Sad Tidings by Elegant Simplicity

We began releasing Xmas singles in 2016 and continued until 2022. The aim was to end up with a body of work that would neatly congregate into one nicely themed album. That time is now. Not everything is here, though; just the most choice quality cuts! The normal length Good King Wenceslas and the full band Silent Night have been omitted to keep this album nice and lean and to avoid repetition..

Everything has been remastered and some parts re-recorded to give you the best possible listening experience.

Sources and Inspirations AKA History Lesson

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Based on an old English tune from around 1650

In The Bleak Mid Winter - Loosely based on an English poem by Christina Rossetti with music originally composed by Gustav Holst

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Derived from the work of prolific English hymn-writer Charles Wesley, 1739
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Based (again, very loosely) on a poem and carol by Edmund Sears, written around 1849

Joy To The World - Based on a work by English minister and hymn writer Isaac Watts, circa 1979

Sad Tidings - Based on an Austrian tune, circa 1818

Good King Wenceslas - Based on an 1853 translation of a Czech poem

Silent Night - Inspired by an Austrian tune, circa 1818. Same source as Sad Tidings

All of the above works are in the public domain and no copyrights have been knowingly infringed. My interpretations feature little bits of the above works wrapped up in new harmony and lashings of original music.

Tracklist

1.	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen	3:42

2.	In The Bleak Mid Winter	3:43

3.	Hark! The Herald Angels Sing	6:07

4.	It Came Upon A Midnight Clear	4:18

5.	Joy To The World	10:51

6.	Sad Tidings	4:38

7.	Good King Wenceslas (Extended)	5:29

8.	Silent Night (Quietly Does It)	3:37

Credits

released November 28, 2023

Steven McCabe
// Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Drums, Flute

With:
Maurizio Antonini
// Drums on ‘Sad Tidings’
Farah Rogers
// Vocals on ‘Silent Night (Quietly Does It)’

License