Twelve Days of Winter #12. Carnival Band with Maddy Prior: In Dulci Jubilo
December 13, 2024
Colin Randall writes: In Dulci Jubilo (in sweet rejoicing) is a traditional carol with roots in the Middle Ages. The original song used a macronic format - nothing to do with the beleaguered French president but referring to any phrase or expression combining different languages - of German and Latin text.
Steeleye Span's Maddy Prior, whose supreme vocal qualities have graced the Carnival Band on several of their 11 albums, settles here for English and Latin.
Christmas audiences have marvelled at the band's Carols and Capers concerts for 40 years. This year’s tour is the last with a final concert billed for December 23 at Bradford Cathedral.
The Carnival Band presents a rich fusion of early music and theatrical frolics.
In their own words, the result is a “kaleidoscope of instrumental and vocal colour, crossing continents, travelling through time and bending the rules”.
The musicians are Andy Watts, Giles Lewin, Andrew Davis (Jub) and Steno Vitale and draw on combined knowledge of folk, contemporary classical, baroque, medieval and Arabic music.
It all comes together to produce a gloriously joyful experience to the listener and, doubtless, great entertainment for those watching their stage antics.
Interestingly, Mike Oldfield took an instrumental version very close to the top of the UK charts as a Christmas novelty hit in 1976. That was jaunty and uplifting; Maddy Prior's singing and the slower pace suit the carol to perfection, narrowly squeezing out of my selection Steeleye Span's finest Christmas offering, the lush Holly and Ivy first recorded of more than half a century ago.
If you like folk, folk-rock or acoustic music, why not visit the Salut! Live Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2902595146676633/.
Comments