Hark! The Glad Sound of Cornish Carols – a new book for 2017
Having sung many carols popular in Cornwall over the years (starting with Lyngham as a teenager), I knew how special they were to this part of the world. I loved the canons and flourishes of the Victorian composers; the dance feel of the old ‘curls’ – ‘carol’ originally meant to ‘dance’; and the bare, plaintive harmonies of the mediaeval ones.
I began singing carols as an adult: Lyngham, then St Day and Redruth Wassail. I wanted to go carol singing and needed others to sing harmonies! So the Tregajorran Singers were formed in 1997, and I remember when we first tackled Merritt’s Hark the Glad Sound, we were so chuffed to get it up and running! Another carol we learnt was Awake Ye Nations which we got from a songbook from our Treggy Chapel, unaware that my Mum and Dad had also picked it up in Australia and were singing it in East Cornwall calling it Wakey Wakey! We now sing 25 Cornish carols but I am also aware of the many carols sitting unsung in the back of books such as Dunstan’s Cornish Song Book, Canow Kernow, and Strains of Ancient Mystery.
The Plan for this book will be similar to our previous publication, Shout Kernow which will be to travel to particular places to record the carols being sung in situ ‘where they do belong to be’, so Hellesveor in St Ives, and Rouse, Rouse in Padstow. As well as on particular occasions/events – Redruth Wassail, Bodmin Wassail, Picrous Eve, St Just Feast, etc. We also wanted to represent a variety of locations: church, chapel, pub, out on the street, people’s houses, etc. Carols are embedded in the communities. We hope to select ones that are most popular or meaningful to the area they come from or to the people who sing them.
The book will contain harmonised scores (as close as possible to what is recorded or written by the composer), two CDs of the songs sung in situ, backgrounds to the songs and composers and personal memories of the people who sing them plus pictures and photos old and new.
To help us with the costs of research we have produced a pack of 6 Cornish Christmas cards for sale at £5 (+ £1.50 P&P). Please contact Hilary at hilary-fenten@hotmail.co.uk if you would like to order a pack
Fenten 
November 20, 2015 at 9:53 am
I have CDs from Grass Valley, California, of their Cornish miners choir singing carols (we were there for the singing in 2013). You might be interested to see them. I can get them to you via Jenny C, my next door neighbour.
October 13, 2016 at 6:25 pm
An excellent project!
If you want to relate to any Cornish carols to the Yorkshire/Derbyshire tradition, I could help. For example, Lo! the Eastern Magi Rise is sung at Coal Aston in NE Derbyshire.
Hopefully you will distinguish between carols sung in tradition as opposed to those that only exist in MS or print.
I look forward to the finished results.
Ian Russell
PS I also have many Cornish carols in my archives from a number of collections.
October 18, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Hi Ian, thanks very much for your comment. It would be very interesting to compare notes! Perhaps I can send you a list of carols we’ll be using and see whether there are overlaps?
October 19, 2016 at 10:35 am
Yes, please do.
Best wishes
Ian
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Ian Russell, Professor Emeritus
The Elphinstone Institute
University of Aberdeen
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November 8, 2016 at 10:10 pm
Hi Ian my email is hilary-fenten@hotmail.co.uk if you could send me yours I can send you some info. Do you have any connection with Lancashire carols?
November 26, 2016 at 10:09 am
Getting far more excited in advance than is appropriate for a chap of my age. We have a couple of Grass Valley ‘Cornish miners choir’ LPs from late 1950s or early 1960s as well as a book of Cornish carol’s published in South Australia in early 20th century in addition to any local material Sue may have. Great project, nothing makes me feel I am where I belong to more than being able to sing the carols I love in company.
November 26, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Yes absolutely! Fascinating stuff – I really hope to be down your way soon! Will keep you posted. X
November 17, 2018 at 11:26 am
Where’s the best place to look for a listing of Cornish Carols Singing Sessions?
