Old English translations usually go in the other direction, so I am not used to seeing this, and am used to seeing the older form in alliterative verse. This has a feeling of being overliteral, very one-to-one from a dictionary, but I have no expertise in such things. I certainly would not try to offer a better version.
It is sung in that deep, ragged tone that everyone seems to want to use for Anglo-Saxons. For the ancient Irish, people want to go high and ethereal.
And I loved the refrain. I would keep it even if it proves to not be authentic.
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing this! The comments by the arranger (or whatever you call someone who does things like this) are interesting. I think we tend to make Christmas carols light, cheerful and bouncy, when in fact they would be better in this more somber, serious tone.
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