The shepherds on the fellside That is by Bethany, Had not on finger Redder blains than we: Jesu that is God's light, Warm us in the cold night. The yowes that men were minding Long and long ago, Were not more like to die Than ours in the snow: Jesu that knows Thy sheep, Skiddaw yowes tend and keep. The angels that were singing, Long and long agone, Were not a whiter host Than snowflakes falling down; Jesu, the true fold, Gird us on the rocks cold.
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According to Parry to Finzi by Trevor Hold (2005), the author of this text is Edmund Casson (not Ernest Casson, as stated on the Gurney score).Text Authorship:
- by (Thomas) Edmund Casson (1883 - 1960) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
- sometimes misattributed to Ernest Casson
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ivor (Bertie) Gurney (1890 - 1937), "Carol of the Skiddaw Yowes", 1919, published 1920 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 87