Festival of 9 Lessons & Carols, King's College Cambridge 2013

[Gabriel Jackson]

I did, after all, recite various poems from the Songs of Innocence at the chapel Sale of Work from the age of 4.

Well, yes...

[Petrushka]

Carols were originally 'round dances', sometimes seasonal eg May time, harvest time, as well as Christmas and New Year etc, such that many of them are celebratory and nearly always community-based, intended for audience to become involved in eg singing burdens / choruses / refrains. Hence a number of carols have decidedly up-tempo, foot tapping rhythms.

There are Easter carols too. Many of what people idly call Christmas carols are, in fact, hymns (as my former Choirmaster never tired of telling us all those years ago).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

While Shepherds Watched was at one time sung to the tune of On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at but it's rather difficult to make the words fit.

[Hautboiste]

I grew up singing While shepherds watched to Jackson. If I play the organ on Christmas Eve I send the congregation home to it. It has a bit more oomph than Winchester Old.

[Petrushka]

I grew up singing While shepherds watched to Jackson. If I play the organ on Christmas Eve I send the congregation home to it. It has a bit more oomph than Winchester Old.

And I prefer the Walford Davies tune (Wengen) to O Little Town of Bethlehem over the more familiar RVW setting (Forest Green).

[mangerton]

And I prefer the Walford Davies tune (Wengen) to O Little Town of Bethlehem over the more familiar RVW setting (Forest Green).

That was the tune that I grew up singing to that hymn. It was in the Scottish RCH, (Revised Church Hymnary) still on my bookshelf. In the RCH the tune is named Christmas Carol. I presume it's the same as Wengen, as I don't suppose Walford Davies would have written two.

[Petrushka]

That was the tune that I grew up singing to that hymn. It was in the Scottish RCH, (Revised Church Hymnary) still on my bookshelf. In the RCH the tune is named Christmas Carol. I presume it's the same as Wengen, as I don't suppose Walford Davies would have written two.

According to Wiki they are one and the same. I find it a much more atmospheric tune to the words.

[ardcarp]

To be honest, just as an ordinary punter, Nine Lessons & Carols, Christmas Eve, Radio 4, to me is the start of Christmas. When 'Once in Royal David's City' rings out then I know Christmas has started and I'm usually in the kitchen cooking the Boxing Day ham or boiling up some giblets or prepping some veg, windows getting steamy, delicious smells ... I'm not bothered what's sung so much as the Readings. To me, the whole thing is a tradition not to be missed.

Good for you Anna! Yours is the nicest post in this (so far) rather nit-picky little thread.
Indeed listening to King's is all part of the Xmas thing....much more than the tinsel in Tescos. I can't deny that as a musical family we comment about the singing and the content rather as some would discuss fine wines (Ah, '89 was a good year) but we wouldn't be without it.

[Vox Humana]

I presume it's the same as Wengen, as I don't suppose Walford Davies would have written two.

Oh yes he did. "Christmas Carol" is also in Songs of Praise 79 and Common Praise 63. For Wengen see Ancient and Modern 642 or Ancient and Modern Revised 65. http://mander-organs-forum.invisionz...o-little-town/

[mangerton]

Oh yes he did. "Christmas Carol" is also in Songs of Praise 79 and Common Praise 63. For Wengen see Ancient and Modern 642 or Ancient and Modern Revised 65. http://mander-organs-forum.invisionz...o-little-town/

Very interesting, VH. Thanks for the information.

[VodkaDilc]

I wonder what Sir David W thinks of Cleobury leaving out his organum-type accompaniment to the Herod verse of Unto Us each year. I'd be a bit peeved - to my mind it's the most exciting part.

[Nick Armstrong]

In terms of sheer singing in the choir, it seemed to us a vintage year - great blend, no 'sore thumbs' among the boys or gentlemen

One or two instances of prosaic direction and dodgy descants by Mr Cleobury (and some wayward congregational singing) aside, a good old listen, and better than in previous years. (The absence of Cornelius's corny old 'Three Kings' an added bonus!)

It's Christmas now

[mangerton]

I wonder what Sir David W thinks of Cleobury leaving out his organum-type accompaniment to the Herod verse of Unto Us each year. I'd be a bit peeved - to my mind it's the most exciting part.

Yes, I do agree. Otherwise, I enjoyed the service, though I must say nothing beats the Willcocks descants.

Shame too that the Messiaen was cut short, even although we weren't expecting it.

[Roger Judd]

I'd second your remark, Caliban '... a vintage year'. Excellent singing, lively direction, and fine organ playing from Doug Tang (recently organ scholar here at Hereford Cathedral). Was it my imagination, or memory playing up, or was the congregational participation more to the fore this year? - the microphone placements seemed to accentuate their lagging behind the organ. The inclusion of music by Tavener and Rodney Bennett was most apposite, and it was good to hear Simon Preston's witty arrangement of the Three Ships again; I can't remember when I last heard Malcolm Williamson's version of 'Ding, dong!', but it was well worth an (occasional!) outing, IMO.

Happy Christmas,
Roger

[Simon Biazeck]

(The absence of Cornelius's corny old 'Three Kings' an added bonus!)

Don't fret. It may yet be on the TV version. It usually is, so you may not miss your corn! I can take it or leave it, but I see why it's popular. It's not easy for the soloist, who, however vocally talented, must usually step up to it at the end of an exhausting day's music-making.