Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2021 from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Once in royal David's City (Irby, arr. Willcocks)
Bidding Prayer (read by the Dean)
In dulci jubilo (Old German melody, arr. Pearsall, Daniel Hyde)
First lesson: Genesis 3 vv. 8-19 (read by a Chorister)
The truth from above (Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. Christopher Robinson)
Second lesson: Genesis 22 vv. 15-19 (read by a Choral Scholar)
The Holly and the Ivy (Trad. French, arr. June Nixon)
Third lesson: Isaiah 9 vv. 2, 6-7 (read by a representative of Eton)
Sussex Carol (Trad. English, arr. Willcocks)
O Little town of Bethlehem (Forest Green)
Fourth lesson: Isaiah 11 vv. 1-9 (read by a Fellow)
In the stillness (Sally Beamish)
Gabriel’s message (Basque Carol, arr. Willcocks)
Fifth lesson: Luke 1 vv. 26-38 (read by a member of College staff)
Make ye merry for him that is come (Imogen Holst)
There is no rose (Cecilia McDowall) – 2021 Commission
Sixth lesson: Luke 2 vv. 1-7 (read by a representative of the City of Cambridge)
Angels from the realms of glory (Old French Tune, arr. Jacques)
Wexford Carol (Trad. Irish, arr. John Rutter)
Seventh lesson: Luke 2 vv. 8-20 (read by the Director of Music)
Silent night (Grüber, arr. John Rutter)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Este’s Psalter, arr. Nicholas Marston)
Eighth lesson: Matthew 2 vv. 1-12 (read by the Vice-Provost)
Thou who wast rich (Old French carol, arr. Kitson, Daniel Hyde)
I saw three ships (Trad. English, arr. Simon Preston)
Ninth lesson: John 1 vv. 1-14 (read by the Provost)
O come, all ye faithful (Adeste Fideles, arr. Willcocks, Christopher Robinson, David Hill)
Collect and Blessing
Hark! the herald angels sing (Mendelssohn, arr. Willcocks)

Organ voluntaries:
In dulci jubilo, BWV 729 (Bach)
Carillon-Sortie (Mulet)

Daniel Hyde (Director of Music)
Paul Greally (Organ Scholar)
The Revd Dr Stephen Cherry (Dean)

For millions listening on radio and online around the world, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, live from the candlelit Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, marks the beginning of Christmas. It is based around nine Bible readings which tell the story of the loving purposes of God. They are interspersed with carols old and new, sung by the world-famous Chapel choir who also lead the congregation in traditional Christmas hymns.

A new work has been commissioned for the Christmas Eve service every year since 1983; a tradition begun by Sir Stephen Cleobury. For 2021, Cecilia McDowall has chosen to set the text of the famous 15th-century carol ‘There is no rose of such virtue’ in order to provide a moment of quiet contemplation and stillness in the service.

A number of pieces by significant 20th-century composers such as Sally Beamish and Imogen Holst, sit alongside traditional carols in arrangements by Sir David Willcocks, Christopher Robinson, June Nixon, John Rutter, Simon Preston and Daniel Hyde

[Nick Armstrong]

Tomorrow’s service booklet can be downloaded here:

https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/chapel/9lc-2021-oos-b.pdf

[Guest]

Haven’t heard whether or not there’s a congregation this year....?

[Petrushka]

Wonder if the choir, organist and DH have been living a hermit life for the past couple of weeks or so to ensure this goes ahead? Hoping that all proceeds without any last minute hiccups.

[oddoneout]

Haven’t heard whether or not there’s a congregation this year....?

has invited members of the local Cambridge community and the wider public to attend. As we are unable to admit as many people we would ordinarily at this time we have allocated tickets in advance by ballot.

https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/a-festival-of-nine-lessons-and-carols

[DracoM]

Service of carols, hymns etc from Chapel of King's College, Cantab

A service of carols, hymns, and readings lfrom the candlelit Chapel of King's College, Cambridge.
December 25th 2021 [R]

Once in royal David's City (Irby, arr. Willcocks)

Bidding Prayer (read by the Dean)

In dulci jubilo (Old German melody, arr. Pearsall, Daniel Hyde)

First lesson: Genesis 3 vv. 8-19 (read by a Chorister)
The truth from above (Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. Christopher Robinson)

