Daily Constitutional Editor and Rock'n'Roll London Guide Adam takes a listen to some Christmas music and looks for London connections…
God
Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen dates back to
at least the 17th Century.
The earliest known printed edition can be found in a
broadsheet dating from around 1670.
Its London connection?
It's the carol being sung through Scrooge's
letterbox in A Christmas Carol…
"The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge’s keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of
“God bless you, merry gentleman! May
nothing you dismay!”
Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy
of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and
even more congenial frost. At length the hour of shutting up the counting-house
arrived."
It's a course of action he goes on to
regret later in the story…
“I wish,” Scrooge muttered, putting his
hand in his pocket, and looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff:
“but it’s too late now.”
“What is the matter?” asked the Spirit.
“Nothing,” said Scrooge. “Nothing. There
was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to
have given him something: that’s all.”
Six versions of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen for you to enjoy…
Last week I asked London Walkers & London Walks Guides to pick their favourite seasonal music. here's the finished playlist…
Christmas 2017 With London Walks…
Walk up an appetite with The Christmas Morning 1660 Walk – meet at 11:00a.m by the big tree in Trafalgar Square
Walk off the pudding with The Christmas Day Charles Dickens Walk – meet by the big tree in Trafalgar Square at 2:00pm
A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
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