Here’s “The Wexford Carol,” performed by genre-jumping cellist Yo-Yo Ma and bluegrass/country vocalist and violinist Alison Krauss. Gently arranged over a colorless Eb drone, the piece switches from Eb major to Eb minor and back to Eb major within each verse. The carol’s origins are shrouded in mystery; according to Digital Medievalist, some claim that it dates back as far as the 12th century, though that seems unlikely. What’s known for certain is that in the late 1800s, it was incorporated into Oxford Book of Carols, likely the world’s best best known carol compilation.
Many thanks to first-time MotD contributor Steven Travis for this track!