.html
Then again, it’s credited here to W F Sherwin:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mussm&fileName=sm/sm1871/11500/11507/mussm11507.db&recNum=0&itemLink=h?ammem/mussm:@field(NUMBER+@band(sm1871+11507))&linkText=0
Another cheerful hymn/carol sung with gusto.
@ Jane: Yes the sock started it all but we soon progressed to DI-vested and taffyphopia and its grown since then.
Thank you for clarifying what I had suspected that Reinhard was the RZ of Mainly Norfolk Music and whose work I have been taking computer printoffs off for some time now. Is that grammatical?
This mis-pelling and or rather mis-typing in most cases is spreading, what with Simon joining in on his information notes from the other day. He most definitely wrote “siad”.
@Muzza, carrying on from what Jane has written. I think as far as the “V” word is concerned we should ask you “to put a sock in it”. That might set you off on a new track hopefully. I must admit I thought your Vest Surrey was funny.
@Jane/Diana………….I porimse not to mnetion vset or scok eevr aaign…..and wilhe I’m at it….Hpapy Crhismats to all u good flok out threr.
Thank you Jane, i have added your link to W.F. Sherwins version to my webpage for this song (and have updated Prof. Russell’s comment to a more informative one from a more recent album).
[ And Diana, I don’t have any pink socks, only what the Eater of Socks has left. Usually that’s a red sock for the left foot and a green one for the right. Well suited for the Christmas season.
Up rose the simple shepherds, all with a joyful mind,
“Then let us go in haste,” they say, “This Holy Sock to find.” ]
@Muzza: I think we shall hold you to that porisme re: vset and scok but do thank you for your good wishes. I like to think that I have made a few unseen friends via the AFSAD site. So will send my message out later this week. By the way your spelling is atrocious, I hope you get a dictionary for Christmas.
@Reinhard: you certainly sound very colourful in the sock region. Mind you I don’t suppose they will show if your wear shoes. Pity! Actually you sound very elfish! Do your have a matching costume? Red one side and green the other. I don’t think pink would suit you at all.
You certainly have a lovely selection in Sheffield am really enjoying this month. Am also enjoying the banter going on about vests and socks, tis the silly season!
@diana: Sorry, I’m not very elfish on the outside besides the socks [which incidentally are going to be washed by my shepherds again tomorrow; this time in their renowned Lyngham laundry]; usually black slacks and a matching shirt, but no v-word. The Seven Hundred Elves are either on my Steeleye Span records, lurking in my Brewer’s and my Terry Pratchett novels, or dancing between my ears.
Reinhard you have disillusioned me, there was I thinking you of you as a colourful person but you are the man in black bereft of your red and green socks whilst the shepherds are busy washing them at the Lyngham laundry. I hope they do not use too hot water as red is liable to run. Please do not ask where.
Linda, Hi pleased to see you are still posting. You are right, it is the silly season but with some of us (no names mentioned) it lasts much longer than one would expect.
Has Colin become a AFSAD fan now? Also how’s his fractured finger coming along?
@ Reinhard: Honoured I am to have found something that you have added to Mainly Norfolk! For further info, the music is by one Fred. Schilling, which sounds just a little German to me! (Possibly Bavarian?)
Anyway, he is believed to have anonymously written (part of) the words for ‘Away In A Manger’ in return for a grandfather clock! He had eight (or nine) daughters. One of them, Eva Schilling, emigrated to the U.S. and her married name became Naething. Allegedly the grandfather clock is still within the family. Schilling composed many other carols as well.
The season when your eyes mist over thinking of past days…………a distinct lack of Janey epistles, Pewter sleeping in,John singing in the marches and Reinhard in flippant mood…..I’ll bite into my mince pie and weep.
Hey hey Muzza you have forgotten little Di – you naughty chap. Yes they were good times last year and all has changed quite drastically. More’s the pity.
Hymn sang excellently with choir.
@Diana..not forgottren…..you are keeping the ship afloat and not lost in the mists of time……hang in there
So you have not forgotten me then Muzza dear chap? Still pay a visit each day. There is a different song for each day and I have not heard this one for a year. So all new again.
Ahhhhhh….missing you Daina
ditto to that Muzza…..
The words are by the English poet Mary Botham Howitt (1799-1888) and were published in her book ‘Hymns and Fireside Verses’ (Darton & Clark, London, 1839) (1st and 2nd editions). A copy of the first edition is in the Newcastle University Library Special Collections. The hymn consists of 14 four-line verses, plus the first verse repeated at the end.
Mary Botham was born in Coleford, Gloucestershire, England in 1799. In 1821 she married William Howitt and lived in Heanor, Derbyshire where William was in business with his family. They moved to Nottingham in 1823. William was also a writer and by the 1830s was doing so full-time with his wife, having sold his share of the business. They then lived in London and travelled widely in Europe.
Oooooer….got a Salley Army ring to it….can almost hear the tambourines and trumpets….and the big drum