The Friendly Beasts

SKU: CF.FPS163F

ISBN 9781491163894. UPC: 680160922680.

The melody of The Friendly Beasts (“Orientis Partibus”) originated in twelfth-century France and has been attributed to Pierre de Corbeil, Bishop of Sens. The song migrated to England by the thirteenth century, where its popularity grew and in the early twentieth century the familiar English words were added. The melody has been set in both quadruple and triple meter and is presented in both meters here. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) included the carol in his English Hymnal (1906).The words in both the original Latin and modern English versions pay homage to the place of animals in the Christmas story. The carol has also been known as The Donkey Carol and The Animal Carol.This setting is intended to reflect the Medieval origins of the melody. Some freedom of tempo would be appropriate during the “chant” version of the melody (mm. 6–18). Adding poco ritardando at m. 28, at the discretion of the director, should lead to a stricter tempo in mm. 31–53, in the manner of a medieval round dance. A gentle approach to the performance is appropriate. Finger cymbals could be added to or replace all or part of the triangle part, again at the director’s discretion.