Sans Day Carol - arranged for cor anglais and piano by Jim Paterson

Here is an arrangement for cor anglais and piano of Sans Day Carol, a 19th Century tune from Cornwall. It is also known as St Day Carol after the village of St Day between Redruth and Truro (in Cornwall). The village of St Day or St They is named after a Breton Saint whose cult spread across Cornwall, when it had close ties with the Amorican region of ancient Gaul (including what is now Brittany in France). We believe that "Sans" is pronounced like the French word "Saint" which in turn is similar to the Cornish word "Sen". The Carol was originally passed by oral tradition until a local man Thomas Beard sang it to Mr W D Watson who then sang it to the Rev G H Doble. The carol was then published in various forms and included by Ralph Dunstan in his collections of local Cornish songs and carols. The words are reminiscent of the better known The Holly And The Ivy and are easily looked up. Choral renditions of Sans Day Carol are usually performed with a lively, bright and light feel. We have alternative arrangements of "Sans Day Carol" for guitar by Glenn Jarrett and for piano solo by Jim Paterson.

For this arrangement shown here for cor anglais and piano, the sheet music parts are the cor anglais part (which can also be played by a french horn) and the piano accompaniment (using the score). Depending on the musical instrument you use, substitute the cor anglais part with one of the following: Main instruments in C (flute, oboe, violin), High instruments in C (piccolo), Bass instruments in C (bassoon, cello, trombone), instruments in B-flat (clarinet, trumpet), instruments in E-flat (alto saxophone), or viola. This version for Guitar can be played solo or along with another instrument.