(Anonymous 15th Century English)
(Modern text- George Ratcliffe Woodward)
This carol was first published in William Ballet’s Lute Book in c1590 with a fifteenth century text from the Sloane Manuscript.
It appeared as “Blyssid Be Yt Mayde Mary” by William Sandys in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London: Richard Beckley 1833) and “Blyssid be that mayde Mary” in Specimens of Old Christmas Carols Selected from Manuscripts and Printed Books (London: The Percy Society 1841) by Thomas Wright. The more modern text 0f the original manuscript first appeared in the Cowley Carol Book by Charles Wood and George Ratcliffe Woodward in 1902 and has since been published in Carols Old and Carols New as “Blessed Be That Maid Marie” by Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, (Boston: Parish Choir in 1916) and Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 by Edith Rickert (London: Chattoo & Windus in 1914),
The carol has been recorded several times and arranged by Sir David Willcocks and Robert DeCormier.
Choir of Kings College recordings
London 425-499 (CD – On Christmas Night)
Arranger – Sir David Willcocks
London 444 848 (CD: Noel – Christmas at Kings)
Conductor – Sir David Willcocks
Robert DeCormier Singers and Ensemble recordings
Arabesque Z6525 (CD – A Victorian Christmas’)
Conductor and arranger – Robert DeCormier
Sources:
- https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/blyssid_be_yt_mayde_mary.htm
- https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/blyssid_be_that_mayde_mary.htm
- https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/blessed_be_that_maid_mary.htm
- https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/blessed_be_that_maid_marie.htm
- https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dw.asp?dc=W19166_GBAKR9312115
- https://www.discogs.com/release/23658104-Kings-College-Choir-Willcocks-On-Christmas-Night