Carol Medley: The Boar's Head (with The Voice Squad)
The Boar's Head Carol is a macaronic 15th century[1][2] English Christmas carol that describes the ancient tradition of sacrificing a boar and presenting its head at a Yuletide feast. Of the several extant versions of the carol, the one most usually performed today is based on a version published in 1521 in Wynkyn de Worde's Christmasse Carolles.[1]
The boar's head in hand bring I, (Or: The boar's head in hand bear I,) Bedeck'd with bays and rosemary. I pray you, my masters, be merry (Or: And I pray you, my masters, merry be) Quot estis in convivio (Translation: As many as are in the feast) CHORUS Caput apri defero (Translation: The boar's head I offer) Reddens laudes Domino (Translation: Giving praises to the Lord) The boar's head, as I understand, Is the rarest dish in all this land, Which thus bedeck'd with a gay garland Let us servire cantico. (Translation: Let us serve with a song) CHORUS Our steward hath provided this In honour of the King of Bliss; Which, on this day to be served is In Reginensi atrio. (Translation: In the Queen's hall)