Mabe

Sound, Sound your instruments of Joy comes from the West Gallery tradition when every church had a gallery for its musicians and singers. The non-conformist adopted this also and even the oldest chapels such as the 1810 thatched one at Gwithian have their West gallery. The Watersons Folk group in the sleeve notes on their 1977 record, named after the song, say that they learnt their version from an old (1934) BBC recording of the Mabe Male Voice Choir, from the Penryn district of Cornwall. The vicar of Mabe reported: 'The choir sings as their ancestors did. Such music as they have is in manuscript. They stand in a circle, the leader gives out the first line, and off they go, full tilt. They more or less make up their own harmonies'. -- From the liner notes by A. L. Lloyd.

This thriving tradition was almost ended with the introduction of Hymns Ancient and Modern in1861. However they have survived thanks to small groups of singers such as those at Padstow and Troon who you can hear singing this carol and others on Christmas morning in the village square at 10am.

Sound, Sound your instruments of Joy Tune: trad. Cornwall, c.1800)
Sound, Sound your instruments of Joy
To triumph shake each string
Let sounds of universal joy
Welcome him, the newborn king.

See, see the gladdening dawn appears
Bright angels deck the morn
Behold the great “I am” is given
The King of Glory's born.

Surprising scene, stupendous love
The Lord of Life descend
He left his glorious realms above
To be the the sinner's friend.

Let Heaven, Earth and Sea proclaim
The wondrous love of God
And all the universal frame
Sing praises to our God.

Federation of Old Cornwall Societies

www.oldcornwall.org