All poor men and lowly

The "Oxford Book of Carols" is a collection of vocal scores of Christmas carols. It was first published in 1928 by Oxford University Press and was edited by Percy Dearmer, Martin Shaw and Ralph Vaughan Williams. It became a widely used source of carols among choirs and church congregations in Britain.

Both of these Welsh carols appear in the book, and both of these are more "Epiphany carols" than ones associated with Christmas.

"All poor and lowly" is a Welsh carol harmonized by Dr. Caradog Roberts (1878 — 1935), a Welsh composer, organist and choirmaster.

He studied piano and organ, becoming organist of Mynydd Seion Congregational church, Ponciau from 1894 until 1903. In the next year he took the same position at Bethlehem Congregational church, Rhosllanerchrugog, a post he retained until his death. He took the degrees of B.Mus. (1906) and D.Mus. (1911), both at Oxford. From 1914 to 1920, he was Director of Music at Bangor University. Roberts was a prolific composer and arranger of hymn tunes, several of which were incorporated into Welsh hymnaries.

The text of this carol is a free translation of the traditional Welsh carol, done by K. E. Roberts.

The sweet melody is moving and sincere. I recall that my father, David Sr. liked this carol very much, and said so after the very first Lessons and Carols that I had ever directed. It was also the first choir of men and boys that I had ever formed and directed. (My head chorister's name was William Byrd!)

I dedicate this upload with love and appreciation to my father, who passed away in 1997.

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Caradog Roberts.

The full text is given in the FIRST COMMENT.

Coming up:

Jan. 4 - Brightest and best - R. E. Smith
We three Kings - R. E. Smith

Jan. 5 - The Caravan of the Magi - J. L. Maunder

Jan. 6 - Chartres (Noël Varié) - Richard Purvis