The Three Wassails were written over
a six year period and are designed for the portion of the Madrigal
Feaste or Renaissance Fair known as the "wassail toast" (see
Dr. Paul Brandvik's "The Compleet Madrigal Dinner Booke" (Curtis
Music Press). At the "feaste" or "fair" the
wassail song is sung in its entirety. After the "toast" by
the "King", "Lord of Misrule" or "Master
of Ceremonies", the third verse is generally repeated.
Gower Wassail has its origins in the
Gower Peninsula in Whales. The main seaport of the Gower Peninsula
is Swansea. It is generally sung on New Year's Eve or Twelfth
Night's (January 5th) Eve. The "wassailers" would carry
an earthen pitcher with wassail and share it with the occupants
of the homes they would carol, replenishing their pitcher with
the wassail of the host.
Canadian Wassail is based on the Huron
Indian carol "Jesous Ahatonhia". considered the first
Canadian Christmas carol. It was written by a Jesuit priest named
Jean De Brebeuf, who set his words to an old French tune which
he taught to the Huron in 1640. It was sung through 1649 when
Father Brebeuf was killed by the Iroquois and the Huron were
forced to flee to Quebec where the carol later re-emerged.
Somerset Wassail comes from the county
of Somerset in England. Surprisingly, Somerset lies just 20 miles
across the Bristol Channel from The Gower Peninsula. One of the
final verses (not included in this set) is thought to refer to
the invasion of the Danes in the ninth century.
Three Wassails
(Set I) -- $2.75
Gower, Canadian & Somerset, arrangement by Tyrrell
with SATB voicing.
School Choirs 10% Discount
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