Christmas Carols - Favourites

Grandmadinosaur, I,, too, love the Zither Carol. As a piano and violin teacher nearly all my pupils are playing Christmas carols and l have introduced several to this very lovely Carol. My pupils’ all-time favourite would appear to be We Three Kings, judging by the numbers of them who want to learn it. While I really like most carols, my all-time favourite is the Sussex Carol. I can remember a weekly tv programme we had at primary school called Music Time, where a note on the stave was lit up as a tune was played or sung and this carol was taught there.

When I saw the title I immediately thought of In the Bleak Midwinter. There are so many lovely songs.

Our Ukes group have been practicing Christmas songs and carols for over a month now. One catchy one we're doing is Marys Boy Child, a bit different. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmm1gt_2SkQ

Most of John Rutters work : best ever is Berlioz " The Shepherds Farewell ", and I, too, love children singing " It was on a starry night". Here in East Kent, however, the children often render the last line as " King of all the Weld ".I have a clear image of him in welding garb....

Silent Night, by Sinead O'Connor, beautiful

Definitely "It Came upon the Midnight Clear". Traditional tune or otherwise it's the words that resonate with me.

O Holy Night, it's lovely

Anything sung by Il Divo gives me goosebumps!

O, Holy Night sund by Il Divo. Gives me goosebumps.

O Holy Night
In the Bleak Midwinter
Oh Come All Ye Faithful

The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came or
Mary Did you Know

I was angel Gabirel in the school nativity play when I was 7, sang Away in a Manger so my favourite carol. I'm 68 now.

Personent Hodie for me too! I find Away in a Manger a bit cloying.

My apologies for misunderstanding your post Lauren and well done for your good work.

Lauren59

Germanshepherdsmum

Lauren, I wish you hadn’t said that. An animal in desperate need of help spoiling your enjoyment of a Christmas carol? Where’s your humanity? Sorry to derail and bring a sour note to the thread but as an animal lover I couldn’t ignore it.

I really don’t see how anyone could misunderstand my post!

My point was that the carol is now associated in my mind with the image of the dog, which is distressing. I wasn’t complaining about it.

I am an animal lover myself and volunteer for groups that feed stray cats and foster homeless dogs. I certainly didn’t mean to offend anyone!

I for one understood what you meant, Lauren59.

I always loved O Come O Come Emmanuel, since it was the first we always sang in school assembly after the beginning of Advent. It meant Christmas was coming!

Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar and Oh come oh come Emmanuel. We sang the latter on Sunday!

Germanshepherdsmum

*Lauren*, I wish you hadn’t said that. An animal in desperate need of help spoiling your enjoyment of a Christmas carol? Where’s your humanity? Sorry to derail and bring a sour note to the thread but as an animal lover I couldn’t ignore it.

I really don’t see how anyone could misunderstand my post!

My point was that the carol is now associated in my mind with the image of the dog, which is distressing. I wasn’t complaining about it.

I am an animal lover myself and volunteer for groups that feed stray cats and foster homeless dogs. I certainly didn’t mean to offend anyone!

Oh Holy Night, from Carols from Kings - beautiful.

Bethlehem Down is beautiful.

BlueSapphire

The Harold Darke version of 'In the Bleak Midwinter'. And John Rutter's Candlelight Carol.

I also love The Candlelight Carol Blue Sapphire I had it played as a request on Classic FM for my oldest DD the day after she gave birth to her baby girl, close to Christmas.

Same DD married a few days before Christmas and walked down the aisle to "O Holy Night" It still moves me to tears.

Thanks Lexisgranny! I too can imagine your great grandfather singing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. How beautiful! ?

We have been singing The Bee Carol, which was the winner of the 2018 Radio 3 carol composition competition. It is based on a poem by Carol Ann Duffy. It is much more difficult than it sounds, s the 2 last verses have some challenging, but beautiful, harmonies.

www.facebook.com/watch/?v=904585719930814

I love all carols but a new one for our choir this year is ‘Mary Did You Know?’ It is beautiful. There is a version on the internet but it does not to me sound so good with American accents, I prefer our choir version!

Greyduster

One of the gentlest and loveliest, I think - “Quem Pastores Laudavere”.

‘Quibus angeli dixere….’
We used to sing that at school!
A lovely one, but you hardly ever hear it.

joannapiano

The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol by John Rutter.. Anything by him. We love singing his work in our choir. Lovely melodious tunes.

I mis-read this as ‘The Shepherd’s PIE Carol’!