Festive Favourites
by GreenMatthews
mikemikemikemike
mikemikemikemike
Saw them live - wonderful, just wonderful music and rapport - this album is a perfect accompaniment for the season (I don't think there was a day without it on over winter).
Favorite track: The Sans Day Carol.
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Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
A compilation of our favourite tracks from our first three albums - "A Victorian Christmas", "A Medieval Christmas" and "A Brief History of Christmas".Purchasable with gift card£7 GBP or more
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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital AlbumA compilation of our favourite tracks from our first three albums A Victorian Christmas, A Medieval Christmas A Brief History of Christmas.
Includes unlimited streaming of Festive Favourites via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.ships out within 1 day£12 GBP or more
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Full Digital Discography
Get all 13 GreenMatthews releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Songs of the Sea, Festive Favourites, The Wind in the Willows, Virtual Wassail, Midwinter Revels, Roots&Branches, Come Again! Sweet Love Doth Now Invite (live), A Christmas Carol: A Folk Opera, and 5 more.
Purchasable with gift card£63 GBP (25% OFF)
1. |
Noel Nouvelet/Nos Galan
03:29
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2. |
The Sans Day Carol
04:59
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Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,
And Mary bore Jesus, all wrapped up in silk,
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly! Holly!
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!
Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross,
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly! Holly!
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!
Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all,
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly! Holly!
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!
Now the holly bears a berry as blood is it red,
And Mary bore Jesus who rose from the dead,
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly! Holly!
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!
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3. |
Angelus ad Virginem
03:53
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4. |
Gower Wassail
03:51
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A-wassail, a-wassail throughout all the town
Our cup it is white and our ale it is brown
Our wassail is made of the good ale and cake
Some nutmeg and ginger, the best we could bake
Fol the dol, fol the dol, fol the dol, fol the di-do
Drink and be merry, it's a jolly wassail
Our wassail is made of the elderberry bough
And so my good neighbors we'll drink unto thou
Besides all on earth, you have apples in store
Pray let us come in for it's cold by the door
We hope that your apple trees prosper and bear
So that we may have cider when we call next year
And where you have one barrel we hope you'll have ten
So that we may have cider when we call again
There's a master and a mistress sitting down by the fire
While we poor wassail boys stand here in the mire
Come you pretty maid with your silver headed pin
Pray open the door and let us come in
It's we poor wassail boys so weary and cold
Please drop some small silver into our bowl
And if we survive for another new year
Perhaps we may call and see who does live here
We know by the moon that we are not too soon
And we know by the sky that we are not too high
And we know by the star that we are not too far
And we know by the ground that we are within sound
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5. |
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Now the winter is come with its cold chilly breath
And the leaves do fall from the trees
All nature is touched with the finger of death
And the streams do begin for to freeze
When the wanton young boys on the water do slide
And the frost overcovers the moor
When with health rich enjoy everything that is good
That's the time to remember the poor
When the poor harmless hare to the woods may be traced
by the print he has left in the snow
When our lips and our toes are turned blue with the frost
And the sportsmen a shooting do go
When a poor Robin Redbreast approaches our cot
And icicles hang o'er the door
When the bright twinkling stars proclaim a cold night
That's the time to remember the poor
O the time will draw nigh when the seasons on Earth
All the world will agree with one voice
All nations unite to salute the new morn
And the ends of the Earth will rejoice
When death is deprived of his cold chilly sting
And the grave is a terror no more
When angels and men alleluja shall sing
Then the rich will lie down with the poor
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6. |
The Bagpipe Carol
03:48
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This is a weary road we're on;
Cheer it up with a story,
This is a weary road we're on;
Cheer it up with a story,
And with the pipe and tambourine,
Wake up a din of glory.
Sing we Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Nowell, with pipes and chanters.
Tis not so far as I supposed,
Here we are at the manger.
Tis not so far as I supposed,
Here we are at the manger.
Take off your hat, the first that goes
To hail the holy Stranger.
Strike up a fire and take my pan,
Hot up sheep-milk and water
Strike up a fire and take my pan,
Hot up sheep-milk and water
Put lambskin round the Little Man,
Come stir yourself, my daughter.
Now golden headed Mary Maid
Take comfort and God speed ye,
Now golden headed Mary Maid
Take comfort and God speed ye,
We'll take our leave, but be not 'fraid
We'll never see ye needy.
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7. |
Bethlehem Down
03:09
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When He is King we will give him the King's gifts,
Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,
"Beautiful robes", said the young girl to Joseph
Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down.
Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight
Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold,
Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
When He is King they will clothe Him in grave-sheets,
Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,
He that lies now in the white arms of Mary
Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down.
Here He has peace and a short while for dreaming,
Close-huddled oxen to keep Him from cold,
Mary for love, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
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8. |
Mirie It Is
02:47
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Mirie it is while sumer is last
and fugheles song.
oc nu necheth windes blast
and weder strong.
Ey ey what this nicht[is long.
And ich with wel michel wrong
soregh and murne and fast
(Translation) Merry it is while summer lasts
With bird's song.
But now nears the wind’s blast
And weather strong.
Oh, oh! How this night is long!
And I with very much wrong
Sorrow and mourn and fast.
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9. |
Gaudete
02:49
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Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Tempus ad est gratiae hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina laetitiae devote redamus.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Deus homo factus est naturam erante,
Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Ezecheelis porta clausa per transitor
Unde lux est orta sallus invenitor.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Ergo nostra contio psallat jam in lustro,
Benedicat domino sallas regi nostro.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
Gaudete, gaudete Christos est natus
Ex Maria virginae, gaudete.
