Good day, my Lord!
01:00 duration|Composed in 1987|Difficulty: Moderate
This short setting of a joyful 15th century Christmas text was written as an exercise during a church music composition course held at the headquarters of the RSCM, Addington Palace in Croydon, in December 1987 under the guidance of composer Peter Aston.
It was my first published piece, being issued by Oecumuse in late 1989. Its first performance was given by the choir of Chichester Cathedral conducted by Alan Thurlow during their Choristers’ Carol Service on 26 December 1989.
The music is a lively chorus-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-coda structure with sections of unison singing between choruses featuring gentle added-note harmony.
Text
Good day, good day,
My lord Sir Christëmas, Good day!
Good day Sir Christëmas our king,
For every man both old and ying,
Is glad of your coming;
Good day, good day,
My lord Sir Christëmas, Good day!
Godës Son so much of might
From heaven to earth down is light
And born is of a maid so bright.
Good day, good day,
My lord Sir Christëmas, Good day!
From the Selden carol-book (15th century)
