The Seven Joys of Mary (carol)

"The Seven Joys of Mary" (Roud # 278) is a traditional carol about Mary's happiness at moments in the life of Jesus, probably inspired by the trope of the Seven Joys of the Virgin in the devotional literature and art of Medieval Europe. Though not traditionally associated with Christmas, it has become so in the modern era.

The Seven Joys of Mary (1480), Hans Memling

Versions

The song has English and American versions referring to different acts by Jesus that gave joy to Mary:[1][2]

English versionAmerican version
1Sucking at her breastBeing born
2Curing the lameCuring the lame
3Curing the blindCuring the blind
4Raising the deadReading the Old Testament in the Temple
5Bearing the crossRaising the dead
6Wearing the crown of HeavenRising from the dead
7Writing with a golden penWearing the crown of Heaven

Tune

The common music is sung thus:[3]


\new Staff <<
\clef treble \key bes \major {
      \time 6/8 \partial 8
      \relative f' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"flute"
	f8 | bes4 bes8 bes4 c8 | d4 c8 bes4 bes8 | c4 c8 a4 a8 | bes4.~ bes4 \bar"" \break
        f8 | bes4 bes8 bes4 c8 | d4 c8 bes4 bes8 | c4 c8 a g a | bes4.~ bes4 \bar"" \break
        bes8 | c4 c8 c4 c8 | c4 d8 es d c | d4 d8 d4 d8 | d4 es8 f4.~ \bar"" \break
        f4. f4 es8 | d4 c8 bes4 es8 | d4 c8 bes4 bes8 | c4 c8 a g a | bes4.~ bes4 \bar"|."
      }
    }
%\new Lyrics \lyricmode {
%}
>>
\layout { indent = #0 }
\midi { \tempo 4. = 80 }

Recordings

See also

References

  1. Digital Tradition Folk Music Database: The Seven Joys of Mary: link
  2. Digital Tradition Folk Music Database: The Seven Joys of Mary (2): link
  3. ChristmasSongbook.net: Link(scroll down all the way) Archived 2007-02-18 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

  • An Online Christmas Songbook: The Seven Joys of Mary: link
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