I know there is a FB listing, 2018 , but it doesn’t have any direct links
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1864370497139215?view=permalink&id=2244430765799851&ref=content_filter
November 17, 2018 at 11:55 am
Hi Freddy – there is no one central for Cornish carol dates. Every area does it’s own thing! But here are our dates around Redruth and you can contact me on my email hilary-fenten@hotmail.co.uk. Cheers Hilary
November
Saturday 24th – 6:30pm at the Town Clock. Redruth Wassail.
December
Sunday 2nd – 4:30pm, Redruth Carol Choir visits Flowerpot Chapel, Higher Fore Street area.
Sunday 2nd – 8pm. First & Last Carols. Countryman Inn, Piece, Redruth, TR16 6SG.
Tuesday 4th – 7pm. Carols with the Red Rivers at Waterstones Bookshop, Truro
Wednesday 5th – 7.30pm, Hark! Talk for Padstow Old Cornwall Society. Social Club, Padstow
Saturday 8th – 6.30pm. Carol Concert with the Red River Singers, Coer Heb Hanow & Tereba Nessa, Liberal Club, Camborne
Sunday 9th – 4:30pm, Redruth Carol Choir visits Plain an Gwarry area.
Wednesday 12th – 3.30pm. Gwinear Church Tree Festival with the Red River Singers, followed by tea in the church. Gwinear Church, TR27 5JZ
Thursday 13th – 7.30pm. Carol Concert with the Red River Singers, St Agnes Methodist Church, 30 British Road, St Agnes TR5 0UA.
Friday 14th – 4pm, Carols with the Redruth Carol Choir at the Old Fashioned Christmas in the Butter Market, Redruth
8pm – Carols with the Red River Singers, Plume of Feathers, Fore Street, Pool, Redruth TR15 3PF. Contact number for venue: 01209 713513.
Sunday 16th – 4:30pm, Redruth Carol Choir visits Albany Rd, Treruffe Hill area (followed by Baptist Church Carol Concert – all welcome)
Wednesday 19th – 1-2pm. Hark! talk. Truro Museum, 25 River Street, Truro, TR1 2SJ.
Thursday 20th – Evening. Diaspora Carols, Truro Cathedral, 14 St Mary’s Street, Truro, TR1 2AF. Including the Redruth Carol Choir, http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/whats-on/carols-from-the-cornish-diaspora
Friday 21st – 6.30pm. Carol Concert with the Red River Singers, Trevenson Church, Church Road, Pool, Redruth TR15 3PT.
Sunday 23rd – 4:30pm, Redruth Carol Choir visits Trewirgie, West End area
January
Saturday 5th – 3pm onwards, Degol Stul (12th Night Feast), Red Rivers singing around 6pm, Grampound Village Hall
Sunday 6th – 8pm, First & Last Carols. Countryman Inn, Piece, Redruth, TR16 6SG.U
November 28, 2019 at 12:43 am
^^ Thanks.
If you’ve got any dates for 2019 & wanted the posting elsewhere Neil Caldwell has got a page @ http://www.localcarols.org.uk/other.php – there’s an email link there.
November 28, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Thanks – we have put some dates on to his Facebook page
November 10, 2020 at 9:36 pm
I have only just come across this site and the project. The Hark! Tis a glad sound project sounds fantastic! and I shall certainly be purchasing a copy of the book from the publisher.
I am currently researching Carols/Carol Singing and Festivals of Nine Lessons and Carols for an MA dissertation. I am interested in how the use of Carols help to tell the Christmas story and how their use can help those who perhaps don’t have a strong faith can be taught by them. And also why carols are still so popular and carol services can be used by churches as a tool for mission and outreach.
November 23, 2020 at 3:58 pm
Dear Andrew – delighted you’ve found our blog and hope you enjoy the book too! We do mention the Nine Lessons and Carols in our book so I hope it’s helpful for your dissertation. All the best, Hilary