How a French dance became an English Christmas carol

Today’s article begins with a typically English Christmas carol: Ding Dong Merrily on high. But where does this gibberish title come from? Listen:

Does this melody… ring a bell? Yes, it is similar to the Bransle de l’Official, published by Thoinot Arbeau in 1589. See the version danced by Historical Dance Society :

The origins of Ding Dong Merrily on high

So, how did this melody from the Renaissance become a Christmas carol?

At the beginning of the 20th century, George Ratcliffe Woodward was an Eglish Anglican priest like any other, or almost. He was passionate about music. George played the cello and the euphonium ( a brass instrument close to the tuba – I discovered it during the writing of this article). He also studied the bells and carillon (that’s campanology, if you need the technical word).

But what will make George go down in history are the lyrics he writes to old tunes.

George Woodward unearthed an old melody (bransle de l’Offical) and sticked some gibberish lyrics on it. The lyrics are a mix of old English and broken Latin. But regardless, people were enthusiastic about this song, which was finally published in 1924.

In 1982, Elle Taylor composed the dance Ding Dong Merrily, an English country dance, specifically for this irregular melody.

Here are the lyrics by Woodward