CHRISTMAS IN SUMMER PRESENTS LOTS OF CHALLENGES WHEN FOLLOWING THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TRADITIONS. Singing about snow, sleighs, reindeer and like require a lot of imagination and ignore our actual surrounds. So we find some ephemeral attempts to locate Christmas carols and songs in Australia.
The cover design features Australian animals and plants and the Southern Cross. The red, green and white colour scheme is pretty traditional. A number of readers have asked how to get copies of this. If you would like to buy the original you would need to do this through a collector or dealer. If you just want the words and music, then here is a link to libraries that hold copies.
We quote from Wikipedia:
James wrote many pieces for voice, choir and piano, but his most enduring pieces are still his six sets of Australian Christmas Carols, in which traditional Christmas themes were given “outback” settings, such as The Three Drovers. ABC staff writer John Wheeler wrote the lyrics for these carols. The Australian Christmas Carols can still be found in music catalogues today. Outback themes were common in his secular songs as well, in compositions such as Bush Song at Dawn, familiar to many Australian children of the 1950s and 1960s through the school songbooks of the period. Other compositions by James have rustic English themes (A Warwickshire Wooing) or claim Maori inspiration (Six Maori Dances).
Read more about William G. James here.
The carols are entitled:
- The three drovers;
- The silver stars are in the sky;
- Christmas Day;
- Carol of the birds;
- Christmas Bush for His adorning.
This publication has the distinction of being the first publication of Australian carols with words and music by a single creator.
According to the National Library of Australia catalogue, W. H. Keith Young was a choirmaster and composer. The Library holds his manuscript music scores, tape recordings, notebooks and other papers that provide a complete record of Dr Young’s long career.
The Most Reverend Ronald A. Mulkearns, then Bishop of Ballarat, wrote an introduction to the book of carols:
Mr W. H. Keith Young’s prowess as a composer and conductor is well known in Ballarat and beyond. in presenting us with some ‘Glimpses of Christmas’, he invites us to reflect on our attitude to the birth of Christ. The Australian character of some of his verses may assist the devotion of those who find the “White Christmas” theme incongruous in our hemisphere…
The first line index gives a flavour of this:
- From city to the Outback (from ‘Make Room’);
- I sent a Christmas Coo-ee across the seas (from “Echo Carol of Australia”);
- Land ‘Down Under’ – ‘neath the Cross (from “The Stranger’s Carol”).
The carols are dedicated to Young’s relatives and also to choirs of Ballarat -The Choir of the Wesley Church, Ballarat; Choir and Orchestra of Loreto Abbey, Mary’s Mount, Ballarat; the Choir, Methodist Ladies College, Hawthorn; the Ballarat Civic Male Choir et cetera.
Perhaps at the other end of the spectrum, we have the more relaxed and more folksy style of Rolf Harris. Given Harris is now disgraced it is unlikely this will see any reprints.
The original we scanned is ‘filed’ somewhere we can’t locate for the minute. This cover seems to be different to the edition widely held in Australian libraries. We will update details once we locate the original. These songs apparently grew out of a children’s story Harris wrote (same title).
Aileen Sinclair says
I am trying to get a copy of ‘I sent a Christmas Coo-ee across the seas (from “Echo Carol of Australia”)”.
could you help me get a copy or advise me where it can be procured.
I am on the committee of our child care and it would be great to teach the children.
Thanking you
Aileen
mbede says
Aileen
My quick search hasn’t found it. Which state do you live in? Your local library or your local state library should take it as a query and be able to find you a copy.
One of our other readers may be able to assist.
Fingers crossed.
Aileen Sinclair says
I live on the Gold Coast Queensland
Thanks Aileen
ai Ling says
Hi
I am trying to get a copy of the music sheet for The Silver Stars Are In the Sky.
mbede says
We did a search on the Australian libraries database Trove. Search trove and it will take you to the site where you can do an advanced search by title. The sheet music is held by several major libraries.
Barry Gration says
Hi Aileen, I’d be happy to send you a copy by email but you’ll need permission from Allans to make multiple copies and/or to perform it.
Barry Gration says
Hi ai Ling
The Silver Stars Are In The Sky by Wheeler & James is in the first set of Australian Christmas Carols published by Chappell (1948) bar code 9317078135741(which is out of print) and also in the complete Australian Christmas Carols published by Alfred (2008) bar code 9317078707986 – which is hard to find, but the Australian Music Centre has copies for sale at $23 plus post
http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/workversion/james-william-g-australian-christmas-carols/2140
Sue Bell says
I am looking for the piano and vocal score to The Three Drovers – is that available anywhere?
Rachel Ruf says
Hi mbede, I’m trying to get the sheet music for Christmas Day and I’m having no luck. I tried Trove without success. I’m currently living in Germany and would love to sing this song with my choir here but without sheet music I’m stuck, can you help?
regards Rachel
Vivien Clowes says
I am wishing to purchase Five Australian Carols first set as pictured above. Please advise me if this is possible.
mbede says
Sorry my reply is too late I searched Trove and found lots of libraries that have copies of one or all of the three sets of this publication. It would then be a matter of asking the library or a local friend to copy as no one seems to have an online copy – probably still in copyright. Here is the link https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/20284732?q=Five+Australian+christmas+carols&c=book Maybe for next Christmas.
mbede says
It will be hard to buy a copy as it was published in 1948.
But if you are interested I can make an inquiry from our members who might be able to assist for a price.
If you just want the music you could photocopy at a major library, here is a link to major libraries who have copies
https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/20284732?q=Five+Australian+christmas+carols&c=book
Mandy Bede, ESA
mbede says
Dear Sue
Apologies for this late reply, perhaps it can be useful in 2018. We searched Trove and came up with some locations that seem to hold versions of the ‘Three drovers’. You or a local friend should be able to make a copy. https://trove.nla.gov.au/result?q=Three+drovers
Jan Leith says
Hello,
I have 2 excellent copies of “Five Australian Christmas Carols”, the First and second set if anyone is interested to purchase – as pictured above, with the second set being green with red writing
mbede says
Thanks Jan
In the past we have had people desperate for this, so if interest comes up again I will try to remember you, + your message will appear on our site.
Regards ESA
Caroline Porter says
Jan Keith,
If you still have those to sell, I’d love them. I had the first set as a child and would love my little grandchildren to hear them, learn them and eventually play them. How do I contact you to make arrangements?
Caroline.
mbede says
Caroline I have sent your request to Jan with your contact details
Leigh Newton says
I published two collections much later than Wheeler and James – Christmas in the Scrub (1983) and Christmas in the Shed (1999). Available in CDs and songbooks. You’ll find my website online along with a Bandcamp page (with music samples).
Christmas in the Scrub was used by hundreds of schools and churches around Australia and I still have inquiries today. (late 2021)
mbede says
Thanks for that information Leigh. This website is devoted to the identification and review of ephemera so our interest in the Australian Christmas songs was more about the covers than the songs themselves, although clearly this type of take on a traditional celebration often is ephemeral and doesn’t replace say the centuries old carol traditions. If your music has interesting cover art, please send us some scans.