A, a, a, a, Nunc gaudet ecclesia
“Song in honour of St. Thomas of Canterbury”, from BL: MS. Sloane 2593, XV cent: f. 23v-24r
[text: 15th Century/music: King, arr. King & James]
In memory of the Reverend Canon John Barwick Barnes (1932-2016) former vicar of St Mary's Church Ilford and Chaplain of The Ilford Hospital Chapel
Andrew King: vox, chorus, Pixiphone, Sanctus bells, keyboards [bass stop only]
Lloyd James: keyboards [bar bass stop]
Main vocals recorded on the 18th February 2016 at The Hospital Chapel of St Mary the Virgin and St Thomas of Canterbury, Ilford. The Hospital Chapel was founded 1140, the dedication to Becket being added at some point after 1173 when his sister Mary became Abbess of the Abbey of Barking.
Main vocals edited by the singer at Epiphany Studios on May 16th, everything else recorded at Wooden Lung Studios on May 17th by Lloyd James. Produced by Andrew King & Lloyd James, mastered by Lloyd James.
With thanks to Doreen Weller for permission to record the lead vox at the Hospital Chapel.
A, a, a, a, Nunc gaudet ecclesia [Now the church rejoices]
(MS. Sloane 2593)
[f. 23v]
A, a, a, a,
Nu[n]c gaudet ecclesia.
[1]
Lestenytgh, lordynges, bothe grete and smale;
I xal you telyn a wonder tale,
How Holy Cherche was brow[t] in bale
Cum magna iniuria. [With great injury]
[2]
The greteste clerk of al this lond,
Of Cauntyrbery, ye vnderstond,
Slawyn he was [with] wykkyd hond,
Demonis potencia. [By the power of the devil]
[3]
Knytes kemyn fro Hendry Kyng,
Wykkyd men withoute lesyng;
Ther they dedyn a wonder thing,
Feruentes insania. [Raging in their madness]
[4]
They sowtyn hym al abowtyn,
Withine the paleys and withoutyn;
Of Jhesu Cryst hadde they non dowte,
In sua malicia. [In their wickedness]
[5]
They openyd here mowthis wonder wyde;
To Thomeys they spokyn mekyl pryde:
'Here, tretour, thou xalt abyde,
Ferens mortis tedia.' [Bearing the burden of death]
[6]
Thomas answerid with mylde chere,
'If ye wil me slon in this manere, [f. 24r]
Let hem pasyn, alle tho arn here,
Sine contumilia.' [Without disgrace]
[7]
Beforn his aunter he knelyd adoun,
Ther they gunne to paryn his crown;
He sterdyn the braynus vp and doun,
Optans celi gaudia. [Hoping for the joys of heaven]
[8]
The turmentours abowtyn sterte;
With dedly wondys thei gunne him hurte,
Thomas deyid in Moder Cherche,
Pergens ad celestia. [Attaining to heaven]
[9]
Moder, clerk, wedue, and wyf,
Worchepe ye Thomeys in al your lyf
For lii [fifte-two] poyntes he les his lyf,
Contra regis consilia. [Contrary to the king's counsels]
Text from Richard Leighton Greene, The Early English Carols, 2nd ed. (Oxford: OUP, 1977) pp. 60-61 [no. 114], 369-370 [notes].
& Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: MCCC to MDCC (London: Chatto & Windus, 1910) pp. 129-130.
Translations from the Mudcat forum, except for verses 1 & 4 (translated by the singer).
supported by 24 fans who also own “A, a, a, a, Nunc guadet ecclesia (St Thomas Becket)”
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