Second lesson: Genesis 22 vv. 15-19 (read by a Choral Scholar)
The Holly and the Ivy (Trad. French, arr. June Nixon)

[[/U] Isaiah 9 vv. 2, 6-7 (read by a representative of Eton)
Sussex Carol (Trad. English, arr. Willcocks)
O Little town of Bethlehem (Forest Green)

Fourth lesson: Isaiah 11 vv. 1-9 (read by a Fellow)
In the stillness (Sally Beamish) Gabriel’s message (Basque Carol, arr. Willcocks)

Fifth lesson: Luke 1 vv. 26-38 (read by a member of College staff)
Make ye merry for him that is come (Imogen Holst)
There is no rose (Cecilia McDowall) – 2021 Commission

Sixth lesson: Luke 2 vv. 1-7 (read by a representative of the City of Cambridge)
Angels from the realms of glory (Old French Tune, arr. Jacques) Wexford
Carol (Trad. Irish, arr. John Rutter)

Seventh lesson: Luke 2 vv. 8-20 (read by the Director of Music)
Silent night (Grüber, arr. John Rutter)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Este’s Psalter, arr. Nicholas Marston)

Eighth lesson: Matthew 2 vv. 1-12 (read by the Vice-Provost)
Thou who wast rich (Old French carol, arr. Kitson, Daniel Hyde)
I saw three ships (Trad. English, arr. Simon Preston)

Ninth lesson: John 1 vv. 1-14 (read by the Provost) O come, all ye faithful (Adeste Fideles, arr. Willcocks, Christopher Robinson, David Hill)

Collect and Blessing

Hark! the herald angels sing (Mendelssohn, arr. Willcocks)

Organ voluntaries:
In dulci jubilo, BWV 729 (Bach)
Carillon-Sortie (Mulet)

Daniel Hyde (Director of Music)
Paul Greally (Organ Scholar)
The Revd Dr Stephen Cherry (Dean)

Please note:
At 1 p.m. on Radio 3

[Old Grumpy]

A service of carols, hymns, and readings live from the candlelit Chapel of King's College, Cambridge. December 2021 [R]

Once in royal David's City (Irby, arr. Willcocks)

Bidding Prayer (read by the Dean)

In dulci jubilo (Old German melody, arr. Pearsall, Daniel Hyde)

First lesson: Genesis 3 vv. 8-19 (read by a Chorister)
The truth from above (Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. Christopher Robinson)

Second lesson: Genesis 22 vv. 15-19 (read by a Choral Scholar)
The Holly and the Ivy (Trad. French, arr. June Nixon)

[[/U] Isaiah 9 vv. 2, 6-7 (read by a representative of Eton)
Sussex Carol (Trad. English, arr. Willcocks)
O Little town of Bethlehem (Forest Green)

Fourth lesson: Isaiah 11 vv. 1-9 (read by a Fellow)
In the stillness (Sally Beamish) Gabriel’s message (Basque Carol, arr. Willcocks)

Fifth lesson: Luke 1 vv. 26-38 (read by a member of College staff)
Make ye merry for him that is come (Imogen Holst)
There is no rose (Cecilia McDowall) – 2021 Commission

Sixth lesson: Luke 2 vv. 1-7 (read by a representative of the City of Cambridge)
Angels from the realms of glory (Old French Tune, arr. Jacques) Wexford
Carol (Trad. Irish, arr. John Rutter)

Seventh lesson: Luke 2 vv. 8-20 (read by the Director of Music)
Silent night (Grüber, arr. John Rutter)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Este’s Psalter, arr. Nicholas Marston)

Eighth lesson: Matthew 2 vv. 1-12 (read by the Vice-Provost)
Thou who wast rich (Old French carol, arr. Kitson, Daniel Hyde)
I saw three ships (Trad. English, arr. Simon Preston)

Ninth lesson: John 1 vv. 1-14 (read by the Provost) O come, all ye faithful (Adeste Fideles, arr. Willcocks, Christopher Robinson, David Hill)

Collect and Blessing

Hark! the herald angels sing (Mendelssohn, arr. Willcocks)

Organ voluntaries:
In dulci jubilo, BWV 729 (Bach)
Carillon-Sortie (Mulet)

Daniel Hyde (Director of Music)
Paul Greally (Organ Scholar)
The Revd Dr Stephen Cherry (Dean)

Please note:
At 1 p.m. on Radio 3

Listening now - lovely.

