By Jacqueline Kelly –
Carolling is an old Christmas tradition. It dates back to ancient Greece, and originates in the word “Choraulien” meaning “to dance to a flute”. By the Middle Ages, it meant “to sing and dance together””. However, thanks to Christmas, carolling became associated with Christmas songs.
The early Christmas music compositions are regarded as chants and hymns. Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the winter solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles such as Stonehenge and Avebury in the rural heart of Great Britain long before the arrival of Christianity.
As the Church struggled against the influences of pagan customs, the singing of carols was barred from sacred services. However, outside the Church, Nativity carols were written and became popular. Nearly all were simple folk songs created by people from the countryside.
Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived.
Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with bringing carols into the formal worship of the Church during a Christmas Midnight Mass in a cave in Greccio, in 1223. It is said that the music sung that night was similar to what we know as carols than to hymns. Carols enjoyed further development and popularity when they were used in the mystery plays of the Middle Ages. Eventually, the term was used to describe groups of musicians who sang and played for various civic events during the Christmas season.
Carol singing continued in Europe throughout the Medieval and Renaissance periods. When the teachings of Christ did eventually make their way into England, in the 6th century, pagan singing rituals evolved into songs, we recognise today as Christmas carols.
Queen Victoria could take credit for carolling, a custom that might well have originated in the land from which she ruled over half the globe.
The Catholic Church valued music greatly; early Christmas songs date from 4th century.
Medieval Christmas music followed Gregorian tradition. In Renaissance Italy, there emerged lighter and more joyous kind of Christmas songs, more like true carols [from the French word Caroler, meaning to dance in a ring]. These songs continued to be religious and in Latin, Luther wrote and composed his song “From Heaven above I come to You”. Music by Handel and Mendelssohn was adapted and used as Christmas carols.
The old Finnish/Swedish collection Piae Cantiones was translated and published in English in mid-19th century. In the 19th century and later many popular songs were written by composers.[e.g. Adam, Sibelius].
Silent Night was originally composed in Germany by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818. It sent out a message of peace, goodwill, love and universal brotherhood.
Little Drummer Boy – The song was originally known as “Carol of the Drum” and was composed by the American classical composer, Katherine Kennicott Davis, In 1941.