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Gloucester Wassail / Winterlude

by Al Petteway & Amy White

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about

Traditional English
Arranged by Al Petteway and Amy White
Winterlude by Amy White

This instrumental version of Gloucester Wassail originally appeared on "A Holiday Sampler" with Robin Bullock, released on Al & Amy's Fairewood Studios label in 2001. It was released again a year later on the classical Dorian Recordings label, with a few extra tracks. Dorian ended up behaving rather badly, though, so all rights for the recordings reverted back to the artists -- hence this post on Bandcamp.

This classic wassailing song depicts the practice of peasants going from house to house to demand the best ale and bread from those who were much better off. The tradition of role reversal during harvest and winter solstice celebrations was practiced in many cultures. The English version of this tradition, wassailing, led to the outlawing of Christmas celebrations by the church. It wasn't until the mid-nineteenth century that Christmas was established as a religious, family-centered holiday.

Many of the verses toast various members of the household including the horses and dog. Most interesting are the verses that warn the occupants of what might happen if they don't comply with the wassailers' demands:

"Come, butler, come fill us a bowl of the best,
Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest;
But if you do draw us a bowl of the small,
Then down shall go butler, bowl and all."

Homeowners would sometimes lock their doors and turn off the lights, hoping to be passed by, but this didn't always fool the wassailers, as illustrated in this last verse:

"Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock!
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,
For to let these jolly wassailers in.

credits

released December 1, 2001
GLOUCESTER WASSAIL:
Traditional English, Arranged by Amy White and Al Petteway
WINTERLUDE:
by Amy White
Al: guitar
Amy: Celtic harp, piano, whistles

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Al Petteway Asheville, North Carolina

Al Petteway was a beloved Grammy-Winning Fingerstyle guitarist. His lyrical, and emotional sound crossed genres and is featured in many Ken Burns' films, including, “The National Parks.” Al and his wife and musical partner, Amy White, moved from DC to western North Carolina in 2002. They loved living above the clouds with the mountains as inspiration.

Rest in Play, Al Petteway (1952-2023) ... more

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