Huron Carol ('Twas In The Moon Of Wintertime)

French tune in 4/4 time -- Key of E minor (1 sharp)

(Time through) Barbara-Lee Daniel Val Linda Tony
Intro (tacit) (tacit) (tacit) (tacit) Vibes solo on last THREE measures, holding last note for SEVEN beats
1 Dulcimer melody/chords Bass pizz. Melody Dulcimer chords Vibes melody
2 Dulcimer melody/chords Bass pizz. Harmony Dulcimer chords Vibes melody

Ignore fermata 1st time through; 2nd time through play fermata as TWO beats, holding last note for SEVEN beats before leading into God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Background: this is a traditional French folk tune named Une Jeune Pucelle (translation = A Young Maid) written in 1557, but set to Christian lyrics by the Jesuit missionary Jean de Brebeuf in 1642 as a way of explaining the gospel to the Huron tribes in Canada. He originally wrote the lyrics in the Huron language, and it is thought he chose this melody to accomodate the limited pitch range of the Native American flute.


God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

English carol in 4/4 time -- Key of E minor (1 sharp)

(Time through) Barbara-Lee Daniel Val Linda Tony
1 Dulcimer melody/chords Bass pizz. Melody Dulcimer chords Vibes melody
2 Dulcimer melody/chords Bass pizz. Melody Dulcimer chords Vibes melody
3 Dulcimer melody/chords Bass pizz. Harmony Dulcimer chords Vibes melody

Background: an early version of this carol appears in a manuscript dated near 1650, where it reads "Sit you merry gentlemen". The more modern phrase "Rest" appears later in 1760. This carol happens to be mentioned in the Charles Dickens 1843 tale A Christmas Carol.