CAROLS,ALL TOO FAMILIAR - MIDI AND SCORE

CAROLS, ALL TOO FAMILIAR

(A New Christmas Song by Janie Ivey)

Listen to the MIDI file (AWE32 wavetable) whilst browsing the music? MIDI player for Netscape 2.02/3, or select for other browsers).

This MIDI sounded so poor without the wavetable, that I did another "FM synthesis" mix with a different mix for Soundblaster-compatible soundcards which you can get here. There's also a Real Audio file (337Kb)for downloading here.

This is my stab at Janie's "Christmas song a little late", which I did just before the Eurochat on Saturday, 27 December (knowing Janie at least would be on). I really liked the original approach in the lyrics, but thought they would be difficult to set to music. In fact this came surprisingly quickly, and it may just be going along the right lines (though it could probably go on many other lines). I quite like it anyway!

Janie thought she'd got rid of her chorus problem, but I've made her original verse 3 a chorus. As normal for me I've mucked around with the words (though I did try to be sensitive to the original). Janie's original words are at the end.

(page one of 'Carols, All Too Familiar' sheet music

in *.gif format)

(page two of 'Carols, All Too Familiar' sheet music

in *.gif format)

Lyrics (by Janie Ivey - adapted)

Carols, all too familiar,
maybe tunes to hum along;
amidst the bustle they were just
simply Christmas songs.
Words I'd never pondered,
though I'd sung them so many years,
now have filled my heart with joy
as one by one you remove my fears.
Now I know that you'll be there
when doubt tries to steal my hope away.
You'll re-mind me, even in my struggles,
this unchanging truth remains:
"I came to you, was born for you
because I knew I loved you so much,
I'd rather die than be without you."
Thoughts of the incarnation,
how You "laid Your glory by",
how you left the singing angels
to be brought into our night,
bring this question to my mind,
takes me down upon my knees,
"How can it be so hard to trust
the one who left highest heav'n for me?".

Now I know that you'll be there
when doubt tries to steal my hope away.
You'll re-mind me, even in my struggles,
this unchanging truth remains:
"I came to you, was born for you
because I knew I loved you so much,
I'd rather die than be without you."
"I came to you, I lived for you -
believe it's true - I loved you so much,
I'd rather die than stay without you, without you."

Janie's Original:

The carols, all too familiar
or some tunes to hum along
Amid the bustle, they were just
simply Christmas songs.
Words I'd never pondered
although I'd sung through out the years
Now have my mind filled,
as one by one, You remove my fears

Thoughts of the incarnation
How You "lay Your glory by"
How you left the singing angels
to be brought into the night
Brings the question to this soul
and brings this heart to it's knees
"How hard is it to trust
the One Who left heaven for me?"

I know You'll be there
When doubt tries to steal my hope away
You'll remind me, even in the struggles
this truth remains
"I came to your world and I walked your sod
because I knew
I love you so much, I'd rather die
than live without you."