Caroling Bells Medley

The CAROLING BELLS MEDLEY is the third song in the Musical, and is, as its title suggests, a medley of three songs. Two are classics; the other is an original composition. It is sung only by children and women, and has an optional handbell intro.

Clock Tower
This is an original composition, which shows up at the beginning and end of the medley. It follows a typical four-note bellringing cadence and is extrememly short (hence the full Lyrics being given). Clock Tower was composed by E.E. Buchanan.

Sample Lyrics

 * Hear the Dinging
 * Join the Singing
 * Gold Bells Ringing
 * Loud and Clear
 * Christmas Music
 * Fills the Morning
 * Tells of Hope and
 * Love and Cheer!

Characters Involved

 * Momma or Wiki (Solo)
 * Children's Ensemble (Main Vocals)

Ding! Dong! Merrily on High
The vast majority of the medley consists of an arrangement of the first and last verses of this Christmas hymn, with slightly altered lyrics and meter. An edited version of the chorus is also sung three times over. ''Ding! Dong! Merrily on High'' was written by Jehan Tabourot and George Ratcliffe Woodward, and arranged here by E.E. Buchanan.

Sample Lyrics

 * Ding! Dong! Merrily on High
 * In Heav'n the bells are ringing!
 * Ding! Dong! Verily the Sky
 * Is filled with angels singing!
 * Gloria, Hosanna in the highest!
 * Gloria, Hosanna in the highest!



Characters Involved

 * Children's Ensemble (Main Vocals)
 * Choir (Background Vocals)

Trivia

 * The original tune of this song (by Tabourot) is over 500 years old; however, it was not until Woodward wrote the lyrics in the 1920s that it was sung as a carol.

Second Version
A second version of this song, consisting of the first verse and chorus, makes an appearance in the Finale. The lyrics are unaltered, but the chorus' melody has shifted back to the original and more complex tune instead of the edited version from the first instance.

Characters Involved

 * Choir (Main Vocals)
 * Cast (Main Vocals)

Ring, Little Bells!
The last verse of this Christmas Hymn is used as the bridge of the medley. It is to be done by the Women's Ensemble from the Choir (alternatively, could be a soprano solo from the choir). The song is a traditional German carol by anonymous authors - several versions and translations exist. Again, the segment used is so short the entirety of it is posted here. This version has edited Lyrics and was arranged by E.E. Buchanan.

Sample Lyrics

 * Ring, Bells, go ting-a-ling-a-ling!
 * Ring, Christmas bells!
 * As they lift their voices,
 * All the world rejoices!
 * Baby Jesus praise we;
 * Joyful carols raise we!
 * Ring, Bells, go ting-a-ling-a-ling!
 * Ring, Christmas bells!

Characters Involved

 * Choir (Main Vocals)
 * Momma or Wiki (Optional - joins with sopranos)

Trivia
Originally, this song was to be Alfred Burt's Caroling, Caroling. However, it was discovered that this song has a few more years left until its copyright expires and puts it in the public domain, and this obviously un-copyrighted ancient hymn was added in it's place.