"Ding Dong Merrily on High" is a Christmas carol with
an ancient history. The tune was first published in
1589 by Jehan Tabourot (1519–1593) in his
"Orchésographie" (a book about 16th century French
Renaissance social dance). The tune appears under the
title "Branle de l'Official". The English composer
George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934) added the
lyrics and the carol was first published by him in 1924
in his "The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-two Songs
for Christmas, Easter, And Othe...(+)
"Ding Dong Merrily on High" is a Christmas carol with
an ancient history. The tune was first published in
1589 by Jehan Tabourot (1519–1593) in his
"Orchésographie" (a book about 16th century French
Renaissance social dance). The tune appears under the
title "Branle de l'Official". The English composer
George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934) added the
lyrics and the carol was first published by him in 1924
in his "The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-two Songs
for Christmas, Easter, And Other Seasons". Woodward had
an interest in church bell ringing, and this
undoubtebly aided his writing of the lyrics.