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Sinden.org published its traditional preview of the music list for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge late last month..

For the days leading up to the service, we have been offer a Kalendar of Carols: a more in-depth look at each piece of music to be sung.

So far, we've covered the opening hymn, Bidding Prayer, In the bleak mid-winter – Harold Darke, Adam's Fall – Richard Elfyn Jones, Love came down at Christmas – arr. Stephen Cleobury, How shall I fitly meet thee – Bach, I saw three ships – arr. Ledger, Illuminare Jerusalem – Judith Weir, the hymn "O little town of Bethlehem", A spotless rose – Herbert Howells, The Lamb – John Tavener, The Angel Gabriel – Pettman, The Linden Tree Carol – arr. Cleobury, this year's commissioned carol by Huw Watkins, and Away in a manger – Willcocks.

He was for many years the organist and director of music at of York Minster. He succeeded Edward C. Bairstow in this position and wrote a biography about Bairstow called Blessed City: The Life and Works of Edward C. Bairstow. His own autobiography, published in 2013, is called Music for a Long While.

Many church musicians will be familiar with music published in the Eboracum Choral Series under Banks Music. Francis Jackson was the general editor of this series, and this carol was their first choral publication (bearing the number ECS 1).

Hoy! Can I not syng but hoy!
Whan the jolly shepherd made so mych joy.

The shepherd upon a hill he satt,
he had on hym his tabard and his hat,
hys tar-box, his pipe, and his flagat;
hys name was called jolly, jolly Wat;
for he was a gud herdès boy.
 With hoy!
For in hys pype he mad so myche joy,
 With hoy!

The shepherd on a hill he stode,
round abowt hym his shepe they yode;
he put hys hond under his hode,
he saw a star as rede as blode.
 With hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy,
 with hoy!

The shepherd sayd anon ryght:
‘I will go see yon farly syght,
whereas the angell syngeth on hight,
and the star that shynyth so bright.’
 With hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.

When Wat to Bedlem cum was,
he swet, he had gon faster than a pace;
he found Jhesu in a sympyll place
between an ox and an asse.
 With hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.
 With hoy!

‘Jhesu, I offer to The here my pype,
my skyrte, my tar-box, and my scrype;
home to my fellowes now will I skype,
and also look unto my shepe.’
 With hoy!
Can I not sing but hoy!
When the jolly sheperd made so mych joy?
 Sing hoy!