Oh Tannenbaum Trivia Quiz

Germany

Originating in Germany, this familiar Christmas hymn has its roots in a centuries-old traditional folk song, rather than being written specifically for the Advent season. However, its original words have a great deal of consonance with the Christian message, as they speak of faithfulness, steadfastness and hope in adversity.

The words were written in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz, a Leipzig organist, and set to an old folk tune called "Lauriger Horatius." The term "Tannenbaum" translates to "fir tree" in German.

Spain

Sabine Baring-Gould was an Anglican priest who was a 'collector' of folk songs. He translated two songs from the deeply religious Basque country of Spain, an autonomous community and historic region located in Northern Spain. Both the well-known "Gabriel's Message" and "The Infant King", were translated into English by Baring-Gould.

The words of "The Infant King" are poignant; they speak both of the birth and death of Jesus. A synopsis of His life, verse one talks of the annunciation by the angels, the stars and the manger; verse two foreshadows Jesus' fate with the words "Soon will come bitter grief and weeping". Verse three speaks of the cross; verse four ends in the triumph of the resurrection.

Australia

This Australian Christmas carol was written in William G James, who was born in Ballarat in 1892 and was a driving force in the development of a body of truly Australian modern music.

In conjunction with a colleague, he wrote 15 carols, saying, "Just as the carols of the old world owe so much to the local colour of the countries which produced them, so it was felt that the new land of Australia - where Christmas is celebrated in high summer - should have its own carols with their distinctive background." These were released in the 1940s and 50s.

'The North Wind' (see the words below) speaks of the hot wind (the North wind IS hot in Australia!) which is often felt during Summer (December - February inclusive) in Australia, the season when Christmas is celebrated.

The carols were celebrated by the release of a series of commemorative stamps in the 1980s.

The north wind is tossing the leaves.
The red dust is over the town;
The sparrows are under the eaves,
And the grass in the paddock is brown;
As we lift up our voices and sing,
To the Christ-child the heavenly King.


The tree ferns in green gullies sway;
The cool stream flows silently by;
The joy bells are greeting the day,
And the chimes are adrift in the sky,
As we lift up our voices and sing,
To the Christ-child the heavenly King.

France

The tune of this beloved Christmas song was a traditional French folk song used for dancing, the earliest record of which is 1588. It was a hand-written notation down the side of a page of a manuscript, 'Orchesographie' by Thoinot Arbeau (the pen name used by Jehan Tabourot (1519-1595)). The book was a study of social dances of the sixteenth-century French Renaissance.

Anglican priest George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934) put suitably joyful words to the merry tune to create the Christmas carol "Ding Dong! Merrily on High." It was first published in the early 1900s.

USA

Both the words and music of this merry Christmas carol were written by Alfred Burt, a jazz musician best known for composing the music for fifteen Christmas carols. Among these were "The Star Carol" (1954); "Christ in the Stranger's Guise" (1948); "Christmas Cometh Caroling" (1942) and "Jesu Parvule" (1943).

Nat King Cole recorded the carol, written by Burt in 1954, for his 1960 Christmas album "The Magic of Christmas".

South Africa

The South African carol, "Somerkersfees", was written by musician Koos du Plessis, who died in 1984. A third verse was added later by Jannie du Toit.

Du Plessis reflects on Christmas through the years, as he listens to ancient bells retelling their story; and in the silence of the summer night he hears again the story of Christmas. He gives glory to God and asks for His blessing on his nation.

The carol is set in the Southern hemisphere, where Christmas is welcomed under a sky lit by the stars of the Southern Cross. It is an evocative hymn, recalling the blessing of God as they celebrate the day when He sent His Son as their greatest gift.


"Somerkersfees"

"Enter in quiet peace filled night
beneath the Southern Cross
Lend now your ear this starlit night,
to whispers from the past.

Do you hear how softly the bells
are chiming, in ancient dialect
Even the evening's starry silence,
on precious history reflects.

Can you also feel the warmth of His love,
as we celebrate the day
God loved us so much He sent his son,
no other gift as great.

CHORUS

Christmas nears, Christmas nears
Bow before the King
Grant by Your grace in this great land
A bright summer's Christmas Lord."

Czechia

There are numerous carols with their origins in the Czech Republic. The music of the 'Zither Carol' is a Czech folk melody - 'Sedlák, sedlák'. It was included by 19th century Czech folklorist Karel Jaromír Erben in his collection 'Czech Folk Songs and Nursery Rhymes'. Sedlák means 'peasant farmer' and is also a common surname in the region.

As the 'Zither Carol', it was given English words by Malcolm Sargent in 1958 for 'Girls and boys, leave your toys, make no noise' and appeared in the first book of Carols for Choirs in 1961 in the UK.

England

"Angels' Carol" is both joyful and reflective, with references throughout of the Christmas narrative; angels telling the good news of the Saviour's birth, and a star shining to show the way. Rutter composed the opening music with harp arpeggios to conjure up the silent night and other traditional images of Jesus' birth. The verses repeat the long-established the Latin version of the angels' song: "Gloria in excelsis Deo". It's a lovely carol to either listen to, or sing as part of a choir or congregation.

Born in 1945, John Rutter, who wrote both music and words of "Angels' Carol" in the 1980s, has composed numerous pieces of contemporary and written new arrangements for many traditional carols and hymns. Among the new arrangements are old favourites "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "For the Beauty of the Earth". Original pieces include "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and "Look at the World." In recognition of his contribution to church music, the Archbishop of Canterbury conferred a Lambeth Doctorate of Music upon Rutter in 1996.

Philippines

The title of the carol translates to "How Blissful is this Season". Composed in 1933 by Vicente Rubi, the lyrics of this Cebuano Christmas carol (Filipino) were penned by Mariano Vestil. "Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit" is a modified version of the song with alternate lyrics written by Levi Celerio in the Tagalog language in the 1950s.

Ninety percent of the Philippines is Christian (with 80% of those being Catholic) and Christmas is a time of hearty celebration with a huge feast called Noche Buena taking place at midnight on Christmas Eve. Carolling is a big part of their festivities which can go on for several weeks - preparations for Christmas commence in September!

The words of the first verse of "Kasadya Ning Taknaa" are:
"Oh, happy is this hour!
In this place nearest to the Holy, ('Holy' refers to the Christ child)
Where all that we witness
Are faces brightened up and jolly.
Blessed indeed, how blessed
Are the houses serenaded
With songs of noble sound and word, and every Christmas day
Will be full of bliss!"

Wales

This well-known Christmas carol originated in Wales as a New Year's melody, "Nos Galan". The tune is thought to date back to the 16th century with lyrics that were added in the 1800s by John Ceriog Hughes. The Welsh New Year's version was published by John Thomas in 1862 in his 'Welsh Melodies with Welsh and English Poetry' in which he collaborated with John Talhaiarn Jones and Thomas Oliphant.

The modern English lyrics relating to Christmas were written in 1862 by Scottish songwriter Thomas Oliphant. Interestingly, the first line of Oliphant's lyrics were 'Deck the HALL,' rather than 'halls.' It is uncertain whether mishearing or misprinting is responsible for the change, but most musical scores record it as 'halls'. This change was recorded in print as early as 1872.


The original Welsh version relating to New Yea's Eve is here:

"Goreu pleser ar nos galan,
Tŷ a thân a theulu diddan,
Calon lân a chwrw melyn,
Pennill mwyn a llais y delyn,

The best pleasure on new year's eve,
Is house and fire and a pleasant family,
A pure heart and blonde ale,
A gentle song and the voice of the harp"