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Orchestral
Prelude
The pageant begins as a gong sounds the hour. The prelude, arranged from
an English folk song, is based on "The Cherry Tree Carol" in
which Jesus, from within the womb, charges a cherry tree to bend down
its branches to Mary. Apocryphal stories like this were popular among
traveling mendicant friars in the Middle Ages.
Procession of the Beefeaters
The heavy tread of the Beefeaters - traditional guardians of the king
- sound as they enter to begin their watch.
As
Dew In Aprille, Anonymous, 13th Century
...is probably the oldest carol in the Boar’s Head Ceremony
 The
Yule Sprite Comes
Into the darkened church comes a sprite bearing the tiny light of a burning
taper. From it, the Dean lights the great Festival candle and holds it
high so that all may feel its blessed light on their shoulders. This symbolizes
the coming of Christ into an enlightened world. The light is given to
the Church not only to preserve, but to extend it throughout the Earth.
The Boar's Head
Procession
A trumpet sounds. Led by a minstrel, a noble company of knights and attendants
brings the boar's head with its many accoutrements. At length the conquered
enemy is presented near the altar. A long line of companies follows the
slain boar.
Play Clip > > >
The Boar's Head
Carol, Traditional, 16th Century |
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The Boar's Head Carol is a
variant of a carol from Wynken de Worde's "New Christmasse Carolles"
of 1521, which is sung at Queen's College, Oxford. Our version includes
three verses written by parishioner Eric Van Hagen in 1961.
Play Clip > > >
Good King Wenceslas,
Piae Cantiones, 1582 |
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The Yule Log
A prayer for God’s keeping accompanies the gayest and brightest
of medieval holiday customs, the yule log. The huge log was gathered with
ceremony, and brought with hope to the home hearth where it was kindled
from embers from the old year’s fire. Its blazing warmth spoke of
rekindled love and promise for the year to come.
Play Clip > > >
Deck the Halls,
Traditional Welsh |
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The Waits
 Sons
of Eve, Spanish, 16th Century
Exuberant in spirit, reveling in God’s special gifts to youth, the
waits come sharing gladness.
In the Middle Ages it was customary for the lord and lady of the manor
to provide lavish Christmas feasts for their serfs and vassals. Frequently
they came into the castle to sing carols and toast their lord saying,
"Wassail!" which means "Good health to you!"
Play Clip > > >
The Wassail Carol, Traditional Yorkshire |
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The coming of the waits divides
the service into two distinct parts. First we have celebrated our good
health, our material wealth, and the love of family. At length we grow
introspective to recreate the long-ago miracle in Bethlehem.
The Angel
I Bring You Tidings of Great Joy, Folksong
"Lord Rendal", Somerset
Good tidings to greet you! God reaches down to a waiting and hoping world.
An angel’s voice from a darkened Judean sky, solemn and glorious,
brings forth the first words of Godspell. There is a change of mood in
the music as the liturgy proceeds to tell of our deep longing and searching
for God.
The Shepherds
 O
sancta simplicitas! O holy simplicity! Ancient shepherds, men of God's
sweet Earth, come in haste to find Mary and Joseph, with the Babe lying
in the manger.
Play Clip > > >
Angels We Have Heard on High, Traditional
French |
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Hail
to the Lord’s Anointed, Melchior Teschner c. 1613
...is a paraphrase of Psalm 72.
The Magi
Three great kinds from the East, powerful men of politics and worldly
affairs, follow their destinies to the Christ that has been foretold.
Their splendor is dimmed by the Child’s radiance. They humble themselves
in awe and kneel reverently.
Play Clip > > >
Kings to Thy Rising, French, 16th Century |
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"Kings to Thy Rising"
is based on the French carol "Tryste Noel." The arrangement
by Frank Levy suggests the swaying of marching camels.
Play Clip > > >
We Three Kings, Dr. J. H. Hopkins, c.
1857 |
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"We
Three Kings" is the only wholly American element in the Boar’s
Head.
The World Joins the Kings and the Shepherds
From everywhere, people are drawn to the Christ Child. They bring a diversity
of gifts yet the same spirit. In the festival's climax, God comes down
to his people. They reach up to God.
Play Clip > > >
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, French,
17th Century |
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Recessional
God’s ultimate gift, His only begotten Son, has come to earth. From
this reverent moment, the companies melt away, leaving only His essence,
a burning light, the symbol that He has come.
Play Clip > > >
O Come All Ye Faithful, J. F. Wade (c.
1711-86) |
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Orchestral Postlude and The Yule Sprite Returns
As at the beginning, a tiny sprite enters the church. The sprite joins
the Dean at the altar, and together they carry the light out into the
world. Christ is the Light of the World.
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