Christmas Commons: Ding Dong! Merrily on High

Find the RMCC recording, new edition of the score, and rehearsal aids for this piece here.

Our first Christmas Commons is the familiar carol "Ding Dong! Merrily on High." Chances are good that if you haven't sung this yourself, you've heard it sung. It's a delightful, joyful carol that is really fun to sing.

The text of this carol was written by George Ratcliff Woodward, an Englishman who lived from 1848-1934. In the music world, he's most well known for his work translating hymns from Greek, Latin, and German into English. The tune, though, is much older, with an origin in 16th century French dance music.

Our arrangement, by Charles Wood, is the most well-known harmonization of this tune. An Irishman who studied with such luminaries as Charles Villiers Stanford and C.H.H. Parry, Charles Wood also taught Herbert Howells and Ralph Vaughan Williams. His arrangement is very accessible and a bright spot on any holiday program.

You can buy our engraving of the score, along with practice tracks, here, or find it at CPDL.