R3 1pm tomorrow, Christmas Day

[MickyD]

I thought it all exceptionally good..and I particularly liked the arrangement by June Nixon of The Holly and the Ivy.

[ardcarp]

King's carols broadcast is always a hallowed one-and-a-half hours in our household (and last year's was v.g. I thought). I have often thought they try to cram too much into the span of a live broadcast. Did this account for a few of DH's very fast tempi, the result of which was a few snatched phrase-endings (eg in Angels from the Realms, and I Saw Three Ships)? Maybe better to drop a verse or two of O Come All ye Faithful? But there was much fine singing to be enjoyed.

Note to self. Shut up Scrooge and enjoy the Christmas Cheer!

[oddoneout]

I thought it all exceptionally good..and I particularly liked the arrangement by June Nixon of The Holly and the Ivy.

Agreed. Blame it on the wine consumed with supper but the last verse of the June Nixon arrangement made me laugh (in a good way you understand) and I thought the arrangement as a whole an improvement on the usual. It will go on the suggestions list for choir.
The second reading (Luke, Gabriel's message) was excellently done.
I rather enjoyed the brisk tempi, and the clearer acoustic from lack of full house made it easier to hear what was going on within the choir even on my struggling old TV. The boy done good as they say in these parts.

[Alison]

Three cheers for Mr Hyde.

And no In the Bleak again.

[jonfan]

A brilliant service and a miracle it was safely delivered by everyone. Wonderful to hear some classic arrangements by Jacques and Kitson - long neglected. Cecilia McDowell wanted her setting of 'There is no rose' to be a period of calm in the service, but it concentrated more on the prickles than calm but it was a very effective setting in a crowded market. The period of calm goes to Sally Beamish - her carol will become a new favourite IMO. Colourful organ playing in the Nixon, very joyful. Rutter's Wexford Carol good to hear, and was that a new Rutter arrangement of Silent Night?
Some negative bits:-
I too felt some line endings were clipped and 'I saw three ships' way too fast for the solo boy to sing cleanly and in tune; strange to indicate a carol is 'arranged' when just the descant is by the 'arranger'; Willcocks listed as responsible for verses 1-5 of 'O come, all ye faithful' when it was the standard harmony from New English Hymnal; messing with different harmonies for the verses of 'Once in royal' when Mann's harmony, with moving crotchet underlay of two part chord to three and then four, raises Irby to its classic status [IMHO of course.]
The above are minor gripes; a beautiful sense of space and clarity in the engineering in what was an uplifting experience.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Three cheers for Mr Hyde.

And no In the Bleak again.

No but it was on Carols From Kings on BBC TWO

[jonfan]

No but it was on Carols From Kings on BBC TWO

If it was I didn't notice it. What was extra was a brilliant 'O Holy Night'.

[joseph.zubier]

A brilliant service and a miracle it was safely delivered by everyone. Wonderful to hear some classic arrangements by Jacques and Kitson - long neglected. Cecilia McDowell wanted her setting of 'There is no rose' to be a period of calm in the service, but it concentrated more on the prickles than calm but it was a very effective setting in a crowded market. The period of calm goes to Sally Beamish - her carol will become a new favourite IMO. Colourful organ playing in the Nixon, very joyful. Rutter's Wexford Carol good to hear, and was that a new Rutter arrangement of Silent Night?
Some negative bits:-
I too felt some line endings were clipped and 'I saw three ships' way too fast for the solo boy to sing cleanly and in tune; strange to indicate a carol is 'arranged' when just the descant is by the 'arranger'; Willcocks listed as responsible for verses 1-5 of 'O come, all ye faithful' when it was the standard harmony from New English Hymnal; messing with different harmonies for the verses of 'Once in royal' when Mann's harmony, with moving crotchet underlay of two part chord to three and then four, raises Irby to its classic status [IMHO of course.]
The above are minor gripes; a beautiful sense of space and clarity in the engineering in what was an uplifting experience.

It very clearly states that only the final verses are by the listed arranger; OUP lists Willcocks as arranger of vv.1–5 of O come, all ye faithful, in CfK (as does, I believe NEH); and the harmony in Once in royal is Mann’s own harmony, heard in each verse for the repeat of the first line of music.