"Love came down at Christmas" "Love came down at Christmas (Cariad ddaeth y 'Dolig)" [Mansel Thomas]

"Love came down at Christmas" "Love came down at Christmas (Cariad ddaeth y 'Dolig)" [Mansel Thomas]

First line of lyrics: Love came down at Christmas / Cariad ddaeth y 'Dolig

Thomas, Mansel; music (Welsh, 1909-1986)

Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)

Thomas, Huw S.; translated text

1961 [composition]; 1962 [publication] [copyright]; 1986 [English/Welsh version copyright]

London: Oxford University Press [English]; Gwent: Mansel Thomas Trust Publications [English/Welsh]

genre: carol|choral music|Christmas music|song|sacred music

chorus: SATB chorus

instrumentation: a cappella

initial sharps/flats: one sharp

initial time signature: 2/4 3/4

origin: United Kingdom

male composer|male translator

English|Welsh

Rossetti poem(s): "Christmastide"

Composition history: Editorial note on the English/Welsh score: "'This carol was written in a matter of minutes just before Christmas, 1961 for performance by the Glendower Singers, Mansel Thomas's chamber choir at the BBC in Cardiff where he was Head of Music. The composer was a superb miniaturist and the ease and spontaneity of the part-writing here are profoundly enhanced by the subtle blend of duple and triple patterns that form the rhythmic foundation. Never far away too are the touches of modality which colour the language of so much of his music and which underline the climactic third verse of this lovely little gem.' T.G-J. (Nov. 1991)"

Tempo markings: "With a gentle flow"; "With a gentle flow (quarter note = c. 108)" (English/Welsh)

Dedication: "For Alun Watkin-Jones" (English version)

Format 1: vocal score

2 pages; performance time 1 minute 20 seconds

In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4572

Reference: Gooch, Bryan N.S. and David S. Thatcher. Musical Settings of Early and Mid-Victorian Literature: A Catalogue. New York: Garland, 1979.

Other data reference(s): Record for "Love came down at Christmas = Cariad ddaeth y 'Dolig : a carol for mixed voices (unaccompanied)." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/43234185. Accessed 4 Nov. 2018.

Cataloguer: Jennifer Frederick, University of Ottawa

musical score in English: Royal College of Music, London

musical score in English and Welsh: British Library, London

Record: CRM-christmastide-thomas

"© Oxford University Press 1962" (English); "© Copyright in all countries, 1986. M. Thomas" (English/Welsh)

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