Kilmore carols – Irish christmas carols

I Kilmore carols sono una serie di canti natalizi che si cantano tradizionalmente solo nella contea di Wexford (Irlanda). La tradizione ebbe inizio con don Peter Devereux quando divenne parroco di Kilmore verso il 1750: da allora nella chiesa parrocchiale di Santa Maria ad ogni Messa (durante la comunione), sei uomini di cui almeno uno è membro della famiglia Devereux, cantano 12 inni, uno per ogni giorno del periodo natalizio, (+1 per la notte di Natale).

I testi sono racchiusi in due collezioni chiamate “ghirlande” la prima di Luke Waddinge, vescovo di Ferns, risalente al 1684 – A Smale Garland of Pious and Godly Songs, Composed by a devout Man, for the Solace of his Freinds and neighbours in their afflictions- ; la seconda di don William Devereux (1) (1696-1771) risalente al 1728 – A New Garland, containing Songs for Christmas.
Le ghirlande Waddinge e Devereux sono scritte in inglese e contengono i testi di ventidue canzoni natalizie. Di queste 12 sono state trasmesse oralmente, mentre molte altre melodie sono andate perdute.

Diarmaid O Muirithe, che ha riunito e curato una raccolta di tutti i Wexford Carols (The Wexford Carols, Dolmen Press, 1982) osserva: “Erano cantati nella maggior parte delle chiese del sud di Wexford nel XVIII secolo, e anche nel XIX secolo. Penso che sia un vero peccato che ora non vengano più cantate fuori Kilmore.”

(1) parroco di Drinagh dal 1730 al 1771 data della sua morte. secondo la narrazione non aveva una chiesa e nemmeno una cappella in cui officiare la messa per il suo gregge di cattolici e celebrava all’aperto nella campagna con un tettuccio provvisorio a coprire l’altare

[English translation]
Kilmore carols are a series of christmas carols traditionally sung only in County Wexford (Ireland). This irish tradition began with Father Peter Devereux when he became parish priest of the village around 1750: since then in the parish church of Santa Maria at every Mass (during the communion), six men of which at least one is a member of the Devereux family, sing 12 hymns, one for each day of the Christmas period (+ one for Christmas night).

The texts are contained in two collections called “garlands” the first of Luke Waddinge, bishop of Ferns, dating back to 1684 – A Smale Garland of Pious and Godly Songs, Composed by a devout Man, for the Solace of his Freinds and neighbors in their afflictions –; the second of Father  William Devereux (1696-1771) dating back to 1728 – A New Garland, containing Songs for Christmas.
The Waddinge and Devereux Garlands are written in English and contain lyrics for twenty-two Christmas songs. Of these 12 were transmitted orally, while many other melodies have been lost.

Diarmaid O Muirithe, who has assembled and edited a collection of all the Wexford Carols (The Wexford Carols, Dolmen Press, 1982) observes: “They were sung in most of the churches of south Wexford in the 18th century, and even well into the 19th century. I think it’s a great pity that they’re now no longer sung outside Kilmore.”

(1) parish priest of Drinagh from 1730 to 1771 date of his death. according to the narrative he did not have a church or even a chapel in which to officiate mass for his flock of Catholics and he celebrated outdoors in the countryside with a temporary roof covering the altar

WORK IN PROGRESS

  1. An Angel This Night
  2. The Angel Said to Joseph Mild
  3. Behould Three Kings Come From the East
  4. Christmas Day Is Come
  5. The Darkest Midnight (Christmas night)
  6. The First Day of the Year
  7. To Greet Our Saviour’s Dear One/A Carol For St. John’S Day
  8. Hail Ye Flowers of Martyrs
  9. Jerusalem, Our Happy Home
  10. The Night Of The Nativity
  11. Now To Conclude Our Christmas Mirth
  12. On Christmas Night All Christians Sing
  13. St. Stephen Had An Angel’S Face
  14. Sweetest of All Names, Jesus
  15. Tell Shepherds
  16. This Christmass Day You Pray Me Sin/This Great Mysterie
  17. This Feast of St Sylvester So Well Deserves a Song
  18. This is our Christmas Day
  19. This is St Stephen’s Day/On St. Stephen’S Day
  20. A Virgin Queen in Bethlehem
  21. Wexford carol *
  22. Ye Sons of Men with Me Rejoice
  • not in the Garlands

Scrive Caitríona O’Leary nel libretto di The Wexford Carols 2014
“Nel 1684 Luke Waddinge, vescovo di Ferns, Co. Wexford, pubblicò “A Smale Garland of Pious & Godly Songs in Ghent”. Scritte come conforto per gente come lui, la nobiltà cattolica irlandese diseredata, le poesie di Waddinge sono arrangiate su melodie popolari del momento, sia irlandesi che Inglesi (perché, nonostante la politica, la musica ha un potere così straordinario e senza confini, e una buona melodia è sempre una buona melodia!). I canti divennero così popolari che furono ristampati due volte nel successivo mezzo secolo. Al canto di questi inni natalizi semi-illegali sotto le Penal Laws è stato dato ulteriore slancio da Don William Devereux che, nel 1728, compose una nuova ghirlanda natalizia. Queste due raccolte, insieme alla famosa Enniscorthy Carol, formano il repertorio del canto natalizio tradizionale nella contea di Wexford.”

Caitríona O’Leary from booklet in The Wexford Carols 2014 
“In 1684 Luke Waddinge, Bishop of Ferns, Co. Wexford, published A Smale Garland of Pious & Godly Songs in Ghent. Written as a solace for people like him, disinherited Irish Catholic gentry, Waddinge’s poems are set to popular tunes of the day, both Irish &
English (because, in spite of politics, music has such tremendous, borderless power, and a good tune is always a good tune!). The carols became so popular that they were reprinted twice over the next half-century. The singing of these semi-illicit carols from the penal times was given further momentum by Fr. William Devereux who, in 1728, composed A New Garland Containing Songs for Christmas. These two collections, along with the famous Enniscorthy Carol, form the repertoire of a tradition of carol singing in Co. Wexford.”

See https://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/922-christmas-tv-past/287756-kilmore-carols/

In this report from ‘The Arts Programme’ a choir of six local men, all related to each other is profiled. The choir sing ancient carols and religious songs in Kilmore church, County Wexford maintaining a family tradition. The men are Jack Devereaux, Johnny Devereaux, Liam Shield, Jimmy Kehoe, Tim Revell and Jack Busher.  The voiceover is by the RTÉ reporter Diurmuid O’Muirithe who mentions the various careers the six men are or were involved in. The songs are in the Yola language which is unique to Wexford.

Albums

LINK
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/life-society/traditions-and-customs/the-kilmore-carols/the-carols-of-william-dev/
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/the-kilmore-carollers-1.228070
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Images/Wadding_Devereux/christmas_carols_of_waddinge_and.htm
http://villagecarols.org.uk/links/kilmore-traditional-singers.pdf

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Pubblicato da Cattia Salto

Amministratore e folklorista di Terre Celtiche Blog. Ha iniziato a divulgare i suoi studi e ricerche sulla musica, le danze e le tradizioni d'Europa nel web, dapprima in maniera sporadica e poi sempre più sistematicamente sul finire del anni 90

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