What cheer?

A Christmas carol

for unaccompanied mixed voices

General Information – Performing Forces – Manuscript – Publication – Recordings – Text

General Information:

Composition:
1961

First Performance:
Unknown

Duration:
About 1 minute

Text:
Anonymous, sixteenth century. From Richard Hill's Commonplace Book.
Click here for complete text.

Tempo:
Allegretto  [72 m.]

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C73

Performing Forces:

Mixed chorus (SATB)

Manuscript:

There is no known surviving manuscript.

Publication:

Oxford University Press. Vocal score, 1962, 019 3428903, Oxford Choral Songs # X90 (discontinued). Also included in the volume Carols for Choirs, 1961, 019 3532220.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Carols for Choirs 1]

Oxford University Press. Edited by Timothy Brown. William Walton Edition, Volume 6, "Shorter Choral Works without Orchestra", 1999, 019 3594323. Vocal score, 019 3594382.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Vocal score]
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: William Walton Edition, Volume 6]

Recordings:

Chorus Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Dale Warland Singers Dale Warland 1986 Gothic G 49231 1'16"
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington 1987 Nimbus NI 7021 1'26"
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Richard Marlow 1988 Conifer CDCF 164 1'19"
The Bach Choir Sir David Willcocks 1991 Chandos CHAN 8998 1'17"
The Finzi Singers Paul Spicer 1992 Chandos CHAN 9222 1'11"
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington 1992 Nimbus NI 5364 1'20"
Cambridge Singers John Rutter 1995 Collegium 302  
Polyphony Stephen Layton 1996 Hyperion CDH55216 1'04"
Polyphony Stephen Layton 2002 Hyperion CDA67330 1'06"

 

Text:

What cheer? Good cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year!

'Lift up your hearts and be glad
In Christ's birth', the angel bade,
Say each to other, if any be sad:
            'What cheer?'

Now the King of heav'n his birth hath take,
Joy and mirth we ought to make;
Say each to other, for his sake:
            'What cheer?'

I tell you all with heart so free:
Right welcome, welcome, ye be to me;
Be glad and merry, for charity!

What cheer? Good cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year!

                        — Anonymous, sixteenth century

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Choral Music