Past Three O'Clock

"Past Three O'Clock" (or "Past Three A Clock") is a Christmas carol, loosely based on the traditional cry of the city night watchman.

The words were written by George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934) to the traditional tune "London Waits". Woodward added lines to the traditional refrain in a style characteristic of his delight in archaic poetry. It was published in A Cambridge Carol Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter and Other Seasons in 1924.[1]

Numerous variations of the carol include an arrangement by William Llewellyn as a "quodlibet" for choir: London Waits (Past Three O'clock).[2]

Recordings of the carol include those by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge,[3] the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, the Monteverdi Choir.,[4] the Renaissance Singers and The Chieftains on the album The Bells of Dublin, (1991).

Popular music artistes who have recorded the carol include Linda Ronstadt on the album A Merry Little Christmas (2000) and Chris Squire (Yes bassist) on the album Chris Squire's Swiss Choir (2007).

See also

References

  1. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
  2. Novello and Co Ltd.
  3. EMI: CDM 7 69950 2
  4. Once As I Remember... Philips: 462050

External links

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