St. Ives Cornish Carol Tradition Celebrated at Truro Cathedral (100 years of the Federation)

Federation of Old Cornwall Societies:
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Time-codes:
00:00 Start of Service
02:41 Introduction by Alan Bashforth
08:29 Alan Bashforth introduces William Thomas, Music Director
08:56 William Thomas reads 'The Carol Choir' (John Barber)
13:43 (Joseph Tanner)
16:33 (Colan 'Cully' Williams)
20:16 William Thomas explains the importance of Cornwall's Carolling tradition
23:53 Alan Bashforth introduces Karin Easton, President of the Federation of the Old Cornwall Societies
24:41 Karin Easton celebrates 100 years of the Federation of the Old Cornwall Societies
26:15 Karin Easton reads (Charles Causley)
29:47: Glad Tidings (Colan 'Cully' Williams)
32:15 William Thomas introduces The Victory Carol (Colan 'Cully' Williams)
32:56 The Victory Carol (Colan 'Cully' Williams)
36:18 Alan Bashforth ask William Thomas 'How has Carolling changed over the years?'
38:17 Alan Bashforth introduces Margaret Stevens
38:30 Margaret Stevens on the Founding of St. Ives Old Cornwall Society
48:44 Beautiful Child of Bethlehem (Colan 'Cully' Williams) (Accompanied by The Red River Singers)
52:47 See the Morning (Colan 'Cully' Williams) (Accompanied by The Red River Singers)
56:30 Alan Bashforth asks William Thomas 'What is the future for Cornish Carolling?'
59:30 Alan Bashforth introduces former Truro Mayor, Bert Biscoe
1:00:00 Bert Biscoe reads 'A Camel's Tale'
1:08:03 Alan Bashforth offers thanks to all who made the evening possible
1:08:59 Alan Bashforth asks William Thomas 'Why is Hellesveor often the last Carol sung?'
1:10:22 Alan Bashforth offers a Blessing
1:10:55 Hellesveor (Colan 'Cully' Williams)

"To celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Old Cornwall movement in St Ives in 1920, as President and Events Officer of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies I arranged for a service to be held in Truro Cathedral featuring St Ives carols, or ‘curls’. This was held on Thursday 16th December in 2021, a year late having been postponed because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The carols of which St Ives singers are particularly proud, some of which were chosen for the Cathedral Service, are those composed by Colan Williams (1858-1935) known as ‘Cully’. He had migrated to America but returned to St Ives after becoming blinded in a mining accident in the 1890s. Cully learned to play the organ and his love of singing led him to compose 20 carols, sometimes with music to well-known words, sometimes the music and the words. These were still being sung in 2021 in Methodist chapels, St Uny Church Lelant, Tesco carpark, Tate St Ives and outside the homes of the sick. On Christmas Eve the Carol Choir gathered to sing around the town, finishing at Mount Zion on the harbour with See the Morning to welcome Christmas Day and the birth of the Christ Child.

Hellesveor is Cully’s most famous ‘curl’. Named after the chapel where he worshipped and played the organ, people stand whenever the carol is sung in St Ives, rather like they do for Handel’s Hallelujah chorus. In the Cathedral the carollers sang What Melody, Incarnate Love, Glad Tidings, Victory Carol, Beautiful Child, See the Morning and Hellesveor. For the final three the St Ives Combined Chapels Cornish Carol Choir were joined by the Red River Singers. William Thomas conducted the carols, accompanied by Katrina Geraghty on the piano. The Introduction and Opening Prayer were by the Reverend Canon Alan Bashforth. Canon Alan had been a curate at St Ives so was familiar with the carols. As part of the service, he led a dialogue with William Thomas about the carol singing tradition in St Ives.

Organising it with me were Canon Alan Bashforth, Bert Biscoe and William Thomas who were all very efficient, experienced and reliable to work with. Hilary Coleman worked extremely hard beforehand with the Red River Singers to teach them St Ives carols in a short time. I think she enjoyed singing in the choir rather than conducting for a change. The Cathedral staff and volunteers were very helpful with the live streaming, setting up and taking down. On behalf of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies I would like to thank everyone who took part in such an uplifting service."

Karin Easton, President and Events Officer, Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, 16th January 2022.
https://cornishnationalmusicarchive.c...