The Cherry Tree Carol — Choir of Worcester Cathedral

The Choir of Worcester Cathedral, under the direction of Donald Hunt, perform Hunt's arrangement of 'The Cherry Tree Carol' for a cappella choir and treble soloist(s).

The carol—which, Wikipedia notes, has the 'rare distinction of being both a Christmas carol and one of the Child Ballads'—is derived from New Testament apocrypha regarding the birth and childhood of Jesus. In this particular story, the unborn Jesus commands a cherry tree to bend and deliver fruit to Mary when Joseph, angered over her pregnancy to another, refuses her request that he gather her some fruit for her to eat.

Treble solos performed by Worcester chorister Robert Stringer.

[ Text: ]

Joseph was an old man

And an old man was he,

When he married Mary

In the land of Galilee

Joseph and Mary walked

Through an orchard so good,

Where was cherries and berries

So red as any blood.

O then bespoke Mary,

With words so meek and mild,

'Pluck me one cherry, Joseph;

For I am with child.'

O then bespoke Joseph,
With words so unkind:
'Let him pluck thee a cherry
That brought thee with child.'

[ Missing verse:
O then bespoke the babe,
Within his mother's womb:
'Bow down then the tallest tree,
For my mother to have some.' ]

Then bowed down the highest tree
Unto His Mother's hand;
Then she cried, 'See, Joseph,
I have cherries at command!'

Then bespoke Joseph
'I have done Mary wrong!
But cheer up, my dearest,
And be not cast down.'

'O eat your cherries, Mary,
O eat your cherries, now;
O eat your cherries, Mary,
That grow upon the bough.'

Then Mary plucked a cherry,
As red as the blood,
Then Mary went onward
With her heavy load.

[ Recording available on the disk 'Christmas Carols' (Naxos, 1994). ]

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