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Today’s carol has a very special place in the history of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge.

In his first year as director of music at King’s, Stephen Cleobury did not commission a new carol, but he did direct one. The Lamb had premiered only two days earlier at Winchester Cathedral, where it likely would have been directed by Martin Neary.

But I think the experience of hearing a brand-new carol, and such a good one at that, helped establish the idea of commissioning a new carol for each year's Christmas Eve service at King's. Cleobury began the commissioning process the following year, in 1983, with “In Wintertime” by Lennox Berkeley.

Labels: 12 Carols for Christmas, Berkeley, Cleobury, Tavener

I've always been quite taken with Stephen Cleobury's arrangement of "The Cherry Tree Carol".

It's a traditional English carol about a pregnant Mary and her husband Joseph walking through an orchard. Mary wants a cherry and the cherry tree itself, recognizing who Mary is, bows down to her so that she can easily pluck cherries.

I find the idea compelling. Nature itself recognizing the Queen of Heaven.

And because Mary is still pregnant throughout this carol, it works at Advent or Christmas carol services.

But as I compared two slightly different versions of Cleobury's arrangement recently, I noticed a profound difference in the role Joseph plays in the carol.

In Cleobury's first version of this arrangement from 1985, he sets a seven stanza version of the carol. (This version is available in a publication called A Trio of Carols from Oxford.) Joseph doesn't really do or say much here.

"Old" version from 1985

Joseph was an old man
And an old man was he,
When he wedded Mary,
In the land of Galilee.

And as they were walking
Through an orchard so good,
Where were cherries and berries
As red as any blood.

O then bespoke Mary,
With words both meek and mild,
‘Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,
For that I am with child.’

‘Go to the tree then, Mary,
And it shall bow to thee;
And you shall gather cherries
By one, by two, by three.’

Then bowed down the highest tree
Unto our Lady's hand;
‘See,’ Mary cried, ‘See Joseph,
I have cherries at command.’

‘O eat your cherries, Mary
O eat your cherries now;
O eat your cherries, Mary, 
That grow upon the bough.’

Then Mary plucked a cherry,
As red as any blood;
Then Mary went she homewards
All with her heavy load.

In this carol, Joseph seems to know that the tree is ready to bow down to Mary. He encourages her to go to the tree. In the penultimate stanza, Joseph rejoices with Mary, if the lines "O eat your cherries, Mary" can be considered rejoicing. Maybe it's just some encouragement? This is odd. Perhaps Mary is skeptical about the tree's intentions. Anyway, Joseph comes off as a supportive husband in this one.

In the version that is more familiar to us now, however, the carol is rather dramatically reworded. There is an additional stanza, and Joseph doesn't come off well at all. This "new" version is published in Advent for Choirs from Oxford and is published separately. It was in the King's College Choir's hands as early as 1996.

"New" version

Joseph was an old man
and an old man was he,
When he wedded Mary,
in the land of Galilee.

Joseph and Mary walked
through an orchard good,
Where was cherries and berries,
so red as any blood.

O then bespoke Mary,
so meek and oh, so mild:
‘Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,
for I am with child.’

O then bespoke Joseph,
with words most unkind:
‘Let him pluck thee a cherry
that brought thee with child.’

O then bespoke the baby,
within his mother’s womb:
‘Bow down then the tallest tree,
for my mother to have some.’

Then bowed down the highest tree
unto his mother’s hand;
Then she cried, ‘See, Joseph
I have cherries at command.’

O then bespoke Joseph:
‘I have done Mary wrong;
But cheer up, my dearest,
and be ye not cast down.’

Then Mary plucked a cherry,
as red as any blood;
Then Mary went she homewards
all with her heavy load.

Things take a severe turn in that fourth stanza. In this "new" version, he is not exactly a supportive husband.

In the "old" version, Joseph was happy to tell Mary how to get the cherries. In fact, he was privy to the knowledge that the cherry tree was willing to bow down. Here, however, he seems to have some unresolved issues with Mary's pregnancy.

