Christmas Carol Film Flub In Five A Christmas Carol films
by R. Rojas
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was published in 1843. There are only two musical pieces mentioned in the book. They are "Sir Roger de Coverley" and "God
rest you merry, Gentleman."
Using the book, we had problems finding any clues as to when the events in "A Christmas Carol" actually takes place. Does the story take place the year of the publication: 1843? Or before? Let us assume the story takes place in that year for the purposes of this article.
"Sir Roger de Coveley"
"Sir Roger de Coverley" is a fiddle tune, more appropriately an English/Scottish Country dance. Versions of this dance were published as early as 1695 in The Dancing Master.During Fezziwig's party (Stave 2), if a film uses something other
than "Sir Roger de Coverly," which is so widely available in scores
and public domain websites, and also in recording, the firm's producers deserve
a visit by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman" or "God Bless You, Merry Gentleman"
As for "God Rest You Merry, Gentleman," it is the only carol mentioned in the book, although group singing is mentioned at various parts in the book. In Stave 1, of "God Rest You Merry Gentleman," Dicken's writes:
The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge’s keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of
“God bless you, merry gentleman!
May nothing you dismay!”Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.
Of course, the carolers sing "God bless you, merry gentleman" a variation on the text. Dickens also moves the comma.
Although the carol "God rest" is mentioned in the
book, what tune were they using?
I had thought I heard one carol scholar lecture in which he
stated that it would not be sung to the tune as we know it. That tune would be
the "London Tune."(1)
We know that mention of the carol goes as far back as 1650.
The carol was printed in Three New Christmas Carols, London, on or about
1760. If my ear were correct in listening to the above-mentioned carol scholar,
he may have been referring to the tune "Cornish," of which was in
print at least by 1833 (Sandy's).(2)
The editors of The Oxford Book of Carols described
"Cornish" as the "usual version." The carol was already
included in 1833 in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern by William B. Sandys who published both
"London Tune" and "Cornish."
We would assume that if Dickens were describing a story
taking place in London in the 1840s, the tune would be the "London
Tune." However, we also could imagine some Cornish migrants to London singing
the carol to the tune they are used to. Although the mining area described in
the book is not named, perhaps it was Cornwall. However, the Welsh may
disagree, and the miners have been portrayed as Welsh in one A Christmas
Carol adaptation (FX/BBC 1, 2019). Nevertheless, we can be too hasty as the
Getting back to "God Rest...", I searched high and
low for a video performance of a choir singing "God Rest Your Merry, Gentleman" to "Cornish" tune, but to no avail. However, in a
video of Jeremey Summerly's lecture for Gresham College, "The
19th-century Taming of the Christmas Carol, from St Erth to Truro," he
speaks about Sandys and the carol. The St Luke’s of Chelsea Choir performs
the carol to both the "London Tune" and to "Cornish." The
performance is about 20 minutes into the lecture. A warning though, even the
"London Tune," as transcribed by Sandys, will sound different to our
ears.
"A Christmas Carol" 1938
The 1938 "A Christmas Carol," which starred Reginald Owen, had its score done by Franz Waxman. In the introductory credits, he has a suite of "Silent Night," jumping to a choral version of "Hark, the Herald." Of course, it is to Felix Mendelssohn's music, which would not have been put to the carol until ten years after A Christmas Carol's publication. (See below).
We will spare it as it is in the films credit introduction.
"God Rest You Merry, Gentleman"
As Scrooge goes to the pub for his meal after leaving the counting house, children carolers sing "God Rest Your Merry, Gentleman" using the "London Tune." (book Stave 1).
"O Come All Ye Faithful"
With The Ghost of Christmas Present's visit (book Stave 2), they visit a church where the congregation is signing "O Come all ye faithful" which, historically, would have already been sung at that time. (3) William Crump, in his The Christmas Encyclopedia, states that the Duke of Leeds heard the song sung at the Portuguese embassy in London in 1795. We are assuming it was sung in English. Andrew Gant, author of The Carols of Christmas: A Celebration of the Surprising Stories Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs, says, "The first English version dates from around 1797." (p. 58).
