Q 01/05

Where were the words of the carol first published, in 1780?

A) A church hymnal

B) A Scottish broadside

C) An illustrated children's book

D) A French songbook

Answer · why

C) An illustrated children's book

The words first appeared around 1780 in an illustrated children's book printed in London, with no music; the familiar tune was only set down in 1909.

Q 02/05

What was the title of that 1780 children's book?

A) Merry Christmastide

B) Mirth Without Mischief

C) The Yuletide Garland

D) Songs for the Season

Answer · why

B) Mirth Without Mischief

It printed the words but no tune. The familiar melody arrived more than a century later.

Q 03/05

What kind of parlour entertainment do early sources say the song began as?

A) A memory-and-forfeits game

B) A dancing competition

C) A card game for coins

D) A drinking wager

Answer · why

A) A memory-and-forfeits game

Early accounts describe a memory-and-forfeits game: each player repeated the growing list and paid a forfeit for a slip, which is why the gifts keep p...

Q 04/05

Who arranged the standard version of the carol, published in 1909?

A) John Stainer

B) Ralph Vaughan Williams

C) Cecil Sharp

D) Frederic Austin

Answer · why

D) Frederic Austin

Frederic Austin, a baritone and composer, published his arrangement in 1909; it became the standard melody, displacing the older folk tunes collected ...

Q 05/05

Which part of the tune is credited as an original addition rather than traditional?

A) The opening line

B) The final verse

C) The 'five gold rings' phrase

D) The pear tree refrain

Answer · why

C) The 'five gold rings' phrase

The drawn-out 'five gold rings' phrase was written by the 1909 arranger; the rest of the melody comes from much older folk versions of the song.