Dickens Christmas Carol 2011

Fri Dec 9, 7-9 pm

McGill Library - see http://www.bpl.bc.ca/events/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol

Score book: Christmas In Song (available at Long & McQuade for $4.40)

These recordings are just "scratch tracks" to help you learn your part - my apologies for crummy quality, my squeaky soprano, bass parts sung an octave up, etc. 

In performance order:

p. 59 God Rest Ye Merry - top of Act I, into Stave 1 "Marley was dead."

verses 1, 3, and 4 only

Note: "Ye" not "you" merry gentlemen

In 2/2 (not 4/4)

Sop Alto Tenor Bass

p. 42 We Three Kings - into Stave 2, Marley's Ghost

verses 1 & 4 only

Note: "thy" (not "the") perfect light

Sop Alto Tenor Bass

p. 25 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - into Stave 3, Ghost of Christmas Past

All verses; verse 3 softer, verse 4 stronger

Notes: in 2/2 (not 4/4)

Sop Alto Tenor Bass

p. 4 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - into Intermission

Verses 1, 2, and 4 only; verse 2 softer, verse 4 stronger

Notes: "The" (not "a") midnight clear; Babel = "babble"; good will to "all" (not "men")

Sop Alto Tenor Bass

p. 10 Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly - top of Act II, into Stave 4 Pt 1 Ghost of Christmas Present at Cratchits'

All verses

Notes: Deck the "halls" (not "hall")

Sop part "Don we now our gay apparel, fa la la, la la la" (not "fa la la la")

Sop Alto Tenor Bass

p. 43 Good King Wenceslas -into Stave 4 Pt 2 Ghost of Christmas Present at Scrooge's Nephew's

Verses 1,3,and 5 only

In 2/2 (not 4/4)

Note: "shone" = "shawn", "all ye folk" (not "Christian men")

Sop Alto Tenor Bass

p. 27 Lully Lullay Thou Little Tiny Child (Coventry Carol) - into Stave 5, Ghost of Christmas Future (death of Scrooge & Tiny Tim, Scrooge's repentance)

All verses - verse 1 soft, verse 2 stronger, verse 3 soft

Notes: "Lully, lullay thou little tiny child" (not "lullay thou little tiny child")

Hemiola rhythm restored to "Bye Bye" phrases (listen to examples)

Sop part sing last note of song as G for verses 1, 2, & 3, sing B natural only in verse 4

Tenor part sing last note of first phrase as G, not B flat (every verse)

Sop Alto Tenor Bass

p. 15 We Wish You a Merry Christmas - end of show, audience sings along

Notes: "Good tidings we bring to you and your kin" (not "good tidings to you wherever you are")

verse 1 AND ADDING two more verses:

verse 2: Oh bring us a figgy pudding (x3) and a cup of good cheer

verse 3: We won't go until we get some (x3) so bring some out here

And repeat verse 1 again

Sop Alto Tenor Bass

Script and other interesting info is at http://www.cbc.ca/christmascarol/

A good reading of it is at 

http://www.cbc.ca/labradormorning/2010carol.html