Stir up Sunday and Other Yuletide Customs

[Keraulophone]

We're planning to attend the Advent Carol Service at Truro Cathedral, a tremendous joy to hear such wonderful singing and playing.

[cloughie]

We're planning to attend the Advent Carol Service at Truro Cathedral, a tremendous joy to hear such wonderful singing and playing. Other cathedrals are available.

I am looking forward to taking part in the most southerly ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’ on the British mainland.

[BBMmk2]

I think the point is that the Advent services are principally for the benefit of members of the college and University, so have always been held during full term time. Yes, the singers themselves remain busy till Christmas day (I think they only have one day off during December).

The FNLC is for the wider world so not held to term time dates....

I used to moan about the number of gigs I did with my old brass band in December. No comparison, by the looks of it!

[Keraulophone]

the most southerly ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’ on the British mainland.

...and the very first (devised by the first Bishop of Truro, E.W.Benson, in 1880).

N.B. our boy choristers will be singing on 23rd December and the girl choristers on Christmas Eve, with different music as follows (so do come to both!):

23rd

All the world tonight rejoices
Sasha Johnson Manning

O little town of Bethlehem
Walford Davies

In the bleak midwinter
Darke

There is no rose
Philip Stopford

The Lamb
Tavener

Sans Day Carol
John Rutter

The Magi's Dream
James Whitbourn

I wonder as I wander
Carl Rütti


24th

Nowell sing we
Gabriel Jackson

The Christmas Truce
Graham Fitkin

Illuminare Jerusalem
Judith Weir

I sing of a maiden
Neil Cox

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
Gardner

Sussex Carol
arr Ledger

Coventry Carol
Richard Allain

The bells of the city of God
Alexander Campkin

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As can be seen from the above, we don’t indulge in ‘Nine Lessons and Up To Twenty-Seven Carols’ as may be heard in the Anglian Fenlands.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes, this Sunday 25th November 2018, the Sunday next before Advent.

The Advent Procession that I attended in King's Chapel on 25th seemed to respect the fact that Advent proper was still a week away - starting with the Chapel plunged into darkness save for the candles, and after the initial I look from afar... responsories (after Palestrina et al.) away at the West Door, it was some time after half-way through that we got O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Until then, mainly sombre music such as the Denn alles Fleisch movement from Brahms's German Requiem, Purcell's Remember not, Lord etc.

Nothing approaching anything carol-like at any stage - as the choir arrived at the Altar, and the Chapel was progressively fully-illuminated, the latter part consisted of an Ave Maria (Verdi... ), a couple of unfamiliar pieces by Michael Wise and Jonathan Harvey, plus Wachet Auf! and On Jordan's Bank to finish.

Very thoughtful and beautiful, with not a hint of tinsel....