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The Easy Christmas Collection

Ding! Dong! Merrily on High
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Melody: Brane de l'Official, Orchsographie (Arbeau, 1588) arr. Colin Kirkpatrick Text: G. R. Woodward (1848-1934)

C
G G

Ding Dong! Mer - ri - ly on

high,
G

In

heav'n the bells are

C

G D7

D7

ring
G

ing:

&

Ding! Dong! Ver - i - ly the

sky

Is

riv'n with

an - gels

sing

ing.

D7 G D7 # . G j j . . . . & . J J

Glo

13

&

Em

j .
A7 D

ri - a,

Ho -

san - na

in

D7

ex

cel

sis!

..

2. E'en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And "Io, io, io!" By priest and people sungen. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! 3. Pray you, dutifully prime Your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rime Your evetime song, ye singers. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

The tune first appeared as a secular dance tune known as "Le Branle de l'Official" in "Orchsographie", a dance book written by Jehan Tabourot (1519-1593). He was French cleric who used the anagrammatic pseudonym Thoinot Arbeau by which he is usually known. The text was composed by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and it was first published in 1924 in his "The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter, And Other Seasons". Woodward had an interest in church bell ringing, which perhaps inspired him to write it.

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5

13

### C & ### & ### . . . . & J ### j . & . .

Melody Part for Bb instruments

. . j J J j

..

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5

### C & & ###

Optional Harmony Part for Bb instruments

13

### . . j j . . . j . & J ### .. & . j # . # j N ?# C

Optional Bass Part

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5

?#

13

? # .. ?#

..

Feedback from users is always welcomed, at doctorcolin@csloxinfo.com If you perform, record or broadcast this arrangement, please notify the Performing Rights Society (in the UK) or the equivalent performance rights organisation in your own country (e.g. ASCAP in the USA; SOCAN in Canada), listing the name of the Christmas carol and the arranger. This arrangement Colin Kirkpatrick 2010.