The Boar’s Head Carol — arr. Casey Rule

Approximate performance time: c. 1:15
Year composed: 2014

Written for the Princeton Singers

Text

The boar’s head in hand bear I
Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary.
And I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio¹

Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino²

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.³

Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of Bliss;
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginesi atrio.⁴

 

1. Translation: As many as are in the feast
2. Translation: The boar’s head I offer, Giving praises to the Lord
3. Translation: serve with a song
4. Translation: In the hall of Queen’s