Festival of Lessons and Carols from Kings

Not surprised you need a tissue, JackyB! Must have been a wonderful experience - snow and all!

At school we used to sing various foreign and Latin carols and they're still favourites, particularly Il est ne le divin enfant, Personent Hodie, and the Zither Carol (though in English since I think it's Czech.). I actually have that in my Easy Carols for piano book and always found it the hardest! A lovely one, though.
Oh, and at school, Silent Night in German.

I am in tears here just reading about it. Although Germany is supposed to be great for Christmas, to be honest, their Christmas Carols are all terrible dirges.

When "The First Nowell" was introduced in our choir, I couldn't sing it for sobbing. It has since come out every year amongst the other, German, carols. Admittedly, the little old dears in the pews are probably moved to tears singing their traditional hymns; it's the memories that count.

My DS2 did a term at the choir school in Ely whilst training to be a music and English teacher and I got to go to the Carol service there that year. It was breathtaking - especially the drive there early in the morning. (I did that again a couple of weeks ago when my sister took me to Ely station to catch a train). Coming round that bend and seeing the Cathedral in the bright sunshine and snow that Christmas was awe inspiring.

Scuse me while I fetch a tissue....

Much as I love Holst, Harold Darke’s version is the only one for me. This year, my carol of choice will be Bob Chilcott’s “The Shepherd’s Carol”. It is lovely; haunting.

Witzend, I played the Three Kings one on youtube yesterday as we sang it at school in the early 50's and as you say, it's rarely heard. A lovely carol.

Had to go back to YouTube and check, Grandma70s - it was Darke. In fact I like both tunes equally - used to sing both at school, ditto 2 versions of O Little Town of Bethlehem, and I dare say others I've forgotten about.

One we sang at school, which you rarely hear, is Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar. Beautiful descant in the 2nd verse, but alas only the two verses.

Which tune, though, for In The Bleak Midwinter? I did it for an audition, and the choirmaster said “The Holst or the Darke?” Luckily I knew.

This afternoon, while sorting out a backlog of horrible paperwork, I departed from my 'no carols before 1st December' rule and listened to King's College choir singing In The Bleak Midwinter' courtesy of YouTube.

It does feel quite bleak and midwinter-ish here today, too.

I love it. Must be the old traditional carols though, and all the better in Latin.
Looking forward to making mince pies and listening on the radio.

MarieEliza any chance you can afford to go and visit?

Resurgam … I think I'd agree with you. Simplicity is always best.

lemongrove and DanniRae … my two favourites as well

MarieEliza … 43 years is a long time. I expect you will feel at least a little out of step this year.
I don't have any ideas at the mo, but if you post the same request on another more prolific Christmas thread I'm sure others will commiserate with you and help with ideas for filling the gap.

This will be our first Christmas in 43 years without our daughter, son in law and three grandchildren. They have moved to Australia. We hope it is not forever. We have other family coming for the festive season but we will really miss them. Any ideas?

I now have to know why you were cursing the gammon, Phoenix!

I always cook my gammon on Chr. Eve too - such a lovely Christmassy smell from it and the glaze - an old GH recipe with marmalade, mustard and allspice.
It's not Christmas without that, either!

Will listen this year (as ever) while not "cursing the gammon" (some members may remember this! ) as I now have doing it in the slow cooker down to a fine art!

I love In The Bleak Midwinter too.
I have it in my Easy Carols for piano book - might just have to go and play it now!

I love it.

My favourite bit of Christmas Eve . I listen with a lump in my throat and a sense of peace for the real meaning of Christmas. It is absolutely beautiful and I love that most of it is the same year on year

Used to be part of my pre-Christmas. These days I seem to prefer a last-minute wander round the shops. Got two free lovely orchids last year because the florist was closing forthe week.

Nice to be home for Hark the Herald though. No big deal if I'm not.

My favourite Hark The Herald Angels Sing.?

I LOVE Christmas carols and always visit our local park where the Salvation Army have a carol service every year.
My favourite ~ "In The Bleak Mid Winter"

This is a year old thread and a bit early for Christmas ?
But......I love it too, and have a wonderful cd of a recording made about ten years ago.

Love it - to me it's not Christmas without it. Preferably accompanied by mulled wine and mince pies.

During the many years we lived overseas, I'd listen to it on the BBC World Service, which was a lifeline in many ways.

I hate mucked-about carols, or trad. ones set to new tunes. Once attended a big carol singalong with friends - so disappointing. Nearly all the carols were unfamiliar - and I am familiar with a lot, inc. newer ones - and any well loved ones were set to unfamiliar tunes. Even the Holly and the Ivy was set to some awful new tune.
What a waste of an £8 ticket!

When same friends asked if we'd like a repeat the following year, it was a big no thanks from me.

Sorry about my rant.

Oh dear I have just back from our choir rehearsal. .
The program that the new choir leader has put in all sorts of awful music.
We have been doing the christmas concert for a long time but the music this time is awful.

Nothing of the lovely choir Christmas music we have done for ages.

The coventry Carol has had all sorts of odd pieces of classical music added which spoils the simplicity of the original completely.
And other good Carols have gone.
Where is Imagine someone sticking other bits of other music on to Mozarts Ave Verum .

DH had taken possession of the kitchen this afternoon so I shut myself away so I could join in while I sorted presents. Wonderful! Now have a sore throat!

I plan to listen on catch up in the morning, as I get the turkey stuffed and in the oven. I missed this afternoon for a happy reason, I went to our Round the Crib nativity performance, along with one of my daughters and her almost 3 year old. It was of course, a joy. We met Brown Owl, who looked after my girls so very well on their first Brownie camp almost 30 years ago.