The Boar's Head Carol (Traditional)

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• (Posted 2004-05-20)  CPDL #07033:  PDF and MIDI files

Editor: Edward L. Stauff (submitted 2004-05-20).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 50 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

• (Posted 2000-11-27)  CPDL #01756: 

Editor: Christopher R. Baker (submitted 2000-11-27).   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Boar's Head Carol, The
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Carol

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published:
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

''The Boar's Head Carol''
Anonymous, 1521

1.
The boar's head in hand bear I
Bedecked with bays and rosemary .
I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio. - [howsoever many are at the feast]
Caput apri defero, - [I bring the boar's head]
Reddens laudes Domino. - [rendering praises to the Lord]

2.
The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all the land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Servitur cum sinapio. - [it is served with mustard]
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes Domino.

3.
Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of bliss
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensi Atrio: - [in the Queen's hall]
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes Domino.

4.
The boar's head, I dare well say,
Anon after the eleventh day,
He takes his leave and goes away,
Exivit tum de patria. - [he has then left the fatherland]
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes Domino.