Off Topic (but not controversial) (I hope) Cranbrook in Four Part Harmony

Before churches were fitted out with their 'Chests o' Whistles' the minstrel gallery was populated by... well, minstrels. Many of the hymns and carols were set to old english dance tunes.

In particular the Carol 'While shepherds...' was sung to the tune Cranbrook.

Being a tad to lively for the Victorians the dance tunes got sort of side lined.

I can find an odd recording of soloist sing 'While Shepherds' but not of any choir singing the carol in four part harmony.

Anybody know of a recording?

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MJ. Smith

I don't have time at the moment to check the contents of each cd but have you checked Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band? Wrong words but

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZaohOTk12QI'd also check any West Gallery music ... maybe someone in the UK sings with a group and can get some of the CD's floating around at the sings..

Mike Binks

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/774864#Comment_774864

Thanks for the link Martha - Cranbrook does take those words well and the harmonies are just nicely put into place by the congregation.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/774974#Comment_774974

Okay, with a bit of time I found the music in 4-part harmony at http://www.wyldesnoyse.co.uk/foe/pdfs/cranbrook.pdf with the correct words. A different harmonization can be heard at http://www.cantatedomino.org/cd/index.shtml?160.txt. An excellent cd would be http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDH55325 which sounds like a traditional East gallery sing. In short Google "East Gallery" Cranbrook "While Shepherds" and you'll pick up several traditional sing/rediscovery modern settings.