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All this time, carol for mixed voices (1970)

• Composition: 1970
First Performance: Unknown
Duration: Under 2 minutes
Text: Anonymous, sixteenth century
Tempo: Gioioso [99 m.]
Craggs Catalogue Number: C84
Performing Forces: Mixed chorus (SATB)
Manuscript: William Walton Museum, Forio d’Ischia. Autograph score in pencil.
Publication:
Oxford University Press. Vocal score, 1970, 019 3430029, Oxford Choral Songs # X201 (discontinued). Also included in the volume Carols for Choirs 2, 1970, 019 3535654.
[Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Carols for Choirs 2]
Oxford University Press. Edited by Timothy Brown. William Walton Edition, Volume 6, “Shorter Choral Works without Orchestra”, 1999, 019 3594323. Vocal score, 019 3594374. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Vocal score]
[Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: William Walton Edition, Volume 6]

Recordings:

Chorus Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington 1987 Nimbus NI 7021 1’53”
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Richard Marlow 1988 Conifer CDCF 164 1’49”
The Bach Choir Sir David Willcocks 1991 Chandos CHAN 8998 1’45”
The Finzi Singers Paul Spicer 1992 Chandos CHAN 9222 1’37”
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington 1992 Nimbus NI 5364 1’47”
Polyphony Stephen Layton 2002 Hyperion CDA67330 1’38”

 

Text:
        All this time this song is best:
        ‘Verbum caro factum est.’ [‘the Word is made flesh.’]

    This night there is a child y-born
    That sprang out of Jesse’s thorn;
    We must sing and say thereforn,

        All this time this song is best:
        ‘Verbum caro factum est.’

    Jesus is the childes name,
    And Mary mild is his dame;
    All our sorrow shall turn to game:

        All this time this song is best:
        ‘Verbum caro factum est.’

    It fell upon high midnight:
    The starres shone both fair and bright;
    The angels sang with all their might,

        All this time this song is best:
        ‘Verbum caro factum est.’

    Now kneel we down on our knee,
    And pray we to the Trinity
    Our help, our succour for to be;

        All this time this song is best:
        ‘Verbum caro factum est.’

    — Anonymous, sixteenth century