There is also a suite that Waxman wrote which can be found online:
"Scrooge" 1951
This post-War United Kingdom film starring Alastair Simms is, by many, considered the quintessential A Christmas Carol adaptation. The soundtrack is by Richard Addinsell.
The credits begin with "Hark, the Herald," which would not have been set to Felix Mendelssohn's 1840 tune until 1855, after the publication of Dicken's book. We will let this one go as it is in the credits.
"Silent Night"
As Scrooge walks to his office, some child carolers-beggers sing "Silent Night." It also is played in the score in the background as the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives (Book Stave 2). Composed in 1818, "Silent Night” would have been about 25 years old by 1843, but its popularity grew fast. We will put this as possibly-historically accurate.
Countering this is that the editors of the New Oxford Book of Carols (NOBOC)(p. 304-305), who state "Silent Night" premiered in Leipzig in 1832, and later published in Vier achte Tyroler Lieder by A. R Friese. The editors do not say when it was published in English but we assume circa 1832, because the editors go on to mention Friese published in 1833. The editors talk of the carol's popularity spreading in Germany, Austria, and "America," but add that in England, "Like 'Joy to the World', 'it was for a long time considered vulgar in England and was omitted from most hymn- and carol-books."
We did our own review of facsimiles of carol books published in the 1800s. Although not exhaustive, we did not see "Silent Night" in any carol books until 1899's The Westminster Carol Book: A Collection of Ancient and Modern Carols, which was compiled and arranged by Edgar Pettman. The entry in that book has "Arranged by Haydn."
"Hark, the Herald"
In the film, "Hark" is repeated again in the score background, when the Ghost of Christmas Present arrives (Book Stave 3).
"Silent Night" plays as background music for the Present's visit to the Crachets, and then is played again as the film ends.
"Hark, the Herald," is sung by the miners to Mendelssohn's tune, so here, this is within the four walls of the film. It is safe to declare this historically inaccurate (see below).
"I saw three ships"
This carol is played instrumentally when Scrooge gives a coin to Mrs. Dilber on Christmas morning. It is not within the four walls of the film. Nevertheless, it would have been heard or played in 1840s London.
Polka
At Fred's party, he askes that a polka be played. The song played sounds similar to a traditional Slovenian polka called "Stoparjeva" ("hitch-hiker"). The polka or proto-polka would have just started to make its way through Europe in the 1840s.
"Barbara Allen"
At Fred's party, the tradition English folk song "Barbara Allen" is sung. The song is documented as far back as 1666, though even way back then, it would feel gloomy to sing at a Christmas party.
Richard Addinsell wrote a suite for the film which can be found online:
Scrooge Suite
"A Christmas Carol" `1984
Nineteen Eighty-Four's A Christmas Carol is a bit more amusing and is the most accurate musically. The soundtrack is by Nick Bicât. The Totally Rad Christmas Podcast has recently (2025) done a wonderful interview with Bicât.
Although the theme song occupies much of the movie, including within the walls of the film with carolers singing the theme with text, there is one potential musical mishap depending on how one views it.
"The Sussex Carol"
The first carol sung in the film is "The Sussex Carol," which some scholars have moved to label it "On Christmas Night all Christian sing."(4) The words can be found as early as 1684 in an Irish text Small Garland of Pious and Godly Songs (1684) by poet Luke Wadding.
It is found in Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878).
It was largely forgotten when Ralph Vaughn
Williams and Cecil Sharp "re-discovered" the carol via their
fieldwork and recordings. The tune most sung today, Vaughn Williams took down
from Mrs. Harriet Verrall of Monk's Gate, near Horsham, Sussex (hence
"Sussex Carol").
Sharp first published his in 1911 in English Folk-Carols. His was sung to him by Mr. William Bayliss of Buckland of
Gloucestershire. Sharp notes in his book's notes, "The carol, set to a
modern tune, is published in Bramley and Stainer's collection; while three
traditional versions are printed in The Folk-Song Society's Journal (II,
pp. 126–7). It refers to the Bramley and Stainer's Christmas Carols New
and Old (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878) although the tune was
different from those collected by Vaughn Williams and Sharp.
