The Lord at first did Adam make

As the refrain of the text states, this carol is intended for Christmas Eve. However, there are several "variations" in the text of the refrain, which make its use throughout Advent more "flexible."

The fine and strong tune is found in Davies Gilbert's West country collection, "Some Ancient Christmas Carols," and dates from 1822. There are originally seven verses, and the ones given here come from the groundbreaking "The Oxford Book of Carols," (1928) edited by Percy Dearmer (1867-1936), Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), and Martin Fallas Shaw, the arranger of this melody.

The music was composed by Martin Edward Fallas Shaw OBE FRCM (9 March 1875 – 24 October 1958) was an English composer, conductor and (in his early life) theatre producer. His over 300 published works include songs, hymns, carols, oratorios, several instrumental works, a congregational mass setting (the Anglican Folk Mass) and four operas including a ballad opera. Except in some places, he is largely forgotten, but when asked to describe him, Sir Michael Holroyd said: "A remarkable man who is insufficiently recognized these days."

Shaw, along with his brother Geoffrey, were important musical figures of their day. Both men were involved with the restoration of the Catholic liturgy in the Anglican Church, and both composed music of high quality, but of the "technical level" that it could be sung in parish churches, where it enhanced and beautified the liturgy.

I've played this sort of like a "Choir hymn," as there is no introduction. There are four verses used in this performance, and the full text is given in the First Comment.

Photos of Percy Dearmer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Martin Shaw are attached below.