This work investigates the traditional English carol structure through the lens of early 20th-century choral arrangement. Ralph Vaughan Williams, a prominent composer and collector of English folk music, utilizes his expertise in modal harmony and folk melody to recontextualize the traditional Christmas carol. The text serves as a formal musical score, presenting a specific arrangement intended for performance by vocal ensembles.

Experts and choral directors frequently cite this arrangement as a standard reference for traditional English choral repertoire. Musicians note the clarity of the notation and the composer's signature approach to modal voice leading.