Furthermore, the in utero Christ gets a voice in this carol, which is perhaps unique in the carol repertoire(?).

But the inherent conflict in this carol gives the narrative more texture. From within the womb, Christ instructs the "tallest tree" to bow down.

The connection we are meant to draw, I think, is that "him…that brought thee with child" is depicted here with nature itself operating at Mary's command.

In the "old" version you could describe Joseph as lazy, at worst. In the "new" version Joseph is mean, but his momentary cruelty allows for Mary's command of nature to stand more clearly as a symbol.

What I find utterly awkward in this "new" version, is the egg-on-his-face Joseph of the penultimate stanza.

O then bespoke Joseph:
‘I have done Mary wrong;
But cheer up, my dearest,
and be ye not cast down.’

There is a brief apology in there, which is nice. It's addressed to us, the audience, but I wish we could just sit Joseph down and be like, "look, dude, apologize to your wife directly."

It would be the catharsis this carol needs.

The feeling of things being unresolved persists for me, not only with Joseph's weak, saccharine apology but also with the way Cleobury masterfully arranges the last line of this carol: "all with her heavy load."

Not only is she bearing the infant Christ, but she's burdened with this mean "old man" as her husband.

The heaviness of the organ part, especially as performed in King's College, Cambridge, is marvelously evocative of these burdens. (You really need to be listening on proper speakers/headphones, or with a subwoofer, to get the full effect.)

"New" version

Labels: Advent, Christmas, Cleobury, St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary

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 offering a Kalendar of Carols: a more in-depth look at each piece of music to be sung.

The order of the service concludes with today's entry, following discussions of

• 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, and 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,
• Away in a manger – Willcocks.
• Can I not sing but hoy – Francis Jackson,
• the hymn "God rest ye merry, gentlemen",
• We three kings – arr. Neary,
• The Magi's Dream – Whitbourn,
• the hymn "O come, all ye faithful",
• the hymn "Hark! the herald angels sing"
• and the first organ voluntary.

First, the wrong number is listed for this voluntary in this year's service leaflet, which is an unfortunate error.

The booklet has undergone a redesign which I generally find unobjectionable. I am puzzled, however, to the lack of first names of the composers. This seems an odd choice and is a change from previous years' booklets.

Aside from this, the design this year is marred by justification and capitalization inconsistencies. It is a poor partner to a liturgy and music which have undoubtedly been prepared with great care and attention.

But I don't want to dwell too much on that. I want to turn our attention to the director of music.

Stephen Cleobury directed his first Lessons and Carols service in 1982, and by my reckoning that makes this year his 35th.

It is an impressive tenure by length alone. And then consider his influence on this famous service. The institution of the "commissioned carol" has surely breathed new life into what could have become much more of a museum piece.

Consider also the way that the service captures our attention in the modern era. There are webcasts to listen to (thank goodness, because otherwise, how would American church musicians listen this year?), and the commissioned carol has lately been released for download shortly after the service ends. If you're a fan of Carols from Kings (the separate, pre-recorded service for television) you can even pay to download that too.

The service has no shortage of fanatics, and I pray that it continues its storied tradition for many years to come.

But given that next year is the 100th year of the service, and that Cleobury is surely nearing retirement, we at Sinden.org predict that we are listening to his penultimate service this year and that 2018 will be his last.

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, King's College (Cambridge), Lessons and Carols

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, and the hymn "O little town of Bethlehem", A spotless rose – Herbert Howells, The Lamb – John Tavener, and The Angel Gabriel – Pettman.

Cleobury's "Cherry Tree Carol" was sung as far back as 1986. But here he has written a new "Tree" carol, this time setting another traditional carol text. My scattered records indicate that "The Linden Tree Carol" was sung in at least two services in the 1930s, but I don't think it has been included since.

In heaven stood a linden tree
with pure white flowers laden;
yet not a bloom was fair as she,
sweet Mary, chosen maiden.

Great Gabriel, God’s angel bright,
from high above came winging
to one, the purest in God’s sight,
a joyful message bringing.

‘Hail, Mary, blessed Virgin mild,
with God you have found favour;
you shall conceive and bear a child,
to all the world the Saviour.’

‘My soul does magnify the Lord!
I am His servant lowly;
be all according to His word,’
said Mary, meek and holy.

Away the angel flew to share
the news of Mary’s duty;
and heaven rejoiced that she would bear
the Blossom of all Beauty.

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, King's College (Cambridge), Lessons and Carols

Sinden.org published its traditional preview of the music list for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge on November 24.

Now, for the days leading up to the service, we'll 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, and Adam's Fall – Richard Elfyn Jones.

Last year, it was his Joys Seven (as it was in 2014, 2009, 2003, 2000, and 1998).

In 2015, Cleobury chose not to include one of his arrangements. Rather, he chose three arrangements by David Willcocks, his predecessor, who died in September of that year.

Over the years, Cleobury has been able to include a wide selection of his carol arrangements.

• 2013 - Two arrangements: "Love came down at Christmas" and "Angelus ad virginem"
• 2012, 2004, and 2001 - Cherry Tree Carol - a personal favorite of mine.
• 2011 - Blessed be that maid Mary
• 2010 and 2002 - A virgin most pure
• 2008 - Infant holy, infant lowly
• 2007 - On this holy night
• 2006 - The Leaves of Life (A Shropshire Carol)
• 2005 - Be Merry

In 1999 there was no Cleobury carol, though in 2013 we got two. So the average remains about one a year.

This year, we get a repeat of one of those two arrangements heard in 2013: "Love came down at Christmas"

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, King's College (Cambridge), Lessons and Carols

As it is our care and delight to await the coming of the 2017 King's College Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, we must in heart and mind review the music list for this, the most famous regularly occurring church service in the entire world.

• The service will begin with the hymn "Once in royal David's city" as it always does. The descant on the final stanza is by the Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury. (recording)
• The Invitatory Carol is the ever-popular In the bleak mid-winter by Harold Darke. It is regularly sung at this service. This will be the tenth time it has been sung since 1997 (the year from which I have continuous complete records).

  This carol was heard last year after the Seventh Lesson. It was last heard as the Invitatory Carol in 2000.

1. After the First Lesson
   • In place of an "Adam lay ybounden" we get a piece that was only recently published, and is being sung at this service for the first time: Adam’s Fall by Richard Elfyn Jones

     The verses of this original carol are rich with imagery of the tree, the apple, Paradise and Eden, while the refrain taps into medieval rural traditions of verse and carolling. The music mirrors the theology of the words, conveying much emotional expression before reaching a powerful conclusion.

     Richard Elfyn Jones (b. 1944) began his professional career as an organist, orchestral conductor and choral director after graduating from the University of Wales and King's College, Cambridge. He studied composition with William Mathias. He was a Limpus Prizewinner at the Royal College of Organists, and a semi-finalist in the Cantelli International Conducting Competition in Milan, Italy. For many years, he was Senior Lecturer in Music at Cardiff University. He also served as conductor of the Cardiff Polyphonic Choir (1977-91)

     from an email from Encore Publications

   • Love came down at Christmas by R.O. Morris in an arrangement by the Director of Music Stephen Cleobury (the first piece heard here). It was last sung in 2013, but after the Second Lesson.
2. After the Second Lesson
   • From the Christmas Oratorio by J.S. Bach we get the chorale "How shall I fitly meet thee". This was last sung in 2000 (a big Bach year) when it was also after this lesson.

     This service does have a long pattern of singing music from the Christmas Oratorio. Under the tenure of David Willcocks the recitative "And there were shepherds" followed by the chorale "Break forth O beauteous heavenly light" was often heard at the Invitatory. These two pieces were published together in Carols for Choirs 1, which was edited by Willcocks.

