Sussex Carol: All Piano Arrangements and Lead Sheets

Intermediate piano arrangements

• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 1

Lead sheets in 7 keys

Choose a key — 7 available

• A major
• B♭ major
• C major
• D major
• E♭ major
• F major
• G major

Hymnal setting

• Sussex Carol — Hymnal

A carol preserved from oral tradition

Sussex Carol is also known by its opening words, On Christmas Night. Ralph Vaughan Williams collected the familiar words and melody from Harriet Verrall at Monk’s Gate, near Horsham in Sussex, in 1904. Its text has older roots, showing how carols can pass between printed collections and the memories of individual singers. Stainer & Bell’s history of Sussex Carol.

From folk singing to choral Christmas music

Vaughan Williams’s work helped carry the carol from a local singing tradition into published choral repertoire. Its lively character gives it a distinct place among the more reflective songs of Christmas. Modern choral and instrumental settings continue that movement from a singer’s remembered melody to music shared with a wider audience.

More Christmas sheet music on RTV

Explore Christmas Lead Sheets in Different Keys or browse Christmas Hymns from the Hymnal.