Vaughn Williams used the carol in his 1912 Fantasia
on Christmas Carols. He later published it as "Carol #2" in his Eight
Traditional English Carols (1919). The first printing of the music appears
to have been in The Folk-Song Society's Journal, Vol. 2, p. 127 in 1905.
The problem is that we do not know how old the tune is that
Vaughn Williams took down it. Could it have been sung in 1840s London? It is
possible.
There is also A Christmas Carol Suite that can be found online:
A Christmas Carol 1999 (a.k.a. "Patrick Stewert
version")
"While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night"
("Winchester Old")
In the 1999 TNT/Hallmark TV movie A Christmas Carol, Stephen Warbeck does the soundtrack. We would put this film as the most musically inaccurate.
In the film,
the carolers are next door to Scrooge's office singing "While Shepherds
Watched" to the "Winchester Old" tune. This is entirely possible
as we have elaborated on our post on this carol (The
Most Popular Christmas Song: "While Shepherds Watched"), there
were many tunes to "While Shepherds Watched" circulating. The text
was first published in 1696, and various tunes have been used. Called
"Winchester Old" as to not be confused with another
"Winchester" tune (called "Winchester New"), the editors of
the NOBOC date the tune to more one-hundred years
older than the text. (p. 143). The carol appears in a 1592 publication whose name is
too long to mention here, so see the editor's notes.
"Old King Wenceslas" (Pie cantiones)
In the film, a boy who is part of the carolers goes to
Scrooge's door and begins singing "Good King Wenceslas." There is a
problem with this.
Although the tune that "Good King Wenceslas" uses (the 13th-century
spring carol "Tempus adest floridum") is old and precedes the 1840s
by a few hundred years, the text is not as old.
English hymnwriter John Mason Neale set his text about King
Wenceslas to the music of "Tempus Adest Foridum" in 1853, ten years
after the purported date of the events in A Christmas Carol. The carol, as
we know it, first appeared in Carols for Christmas-Tide, published by
Novello & Co in 1853.
However, for this film, it is not Dicken's error, it is the
filmmakers.
"Hark, The Hearld Angels" (F. Mendelssohn)
In another scene, Bob Cratchit asks Tiny Tim to sing a carol , and he begins singing "Hark, the Hearld Angels Sing" to
Felix Mendelssohn's tune "Vaterland, in deinen Gauen"
from Mendelssohn's cantata Festgesang (Gutenberg Cantata). This cantata was first performed in 1840. (5) Now, remember, we are placing the events in A
Christmas Carol in 1843.
Although both the text and the cantata predate A
Christmas Carol, this scene is also in error.
Charles Wesley authored the poem from which we get the
carol. He wrote "Hymn for Christmas-Day" (Hark's original title)
and he published it in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739.
However, though it became an extremely popular carol sung to
many tunes, it was not sung to "Vaterland, in deinen Gauen"
until William Hayman Cummings set "Hark" to
the Mendelssohn's tune in 1855, more than ten years after the events
in A Christmas Carol.
It is possible that "Hark" could have been sung in
the early 1840s, but not to Mendelssohn's tune. Perhaps to
"Handel" or "C.B. Madon." Madon's version was from Martin
Madon's A Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (1769). Other tunes that
predate Mendelsohn include "Savannah" (see "Love's Redeeming Work
is Done"), "Easter Hymn (in Lyra Davidica. 1708)(see "Christ
the Lord is Risen Today"), and "Salzburg" ("At the Lamb's
High Feast We Sing").(6)
"Jesus Christ is Risen Today"
"Silent Night"
When the Ghost of Christmas Present visits (Book Stave 3), he takes Scrooge
on a journey to which features miners and sailors celebrating Christmas. In
films, this is a not-often portrayed part of the book. The 1951 film portrays
the miners. While going on this tour, "Silent Night" is played and
also sung by the people Scrooge and the spirit visit (miners, sailors, etc.).
