Version 1:
Scoring: SABar choir and organ
Date: 2021
An arrangement of the traditional Christmas Carol "The Lord at first did Adam make" for three-part (SABar) choir and organ.
This ancient carol tells the story of the fall of Adam, causing humanity to be "wrapt in sin". Yet out of God's goodness we are redeemed by the birth of Christ. The listeners are exhorted to "begin an holy life to live, and to rejoice and merry be, for this is Christmas Eve."
The version presented here is intended for parish choirs lacking in tenor and bass singers, but with a good organ! It starts in a primeval way with open fifths in the organ part, developing into a minor key feel throughout the verses, but with a decidedly more positive feel in G major in each of the refrains. The accompaniment expresses the drama expressed in the lyrics without the choral parts becoming too involved, and the whole piece (4 1/2 minutes) ends on a celebratory Tierce de Picardy: "for this is Christmas Eve!"
Version 2:
Scoring: SATB choir and West Gallery Band (flute, violin, clarinet, bassoon)
Date: 2018
Another arrangement of the traditional Christmas Carol "The Lord at first did Adam make". It is scored for SATB choir and "West Gallery Band", of the kind that existed before organs became ubiquitous in English parish churches, i.e. for a number of instruments, although which instruments depends on the ones that are available. As in this arrangement, these often included violins, flutes and bassoons. The fourth instrument in this arrangement is the clarinet.
Links: pdf - mp3 - midi - mxl - sib
Words:
1. The Lord at first did Adam make
Out of the dust and clay,
And in his nostrils breathed life,
E'en as the Scriptures day.
And then in Eden's Paradise
He placed him to dwell,
That he within it should remain
To dress and keep it well.
R. Now let good Christians all begin
An holy life to live,
And to rejoice and merry be,
For this is Christmas Eve.
2. And thus within the garden he
Was set therein to stay,
And in commandment unto him
These words the Lord did say:
"The fruit which in the garden grows
To thee shall be for meat,
Except the tree in the midst thereof,
Of which thou shalt not eat."
R.
3. "For in the day that thou shalt it touch,
Or dost to it come nigh;
If so thou do but eat thereof
Then surely thou shalt die."
But Adam he did take no heed
Unto that only thing,
But did transgress God's holy law,
And so was wrapt in sin.
R.
4. Now mark the goodness of the Lord
Which he for mankind bore,
His mercy soon he did extend,
Lost man for to restore;
And then for to redeem our souls
From death and hellish thrall,
He said his own dear son should be
The Saviour of us all.
R.
