A Psaltery Christmas

A PSALTERY CHRISTMAS contains a collection of well known songs as well as some beautiful old carols. I decided to keep my choices of music for this book religious rather than secular. There is no Santa Claus and there are no reindeer here, just the essence of a traditional Christmas. The songs are chosen for their beauty and because they go well on the psaltery. Some of these carols have obscure beginnings, and there is often a lot of conflicting information about them. For example, why are the three wise men referred to as the Kings of Cologne? And how do three ships fit into what is essentially a desert environment? I’ve tried to find something interesting about each one of the carols, and I have also included some alternate lyrics. The songs include: Angels We Have Heard on High, Away in a Manger, Bring a Torch, The Carol of the Birds, The Cherry Tree Carol, The Coventry Carol, The Cradle Song, Ding Dong Merrily on High, The First Noel, The Friendly Beasts, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The Golden Carol, Good King Wenceslas, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, I Saw Three Ships, In Dulci Jubilo, In the Bleak Midwinter, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, O Holy Night, Sing we Now of Christmas, Still Still Still, We Three Kings, What Child is This? Whereas the Rose of Jericho, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks.