The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-24
CHRISTMAS MUSIC.
Christmas wsita and Chri,tmas Carols,

The festivities of Christmas, like those Of all
other great occasions, have always been ac-
corded the accompaniment of music, without
which they would, indeed, be "Hat, STALE and
Improbable" In England there is a class of
musicians who are termed
Christmas Waits,
although il is not known whether the word
originally denoted the music, the performers,
or the instruments upon which they played.
As early as the year l4O0 a company of "waits"
was established at Exeter, concerning whom
Rymer gives a long account, commencing as
follows:-
"a wayte, that nightelye from Michelmas to
Shreve Thorsdaye pipethe the watche withen
this Courte tower tymes; in the somere nyghtes
III tymes, and makethe bon gayte at every
cbambere.dore and ofyce, as we'll for feare of
pyckeres and pliers. be eateth in the halle
with mynstrielles, and takethe lyverye (allow-
aDce) at nyghte a lotfe, galone of ale, ETC."
From this account il would appear that in
the time OF Edward H. the "waitsh were pages
OF the court; but in later days they were merely
minstrels, whose strains were heard only at
Christmas time in England, and in Scotland
Christmas being there tabooed-at New-Year
In London, at the present time, they perambu-
late the streets at night for two or three weeks
before Christmas, performing the popular airs
OF the day on various wind instruments. Their
labors cease on Christmas eve, and soon after
buttons. In the early part OF the present cen.
tury they enjoYe ed an official standing with
monopoly OF their calling; but now every love
sick youth in the metropolis can become a
wait" If he like. In oldel times the "waitsn
were an indispensable element in the Yule-log
ceremonies which are described below.
The singing of
Christmas Carols
is another musical feature OF the great holiday,
which has long prevailed in gland; although,
we are sorry TO say, 1t is bat seldom heard OF
in this country. The Christmas carol is as old
as the festival itself, and in the primitive days
OF the Church It was customary for the bishop,
surrounded by his clergy, to take part in this
simple and beautiful ceremony. In these times
the carol was exclusively religious song, out
1t has gradually become so secuacized that but
little Of the religious element now remains
We subjoin a few stanZas from one of the most
touching OF these Christmas ballads:-
land all the bells on earth shall ring.
On Christmas day. on Christmas day;
An0 all the bel on ear b shall ring,
On Christmas day in the morning
And all the angels in heaven shall sing,
on hris day, on Christmas day;
And oil the angels In heaven shall snp
On ChristmBs cay in the morning.
And all the sou on earth sha sing
on gnri tmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the souls on earth shal sing
On Christmas day IN the morn ng
Then let us all rejoice amain
On Christmas Cay, on Christ mas day;
Then le' us all rejoice amain.
On Christmas day in the morning
Although the singing of Christmas carols has
never obtained much footing in this country
we have a ceremony of similar character in the
lays sung by the children at the Sunday School
anniversaries, which have OF late become an in
dispensable element in the American Christmas.