Nine Lessons and Carols 25.xii.14

[DracoM]

Nine Lessons and Carols
Chapel of King's College, Cambridge


Order of Service:



Hymn: Once in Royal David's City (desc. Cleobury)
Bidding Prayer read by the Dean

A Babe is Born (Mathias)
First lesson: Genesis 3: 8-19 read by a Chorister
Remember, O Thou Man (Ravenscroft)
Adam Lay Ybounden (Ledger)

Second lesson: Genesis 22: 15-18 read by a Choral Scholar
One Star, at Last (Maxwell Davies)
In Dulci Jubilo (Praetorius)

Third lesson: Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7 read by a Representative of the Cambridge Churches
Sussex Carol (arr. Willcocks)
Hymn: Unto us is born a Son (arr. Willcocks)

Fourth lesson: Isaiah 11:1-3a, 4a, 6-9 read by a Representative of the City of Cambridge
A Spotless Rose (Howells)
There Is No Rose (Medieval)

Fifth lesson: Luke 1 vv 26-38 read by a Representative of the sister College at Eton
Gabriel's Message (arr. Pettman)
Joys Seven (arr. Cleobury)

Sixth lesson: Luke 2:1 -7 read by the Chaplain
Lullaby (Birtwistle)
In The Bleak Midwinter (Holst)

Seventh lesson: Luke 2: 8-16 read by the Director of Music
L'adieu des Bergers (Berlioz)
Hymn: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (arr. Willcocks)

Eighth lesson: Matthew 2:1-12 read by the Vice-Provost
De Maria Virgine (Rütti -newly commissioned)
Ding, Dong, Merrily on High (arr. Wilberg / Stevens)

Ninth lesson: John 1: 1-14 read by the Provost
Hymn: O come, all ye faithful (arr. Willcocks)

Blessing

Hymn: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (desc. Cleobury)

Organ voluntaries:
In dulci jubilo (BWV 729) (Bach)
Symphony No. 6 in g minor Finale: Vivace (Widor)


Organ Scholar: Douglas Tang
Director of Music: Stephen Cleobury

[Anna]

I've just been listening on R4 as I always do. To me that broadcast always means the start of Christmas proper (does anyone listen to it on R3 I wonder or are all too busy eating Christmas dinner?)
Anyway, it's my all time annual favourite broadcast - as an ordinary punter with no choral background I love it.

[Petrushka]

I've just been listening on R4 as I always do. To me that broadcast always means the start of Christmas proper (does anyone listen to it on R3 I wonder or are all too busy eating Christmas dinner?)
Anyway, it's my all time annual favourite broadcast - as an ordinary punter with no choral background I love it.

Fully agreed. Even when I'm working on Christmas Eve I used to record and listen later in the evening and have never heard it on R3.

For the first time this year for me the broadcast was considerably enhanced by using the full order of service on the King's website. So good to hear the Willcocks' arrangements but a pity his wasn't done to Hark the Herald, the descant is a great tune in its own right. And, as usual, I get goosebumps on top of goosebumps at 'Word of the Father' - a thrilling sound as I pump up the volume.

[Philip]

I think that's one of the best commissioned carols in recent memory, which from an established name like Carl Rutti we would probably expect.

Cleobury does mix his descants a bit - we got his version 2 of Once in Royal but his version 1 Hark the herald. My challenge for tonight is to add even more of rall. on the build-up to 'Word of the Father' at MM.

[DracoM]

Liked the Rutti as well. Slightly odd sound - same 'echo' effect they used with John's at the Advent Carol Service. Have been to Festival of Nine lessons and it sounds not very much like that, to be honest.

V.Good altos, I thought.

[Finzi4ever]

I think that's one of the best commissioned carols in recent memory, which from an established name like Carl Rutti we would probably expect.

Cleobury does mix his descants a bit - we got his version 2 of Once in Royal but his version 1 Hark the herald. My challenge for tonight is to add even more of rall. on the build-up to 'Word of the Father' at MM.

MM?

[DracoM]

Beat me to it.......!!

[mercia]

Midnight Mass I should imagine

[decantor]

MM?

if this is a starter for ten, I buzz and offer 'Midnight Mass'.

[Finzi4ever]

of course! I'd wondered if it was the acronym for some elusive Minster, or Melton Mowbray perhaps...

[ardcarp]

I thought the tempi of everything was a bit brisk to start with, but settled down halfway through. I guess SC has some timings which he has to keep up to. Personally I'd prefer 1 less carol and a slightly more of relaxed pace.

[Philip]

if this is a starter for ten, I buzz and offer 'Midnight Mass'.

It is indeed!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Cleobury does mix his descants a bit - we got his version 2 of Once in Royal but his version 1 Hark the herald.

He must still believe that if he keeps on repeating these feeble descants, they will become accepted.
A famous Albert Einstein quotation: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Albert Einstein

[Petrushka]

He must still believe that if he keeps on repeating these feeble descants, they will become accepted.
A famous Albert Einstein quotation: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Albert Einstein

A bit harsh, Alpie? True, the Cleobury descants are unmemorable when put alongside those of Willcocks which have stood the test of time. As I've said already, the Willcocks descants are great tunes in their own right.

[Alison]

I thought the tempi of everything was a bit brisk to start with, but settled down halfway through. I guess SC has some timings which he has to keep up to. Personally I'd prefer 1 less carol and a slightly more of relaxed pace.

Yes, agree with that. Much slower in 1954!