An exploration of Coventry Carol.
Introduction:
Happy Holidays! Coventry Carol is a lullaby to a “little tiny child”…but surprisingly, that child is NOT Jesus. Also, whereas Jingle Bells is a “sleighing song,” this is a “slaying song.” Learn more about this Christmas carol that was almost lost to time, including the history of modern Western Theatre and the origins of the picardy third, in this final episode of the second season of Folk Files.
The Patreon blog post for this episode explores other very old Christmas songs, including a song that only exists because it was used as a bookmark in another ancient manuscript. To access the blog through a one-time donation, click here.
To listen to the full episode, head to the audio player on the homepage or find your preferred podcast platform on the About page!
Host: Olivia Harding
Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast
Special thanks to Aaron J. Morton
Musical Excerpts:
The Sixteen
“The Coventry Carol”
https://youtu.be/_jIYyPOoEc8?si=mgPi4WH4G9LUnMT7
Sting (from A Winter’s Night Live from Durham Cathedral)
“Coventry Carol”
https://youtu.be/hahwYqQd_gA?si=wJR4Qz-ZmUW9IaD2
Nora Fischer and Marnix Dorrestein
“Oblivion Soave” from Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea
https://youtu.be/JTHQqJDV4os?si=820upsG60MJJyC5M
Jeanette Blakeley
“Lullaby” from Menotti’s The Consul
https://youtu.be/nImWN8o1f-E?si=Coj_UsTcod6m1Bbr
Barry and Beth Hall
“Coventry Carol”
https://youtu.be/JCFg4S3kSV4?si=CleozvHduvVsAAxB
Chicago
“Wishing You Were Here”
https://youtu.be/Zv0OwvsP0ek?si=cVc25wbawFlT7pkw
The Zombies
“Time of the Season”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8ecsAI3FhY
Alison Moyet
“The Coventry Carol”
https://youtu.be/kcrYqDqCN_Y?si=DoKE80e3peRMtvSo
The Choir of Magdalen College Oxford
“Song of the Nuns of Chester”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0UtKzXb9Js
The Cambridge Singers
“Coventry Carol” (composed by Kenneth Leighton)
https://youtu.be/uAA0lZ1YG90?si=VQYE2a0KSeFhZGks
Sufjan Stevens
“Coventry Carol”
https://youtu.be/o6492UYw_hs?si=U0k6ZlmkfoIcULct