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10. |
Bring Us In Good Ale
04:22
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Bring us in good ale, bring us in good ale;
For our blessed Lady’s sake, bring us in good ale.
Bring us in no brown bread, for that is made of bran,
Nor bring us in no white bread, for therein is no gain.
Bring us in no beef, for there is many bones,
But bring us in good ale, for that goes down at once.
Bring us in no bacon, for that is passing fat,
But bring us in good ale and give us enough of that.
Bring us in no mutton, for that is passing lean,
And bring us in no tripes, for they be seldom clean.
Bring us in no eggs, for there are many shells,
But bring us in good ale, and give us nothing else.
Bring us in no butter, for there are many hairs;
And bring us in no pig’s flesh, for that will make us bears.
Bring us in no puddings, for there is all God’s good;
Nor bring us in no venison, that is not for our blood.
Bring us in no capon’s flesh, for that is often dear;
Nor bring us in no duck’s flesh, they slobber in the mire.
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11. |
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God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name:
O tidings ...
But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this Infant lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray:
O tidings ...
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface:[28]
O tidings ...
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12. |
The Holly and The Ivy
04:28
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The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as the lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to do us sinners good.
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To redeem us all.
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
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13. |
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Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;
Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.
Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man's nature
To call my true love to my dance.
In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.
Then afterwards baptized I was;
The Holy Ghost on me did glance,
My Father’s voice heard I from above,
To call my true love to my dance.
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14. |
Under the Mistletoe
03:46
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A grand and jolly old custom you will find at Christmas time
In every house you go hangs a bunch of mistletoe
You find in hanging upon the wall and every charming miss
She's always hovering round it for a kiss.
At first you kiss the master then the daughters three or four
And then you kiss the maiden aunt who's never been kissed before
Under the mistletoe, under the mistletoe
Young maids, old maids, dearly love to go
Oh did you ever, ever hear a girl say no
When you whisper come and kiss me
Under the mistletoe
The sweet and spoony young couple, well, they all enloy the fun
They wander to and fro underneath the mistletoe
And when the couple are man and wife the following Christmastide
Before them all he'll boldly kiss the bride
Another Christmas day comes round and then the happy pair
They're at the same old game but now they're kissing a son and heir
Now there's the grumpy old batch'lor who's in diggings all alone
The servant gives a grin as she brings the Turkey in
A feeling then overcomes him he has seldom felt before
He sees the mistletoe up above the door.
He gives the girl a Christmas box then steals a kiss with glee.
It's only once a year of course, he likes it and so does she.
The sweet kiss under the mistletoe will always be the thing
It gives the modest miss excuses for a kiss
You kiss her under the parlour stairs her dignity she'll show
She likes it underneath the mistletoe.
A bunch of mistletoe's the thing to give you perfect bliss.
I always carry some myself. Would anyone like a kiss?
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15. |
The Lockdown Carol
03:16
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In times past we’d come to your door and we’d sing you
A song in exchange for some bread, cheese and ale
But in times such as these we’re forbidden to visit
So we welcome you humbly to our Virtual Wassail
We have not travelled far - in fact, just from the kitchen -
And we stand here before you in our living room
In front of a webcam, a mike and a MacBook
And we humbly entreat you - click ‘admit’ on Zoom
Of this year we are weary but let us be cheery
For it soon will be over and gone
So raise up your glasses and drink to the New Year
And we wish you Wassail! each and everyone
There’s a master and mistress sat down on the sofa
In fact, there are dozens stacked neatly in rows
We hope that your Apples continues to prosper
And likewise your PCs, iPads and smartphones
Of this year we are weary but let us be cheery
For it soon will be over and gone
So raise up your glasses and drink to the New Year
And we wish you Wassail! each and everyone
So look forward with hope to the twelvemonth that’s coming
And away with this festering boil of a year
For the fire is burning and the world is still turning
And despite all its efforts we’re still bloody here
Of this year we are weary but let us be cheery
For it soon will be over and gone
So raise up your glasses and drink to the New Year
And we wish you Wassail! each and everyone
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16. |
Personet Hodie
05:05
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1. Personent hodie voces puerulæ
Laudantes iucundė qui nobis est natus,
Summo Deo datus, et de vir-vir-vir,
et de vir-vir, et de virgineo ventre procreatus.
2. In mundo nascitur, pannis inuoluitur,
Præsepi ponitur stabulo brutorum,
Rector supernorum, perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.
3. Magi tres venerunt, paruulum inquirunt,
Stellulam sequendo, ipsum adorando,
Aurum, thus, & myrrham ei offerendo.
4. Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri,
Cantent vt angeli, aduenisti mundo,
Laudes tibi fundo. Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.
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credits
released December 15, 2022
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
GreenMatthews Coventry, UK
Chris Green and Sophie Matthews play English traditional songs and tunes in a thoroughly 21st-century kick-ass style. Using a blend of ancient instruments such as cittern, English bagpipes and shawm as well as modern folk instruments such as guitar, flute and piano accordion, they breathe new life into material from hundreds of years ago, making it fresh and relevant for a modern audience. ... more
shows
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Jun 19Hoddesdon, UK
discography
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Jul 2023 -
Dec 2022 -
Jun 2021 -
Dec 2020
contact / help
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