A lively tune called “Branle de l’Officiel” first appears in a book of French dances written in the 1500s. Four centuries later, it was turned into a Christmas carol called "Ding, Dong, Merrily on High."
In this hour, the story behind this and other songs of Christmas—including one that began as a celebration of spring flowers, as well as the original—and very different—“Silent Night.”
RECORDINGS USED| CD Title | Group/Artist | Catalog # | UPC |
| The Carol Album [for Branle L’Officiel, Silent Night, Veni Veni Emanuel] | Taverner Consort, Choir & Players; Andrew Parrott | EMI Classics CDC 7498092 | 077774980920 |
| Carols from Trinity [for Ding Dong Merrily on High] | Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, Robert Marlow | Conifer 75605 51754 2 | 756055175421 |
| Woods, Women And Wine [for Tempus adest Floridum] | Joculatores Upsalienses. | BIS-CD-120 | 7318590001202 |
| From Heaven Above [for Good King Wenceslas] | Deller Consort | RCA Victrola VICS-1376 | [From LP, no USC] |
| Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas [for In Dulci Jubilo] | Chanticleer | Chanticleer Records 8803 | 899653002055 |
| Songs of Angels [for Good Christian Men Rejoice, Deck the Halls] | Robert Shaw Chamber Singers | Telarc CD-80377 | 089408037726 |
| Rejoice! – A String Quartet Christmas [track 1 for ‘Joy to the World’ instrumental & break music, and track 13 for ‘Wenceslas’ promo] | Arturo Delmoni, Alexander Romanul, Katherine Murcock, Nathaniel Rosen | John Marks Records 12 | 717794709629 |
| Handel: Messiah [for Glory to God & Comfort Ye] | Dunedin Consort & Players, John Butt | Linn Records CKD 285 | 691062028523 |
| Nativity : Christmas Music From Georgian England [for Joy to the World] | Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra, Peter Holman | Hyperion CDA67443 | 034571174433 |
| The Colors of Christmas [for Joy to the World] | Bach Choir, Royal Phil-harmonic Orchestra; John Rutter | Decca 001609202 | 602527822129 |
| Christmastide [for Adeste Fidelis] | Jessye Norman | EMI Classics 49819 | 077774981927 |
| Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale [for God Rest You Merry Gentlemen] | Robert Shaw Chorale | RCA DMC2-1217 | [none] |
| The Chalice Well: English Traditional Music [for Doves Figary] | Idlewild | Idlewild Recordings 19891 | 634479042966 |
| While Shepherds Watched [for Wesley Rondo] | Timothy Roberts, Parley of Instruments | Hyperion CDA67443 | 034571174433 |
| Vaughan Williams: Christmas Music [for The First Nowell] | City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox | Chandos CHAN 10385 | 095115138526 |
| Puer Natus in Bethlehem [for Corde Natus] | Elmer Iseler Singers | CBC Records 1165 | 059582116524 |
| Traditional Christmas Carols Vol II [for Of the Father’s Heart Begotten] | The Sixteen | Coro COR16085 | 828021608520 |
| A Christmas Festival [for Nos Galan] | Elin Manahan Thomas, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; John Rutter | Collegium Records COLCD 133 | 040888013327 |
| O Come, All Ye Faithful | New York Choral Artists, Joseph Flummerfelt | EMI Classics CDC 7499082 | 077774990820 |
Comments