Doesn't this make you want an English Christmas?
 

Gloucester Cathedral Choir singing "In the Bleak Midwinter".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRobryliBLQ

"In the Bleak Midwinter" was also voted best Christmas carol:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertain...re/7752029.stm

Sometime I will visit the UK at Christmas. (I did once visit briefly on Boxing Day en route to Italy, but I was also ill that day.)

"Once in Royal David's City", by the Choir of St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U4rcll9oUU

Yes. It does.

This evening, though, we're going to evensong, Festival of Nine Carols as heard at King's College, right here at a hinterlands Episcopal church. Cheaper.

thanks, WillT.

Regards,
Wouldtravel for now.

Or this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUmiYg5V-Mg

One of my best memories of Christmas when I lived in the UK was the Silver Band coming around the houses playing Christmas carols. It was wonderful. In the Bleak midwinter, and it Came upon a Midnight Clear were always my favourites. They sounded so beautiful played by the band.
Then on Christmas Eve they would accompany a Carol service on the Market Square.
That is something I really miss. Now I make do with the 9 lessons and Carols from Kings on the radio on Christmas Eve. I aim to have everything ready by then so I can sit down and really enjoy listening.

Logos - the Austrians are responsible for a far better tune - Silent Night!

>a far better tune - Silent Night!
But the interpretation of this one beats it all. :-)

Would you believe until July this year I had never, ever heard that carol before!

I was putting together a CD for our Christmas in July event and came upon James Taylor's version ( I am a freak for James Taylor) and couldn't believe what a beautiful song it was. He also sang 'Some Children See Him' again I had never heard this before either.

I guess coming from the tropics 'In the Bleak Midwinter' would be a bit out of place but I do wonder if other Aussies have heard of it.

>But the interpretation of this one beats it all. :-)

True - it sounds like my kids primary school band :)

Stormbird - I have never heard James Taylor's version - where did you find it?

Coincidentally, I opened this thread just as this started up on the TV programme I'm watching. The better-known tune (by Holst) is not the only one, by the way - Harold Darke produced a beautiful setting for it too:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Awi0o0OHhsM

That's the version I know, Patrick.

>>I was putting together a CD for our Christmas in July event and came upon James Taylor's version ( I am a freak for James Taylor) and couldn't believe what a beautiful song it was. He also sang 'Some Children See Him' again I had never heard this before either.<<

Here is more information about "Some Children See Him" and the other carols Alfred Burt wrote. Originally, they were poems he wrote and sent to family and friends in Christmas cards.

http://www.alfredburtcarols.com/

Lee Ann

Hi Hetismij,

'James Taylor at Christmas' is the album. Every song is a winner to me.
Here is the info on it -

http://tinyurl.com/84kb4h

And Lee Ann thanks very much for that info it is very interesting indeed.

I wish we could play Christmas Carols all year long!

Those were all delightful. I love the little boy"s expressions.

I'd trade it for Christmas anywhere warm :-(

As regards 'In the Bleak Midwinter', I thought it significant that it was voted best carol by *professional choirmasters*. I doubt it would be in the top 5, or possibly even top 10, if voted for by 'normal' people. Personally I'm put off it by the mucked-about-with versions professional choirs do :-) And to underline further how far this list is removed from most people's knowledge or experience of carols, I have sung carols all my life and I've only ever heard of 16 of their top 50.

Caroline - this even "out humbugs" me :-)

I do agree about the "obscure" selection, but I suppose that Choirmasters are aware of far more carols than "normal people".

whoops - forgot to post the link

http://tinyurl.com/7g42nc

"Personally I'm put off it by the mucked-about-with versions professional choirs do "

Too right. If you were watching the same programme Patrick was, you were probably struck by the awful choristers' version of In Dulci Jubilo. Mike Oldfield understood medieval carol-writers a great deal better than them.

And don't get me started on bloody choirs in small churches who belt out the descant to stop you staying in tune. Worst of all in the 'Sing choirs of angels' verse of Come all ye Faithful.

Too true about those descants, flanner !

Ooh, I held off commenting on that programme as a programme (Christmas spirit and all that), but I not only resented one or two of the musical offerings, I was seething at the wholly unnecessary "giftwrapping" (gift?!) of "celebrity" presenters. If I wanted Classic FM I'd be listening to it. I pay the BBC not to do that. Just sing the damn music will you (as Scrooge might have said)!