The legend it that "Silent Night" was composed on Christmas Eve 1818,
so it is possible that it might have achieved popular dispersal twenty-five
years later in 1843 as witnessed in the film. The editors of the NOBOC may
disagree (see above).
Disney's A Christmas Carol
It should be mentioned that Alan Silvestre's score for 2009's Disney's
A Christmas Carol, although superb, and one of my favorites, quotes carols
that would have been written /composed after the time of the events in A
Christmas Carol.
Those Silvestre samples:
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman (London Tune)
Joy to the World (tune used not put to Issac Watt words
until 1836)
Deck the Hall (tune is a Welsh one dating to the 16th
century)
Hark, the Hearld Angels (see above) - samples
both the text ("Touch my robe") and Mendelssohn's tune
Ave Maria (Bach/Gound)(although the J.S. Bach melody
from a "Prelude No. 1 in C major," BWV 846, from Book I of
his The Well-Tempered Clavier, would have been around since 1722,
Charles Gounod would not superimpose on it until 1853.
Come all ye faithful (1751)
Jolly Old St. Nicholas (tune first published in the 1870s)
Here we come a-wassailing (London Tune)
We are not going to punish Silvestre for sampling music that
is not actually used within the four walls of a film. However, to the carol
scholar and enthusiast, it is interesting paradox.
When Christmas Past takes Scrooge to his school (Book Stave 2), the
children pass by on a sleigh singing "Here we come a-wassailing" using the "London Tune" which would have been historically accurate, especially in the
countryside.
Boy Scrooge sings "Adeste fideles" while stuck in his school. Again, historically possible (see above).
When Scrooge walks to his office the
day after Christmas (Book Stave 5), the carolers are singing "Joy to the World." As
mentioned above, the tune was put to "Joy to the World" in 1836, although the tune is older. Was it sung by carolers in 1843? We will put
this as possible, as the pairing was published in several books before
1843.(7)
At the very end of the film (Book Stave 5), Scrooge walks down the street
with Tiny Tim on his shoulders as carolers sing and Bob Cratchet gives the
final lines of the book. "Hark, the Herald" to Mendelssohn's tune is heard. It is hard to
see if the carolers are singing this or we are hearing solely the ending
song.
Scrooge walking with Tiny Tim on his shoulders implies
Scrooge has paid to cure Tiny Tim's ailments and disabilities, so some years
have passed.
If the carolers are singing it, it may be post-1855. We are sure the filmmakers did not think this through, but if this scene is post-1855, carolers could be singing "Hark" to Mendelsohn's tune.
I searched the original illustrations that were used for A Christmas Carol and Scrooge carrying Tiny Tim on his back is not one of these original illustrations. One would think it was one of the original illustrations, however, it probably came later.
Would carolers have been singing it on the streets of London already in 1855. It is possible.
There is also a suite that can be found online for the film. I am not sure if it is on the soundtrack.
A Christmas Carol (FX/BBC 1)
"Good King Wenceslas"
The 2019 FX/BBC 1 adaptation has the least Christmas carols sung. In fact, most of the carols heard are heard faintly in the background. Volker Bertelmann and Dustin O'Halloran do the soundtrack. Before Bob Cratchet arrives to the office, the tune "Tempus Adest Foridum" is being played by an unseen street musical. We do not know the film maker's intention. Is this is supposed to be "Good King Wenceslas"? The tune would have existed since the 15th century but not put to the carol until after the events in the book in 1853. Gant says British diplomat brought a copy of the original Finish tune to London in that same year. (p. 138)
"Joy to the World"
The carolers sing "Joy to the World" outside Scrooge's counting house as the films begins, but they can only be heard faintly. Again, the tune is old, but the text and tune do not meet until 1836, so it is possible it would be sung by street carolers in 1840s/50s London.
"The First Noel"
In what we are assuming is Christmas Eve back at the Cratchets. Bob and Tim Cratchet are in the house. Bob carves wooden animals, and Tiny Tim practices his walking. A musician which seems to be outside, is playing "The First Noel," of which the editors of the NOBOC say the text dates back to the fifteenth century (p. 482) as it appears in broadsides from Cornwall during that period. It is published without music in Davis Gilbert Some Ancient Christmas Carols (1923). The editors state Davis Gilbert took it from an 1816 manuscript that also had the tune. We will not age the tune here as we have it was in existence in both tune and text before 1843.
