Yuletide Sketches - Clifton Taylor

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Three Yuletide Sketches is composer Clifton Taylor’s treatment of a trio of sixteenth-century melodies associated with Christmas texts.

OLD CORNISH CAROL is a traditional Cornish melody that has been used for a number of hymn texts including, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day. In the carol, Christ Himself is the speaker, telling the story of salvation from His point of view. In the refrain which follows every verse, He invites His “true love” (those saved by His grace) to join His dance.

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:
Refrain: Sing, O my love. This have I done for my true love.
Both the words and tune of On This Day Earth Shall Ring originally appeared in Piae Cantiones, a collection of late medieval Latin songs first published in 1582. The verses of the carol were translated into English by Jane M. Joseph in 1924, while the refrain is sung in the original Latin:

On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing to the Lord, Christ our King, Born on earth to save us; Him the Father gave us.
Refrain: Ideo, Gloria in excelsis Deo! (Therefore, Glory to God in the highest!)

The third movement of the set is perhaps the most well-known today, no doubt due to its relatively recent publication in 1924. While  English lyricist George Woodward’s verses were
penned a mere century ago, the associated tune is from a much older source, Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchésographie, a treatise on late sixteenth-century French social dancing published in 1588.

Ding, dong! merrily on high; in heav’n the bells are ringing.
Ding, dong! verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.

Refrain: Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis

Standard Wind Ensemble

6:56