Festive bloopers

[Y Mab Afradlon]

I'd be interested to know everyone's opinion on this

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/12/10/this-is-no-time-for-gay-abandon-so-leave-classic-carol-as-it-is-91466-29928698/#.TuSIY7B5oMg.twitter

I was once asked by an organiser of a town community carol service (held in the cattle sheds of the local Mart coincidentally) to replace the word “sod” with “ground” in the last verse of Good King Wenceslas. Three of my Tenor section then retaliated by singing “He was little, weak, and helpless, tears and piles like us he knew;” in Once in Royal David City.
Has anyone got any similar anecdotes that will bring some festive cheer to this list?

[ardcarp]

I think 'a breast full of milk' was replaced by 'a heart full of mirth' in one ludicrously bowdlerised printed version. I'm afraid my recollections of schoolboy versions (eg While Shepherds....and it wasn't anything to do with socks) are not suitable for this august forum. Incidentally Christina Rosetti (of In the Bleak fame) was the subject of Melvyn Bragg's In Our Time a week or two ago. Good programme.

[mangerton]

I think 'a breast full of milk' was replaced by 'a heart full of mirth' in one ludicrously bowdlerised printed version.

Yes, it was, and about thirty years ago I was in a church choir where the tenor sang that version. (Shakes head in disbelief.)

I'll be singing Christina Rosetti's Authorised Version at our midnight Eucharist on Christmas Eve.

[Miles Coverdale]

There are two to be had in Lo! he comes with clouds descending. In verse 2 there's 'deep sea whaling' and in verse 4 there's 'High on thine external throne'. I did see the latter printed on an order of service once, which conjured up images of outside toilets for some reason. Another favourite hymn misprint (also seen in an order of service) is the very last line of Dear Lord and Father of mankind, where I once saw 'O still small voice of clam'. Last, but by no means least, is the spectacular cock up I once saw printed in Light's abode, celestial Salem, where we had 'That hereafter these thy labours May with endless girls be paid'.

[Daveinnorfolk]

There is the, possibly apocryphalic story, of a carol singing tenor with one of our Cathedral choirs when visiting local nursing homes singing the solo v3. of Darkes in the Bleak 'Enough for him whom cherubim, worship day and night. A breat full of milk, and a manger of full of shite'

[mangerton]

I'd be interested to know everyone's opinion on this

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/12/10/this-is-no-time-for-gay-abandon-so-leave-classic-carol-as-it-is-91466-29928698/#.TuSIY7B5oMg.twitter

I was once asked by an organiser of a town community carol service (held in the cattle sheds of the local Mart coincidentally) to replace the word “sod” with “ground” in the last verse of Good King Wenceslas. Three of my Tenor section then retaliated by singing “He was little, weak, and helpless, tears and piles like us he knew;” in Once in Royal David City.
Has anyone got any similar anecdotes that will bring some festive cheer to this list?

I've just looked at the link, and I think it's absolutely appalling. These people should not be kow-towed to, though I do understand the awkward position you were put in, YMA, and I'm delighted your tenors reacted as they did.

The important thing is that for every one of these changes, a little bit of knowledge and heritage is lost.

Think, for example of "niggard", "to welsh", "scot-free". None of these is a term of racialist abuse, but very few people nowadays seem to know that.

[mangerton]

There is the, possibly apocryphalic story, of a carol singing tenor with one of our Cathedral choirs when visiting local nursing homes singing the solo v3. of Darkes in the Bleak 'Enough for him whom cherubim, worship day and night. A breat full of milk, and a manger of full of shite'

I'll need to take great care not to sing that. I also have to think about the highly "flavoured" lady.

I do like MC's "deep sea whaling". Wesley of course also wrote the bicyclists' hymn, with the words "My chains fell off".

[Chris Newman]

I'll need to take great care not to sing that. I also have to think about the highly "flavoured" lady.

I do like MC's "deep sea whaling". Wesley of course also wrote the bicyclists' hymn, with the words "My chains fell off".

We always sang of Most highly flavoured gravy. We were too young to have such other thoughts.

[Miles Coverdale]

Think, for example of "niggard", "to welsh", "scot-free". None of these is a term of racialist abuse, but very few people nowadays seem to know that.

Not necessarily true, actually. The verb 'to Welsh', meaning to renege on a deal, may have had its origins in the phrase 'Welshing book-maker', which in turn seems to owe its origin to a rhyme which began ‘Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief’. According to the OED, the term originated in the 1850s.

[Nick Armstrong]

apocryphalic

Naughty!!

[Nick Armstrong]

Not necessarily true, actually. The verb 'to Welsh', meaning to renege on a deal, may have had its origins in the phrase 'Welshing book-maker', which in turn seems to owe its origin to a rhyme which began ‘Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief’. According to the OED, the term originated in the 1850s.

Good knowledge, Miles! Never knew that. Love that sort of stuff!

[Nick Armstrong]

Another probably apocryphallic story is this, "festive" in the sense of Easter rather than Christmas, hence not totally off-thread.

The Harnoncourt/Concentus Musicus Wien recording of the St Matthew Passion on Teldec includes the gentlemen of King's College Choir. Apparently they became so frustrated at Harnoncourt's finicky rehearsal of the shouts of "Barabbam!!" that on one take, they sang "Up yer bum!!" ... and if you listen carefully, that's the take that was used in the issued recording.

Presumably because it was incandescent with genuine passion...

[mangerton]

Not necessarily true, actually. The verb 'to Welsh', meaning to renege on a deal, may have had its origins in the phrase 'Welshing book-maker', which in turn seems to owe its origin to a rhyme which began ‘Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief’. According to the OED, the term originated in the 1850s.

My Chambers says "of uncertain origin", but without wishing in any way to denigrate the Welsh, your story may very well be true.

[Serial_Apologist]

As a small boy, I used to think the second line of "All things bright and beautiful" to be "All Grecians great and small".

One of the psalms has as last line, "Open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it". "This line is dedicated to dentists", our choirmaster explained.

[Nick Armstrong]

One of the psalms has as last line, "Open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it". "This line is dedicated to dentists", our choirmaster explained.

One's thoughts drift to Phil McCavity...