This film adaptation may be set later than others as when the Ghost of Christmas Past visits Scrooge, he is shown the tombstone whose inscription states Scrooge died in 1851. At the beginning of the film, Marley's tombstone says 1842, so seven years later, at least if one if faithful to the book, would be 1849.
"Holly and the Ivy"
Later again, "The Holly and the Ivy" is heard in the background. This is entirely possible as is the carol by that time is old. When the two men solicit Scrooge for a donation, I believe "I saw three ships" is sung. This carol is also a very old carol.
"O Come all ye faithful"
"Come all ye faithful" is heard in the background, when Christmas Present visits. Again, very possible.
This A Christmas Carol adaptation visits the miners, as in the book. The only difference is that the miners are not singing, and the visit is done during a mine collapse in Wales. The mine is said to have belong to Scrooge and Marley.
Suo Gân
A Welsh congregation sings "Suo Gân" at the funeral for the miners. Though not Christmas carol, "Suo Gân" is included in many a Christmas choral album. In actuality, since it seems to be sung in Welsh by the congregation, we do know if the congregation sings the lullaby lyrics or is singing a hymn set the tune (e.g., "Christ Before Us," "Christ Has Risen While the Earth Slumbers," "Now the Heavens Start to Whisper"). We will defer to our Welsh speakers.
"Molly Malone"
Scrooge's father visits him also, his father sings "Molly Malone." Although not see in a publication until the late 1800s, scholars think the song existed in some form before 1800.
Conclusion
It seems that filmmakers think "Hark" and "Silent Night" were sung all though the 1800s in the United Kingdom, but this is incorrect. It seems there are many efforts to make A Christmas Carol historically accurate although to the detriment of making it musically inaccurate.
Notes:
1. Keyte, Hugh and Parrot, Andrew, ed. The New Oxford Book of Carols, Oxford University Press, 1992, p. 522. Jeremy Summerly says the titling of the tune "London" does not denote the tunes origins as it descents from a Mediterranean tune. It is used in "Here we come a wassailing." See link in Note 5.
2. Sandys, William. Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, 1923.
3. Andrew Gant says in his The Carols of Christmas: A Celebration of the Surprising Stories Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs: "The first English versions dates from around 1797. A hymnologist writing in the 1890s knew of nearly forty versions." Nelson Books, 2014, p. 58.
4. The editors of The Oxford Book of Carols (1923) labeled the carol "The Sussex Carol," and the editors of The New Oxford Book of Carols (1992) label is "On Christmas Night all Christians sing (The Sussex Carol)". It may be because to be historically actuate, the editors of the New could not tie the carol only to Sussex. Sharp's version was taken from a man in Gloucestershire, so why not the "Gloucestershire Carol"? I would have to comment that the "On Christmas Night all Christians" title has not stuck as well as "Sussex Carol" and it is rare to see a recording of this carol called "On Christmas Night....". So, here we will stick with the 1923 name.5. In Jeremy Summerly's lecture for Gresham College "A Cause for Caroling," "Vaterland, in deinen Gauen" is performed by the accompanying choir.
6. See Andrew Gant p. 111.
7. See New Oxford Book of Carols, p. 270.
8. I am unsure if the "dwarfism" is the correct term of if it is pejorative or euphemistical. In some literature, "little person" is said to be the "preferred term" with persons with this condition. Actor Lenny Rush has portrayed Tiny Tim on stage an in the 2019 FX/BBC 1 adaptation of A Christmas Carol. He is about 10 years old in the when he played Tiny Tim in the film.
References:
Bramley, Henry Ramsden and Stainer, John, Christmas Carols New and Old, London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878.Crump, William D. The Christmas Encyclopedia, McFarland, 2022.
Dearmer, Percy; Shaw, Martin; and Vaughan Williams, Ralph. Oxford Book of Carols, Oxford University Press, 1928.
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