GOOD  KING  WENCESLAS



​Time signature: 4/4                                          
​
Lyrics: John Mason
​Music:  Thomas Helmore,based on a 13th century Easter carol first published in 1582 in Finland
​ACCORDION NOTATION

Beats per bar = 4

Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or   
                         equivalent             
Treble buttons above lyrics
Bass buttons below lyrics

Inside row (low) = Buttons 2 -5 plus o3
  
Verse 1 (of 5)

   .3       .3      .3       .3*   |   .3     .3           :2           |
Good  King  Wen - ces   -   las  looked   out____         
  o4      o3     o4     o3*       o4    o3         o4   o3
 
.o3*   .2    .o3*    .2*    |      :3              :3                |
On    the  feast    of           Ste____ - phen_____
i4*     o3    i4*     o3*          o4   o3      o4   o3        

    .3     .3       .3      .3*    |      .3       .3     :2            |
When  the   snow   lay       'round    a  - bout____, 
   o4    o3      o4     o3*          o4     o3     o4   o3

   .o3*    .2     .o3*      .2*   |   :3                 :3           |
Deep  and  chrisp,  and         e_____ -   ven____
   i4*    o3     i4*       o3*       o4   o3         o4    o3   



   .5      .4*     .4      .3*   |    .4      .3*     :3           |    
Bright - ly   shone  the     moon  that  night____, 
  o4      i3*    o4     o3*       o4    o3*     o4   o3

    .o3*     .2    .o3*   .2*   |   :3             :3             |
Though  the  frost  was      cru____-   el_____,
    i4*      o3    i4*     o3*      o4   o3     o4    o3

   .2      .2   .o3*    .2*   |     .3      .3     :3*              |    
When   a   poor  man      came   in   sight___    
   o4    o3    i4*   o3*         o4     o3    o4   o3

   .5       .4*   .4     .3*   |   :3         :4*        |   ::3                   |
Gath - 'ring  win - ter       fu____ _____  -    el____ ______
  o4      i3*    o4   o3*      o4  o3  i4*  i3*      o4   o3  o4  o3

EMBEDDED youTube VIDEOS

Eleven youTube videos in keys:    C=1       D=2        F=2       G=6 
​

Key:  C

Singer:  ?

Posted by: Peace Oshkosh Creative

​Beautifully sung.
Key:  D

Group:  Percy Faith Orchestra

Posted by:  Bob Barry

Instrumental.

Beautiful music, which departs slightly from the notation above in the last part.
Key:  D   

Singing begins at time 2:12

An R&R version with a strong beat, and includes several musical interludes that don't follow the notation above.

Singer:  Rob Halford

Posted by:  Rob Halford
Key:  F

Group:  The Ames Brothers

​Posted by:  The Ames Brothers - Topic
Key:  F

Group:  Alfred Music Jazz

Posted by:  Alfred Music Jazz

​A Jazz version arranged by Mike Collins-Dowden
Key:   F  from time 0 to 1:11
​          F# from 1:16 to End

Singers:  Linda Adamson
               and her daughter,
               Tessa Adamson,
​                of New Zealand

Posted by:  Christmas Songs and Carols - Love to Sing
Key:  G

Group:  The Roches

Posted by:  The Roches - Topic
Key:  G

Group:  The Barra MacNeils

Posted by:  The Barra MacNeils - Topic
Key:  G

Group:  Irish Rovers

Posted by:  BrothersCharles
​Key:  G

​Music begins at time 0:57

Organist:  Rob Charles

Posted by:  RobCharles1981
Key:  G

Group:  Skydiggers

Posted by:  Skydiggers
For humour . . . . .

​Key:  G

Group:  Horrible Histories

Posted by:  jamie932

The following was posted on the HH site by Oliver 0:

The words were by an English guy
The music, Scandinavian
Wenceslas was five-foot-six
He kept his face unshaven
Though just a duke throughout his life
He always ruled so justly
His kingly title was conferred
Upon him posthumously

​For a more serious historical "take", check the link at the bottom of this page.

Full Lyrics: 

​Verse 1




Verse 2




Verse 3




Verse 4




​Verse 5
Good King Wenceslas looked out, On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night, Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, Gath’ring winter fuel.

‘Hither, page, and stand by me, If thou know’st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?’
‘Sire, he lives a good league hence, Underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence, By Saint Agnes’ fountain.’

‘Bring me food and bring me wine, Bring me pine logs hither,
Thou and I will see him dine, When we bear them thither.’
Page and monarch forth they went, Forth they went together,
Through the cold wind’s wild lament, And the bitter weather.

Sire, the night is darker now, And the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer.’
‘Mark my footsteps, my good page, Tread thou in them boldly,
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage, Freeze thy blood less coldly.’

In his master’s steps he trod, Where the snow lay dinted,
Heat was in the very sod, Which the Saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, Wealth or rank possessing,
​Ye who now will bless the poor, Shall yourselves find blessing.

Background
 Click HERE for background information (from wikipedia) on this Christmas song.