by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832)
On Christmas Eve the bells were rung
Language: English
On Christmas Eve the bells were rung; On Christmas Eve the mass was sung; That only night, in all the year, Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear. The damsel donned her kirtle sheen; The hall was dressed with holly green; Forth to the wood did merry-men go, To gather in the mistletoe. Then opened wide the baron's hall To vassal, tenant, serf, and all; Power laid his rod of rule aside, And Ceremony doffed his pride.
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Text Authorship:
- by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), "On Christmas Eve the bells were rung", appears in Marmion [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927), "On Christmas Eve", 1988, published 1991, first performed 1988 [SATB chorus and brass (three trumpets, three trombones) or piano], from A Feast for Christmas, no. 3, Charlene Archibeque Choral Series, Santa Barbara Music Publishing [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2013-05-22
Line count: 12
Word count: 77