   • If the previous selection pays homage to Willcocks, the carol that follows it has a more direct connection to one of Cleobury's predecessors at King's. I saw three ships was written by Philip Ledger, Director of Music at King's from 1974–1982.

     Ledger's music often appears on the music list for this service, but this particular arrangement has not been sung since 2003.

3. After the Third Lesson
   • Judith Weir's splendid Illuminare Jerusalem. This was the commissioned carol in 1985. It has been regularly sung at this service ever since. It was last sung in 2013.
   • Then the Hymn: "O little town of Bethlehem", which is exactly the same as last year. Prior to that, it had not been sung after this lesson since 2007.
4. After the Fourth Lesson come the same two familaiar carols that were sung in 2016, but in the reverse order.
   • A spotless rose - Howells
   • "The Lamb" Tavener
5. After the Fifth Lesson
   • Another familiar carol: The Angel Gabriel by Pettman, last sung in 2014.
   • And what we believe to be a new carol arrangement from the Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury: The Linden Tree Carol.
6. After the Sixth Lesson
   • The Commissioned Carol: Carol Eliseus by Huw Watkins
   • Away in a manger by David Willcocks
7. After the Seventh Lesson
   • Can I not syng but hoy? by the English composer Francis Jackson who just celebrated his 100th birthday this year. To our knowledge, no music of Francis Jackson has been sung at this service previously.

     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).

   • Hymn: "God rest ye merry, gentlemen" - last sung in 2015.
8. After the Eighth Lesson
   • We three kings of Orient are by Martin Neary. This popular arrangement can be heard on a recording from a past "Carols from Kings" (note that this is a seperate, pre-recorded televised service), but it has not previously been sung at this service to the best of our knowledge.
   • The Magi's Dream by James Whitbourn (listen). Another carol by Whitbourn was sung in 2004.
9. After the Ninth Lesson follow the two traditional hymns
   • O come, all ye faithful - with descant by Cleobury
   • Hark! the herald angels sing - with descant by Willcocks

The organ music after the service is traditionally In dulci jubilo, BWV 729 and another major work.

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, Francis Jackson, King's College (Cambridge), Lessons and Carols

Mindful that Episcopalians generally don't seem to do enough to celebrate Easter, we once again share the made-for-TV liturgy from King's College, Cambridge called "Easter from Kings" (subtitled "Holy Week to Easter Day").

As we seek to find "creative new ways" to celebrate the Easter season the Oxford and Cambridge colleges potentially provide a source of inspiration. Since these universities are not in session during Holy Week and Easter, many of their collegiate chapels have devised their own creative liturgies to celebrate these times within the college community.

• God so loved the world - Stainer
  
• Tristis est anima mea - Lassus
  
• Hosanna to the Son of David - Weelkes
  
• Hymn: Ride on, ride on in majesty – Note that this hymn is sung to WINCHESTER NEW. It appears in the Hymnal 1982 at Hymn 156 to KING'S MAJESTY.
  
• Ave verum corpus - Liszt
  
• Hymn: Thee we adore
  
• Gospel of Luke, Chapter 23 - plainsong (an addition that seems very much indebted to St. John's)
• Christe, adoramus te - Monteverdi
  
• Salvator mundi - Blow
  
• Love bade me welcome - Vaughan Williams
  
• Hymn: Take up thy cross
  
• Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana - Mascagni
  
• Ubi caritas - Duruflé
  
• Hallelujah from Messiah - Handel
  
• Hymn: Ye choirs of new Jerusalem
  
• Hymn: Alleluya! Hearts to Heaven - arr. Cleobury – Note that this hymn appears in the Hymnal 1982 at Hymn 191

Labels: Cleobury, Easter, King's College (Cambridge)

While our main interest on this blog is the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols itself, the service "Carols from Kings" (which is pre-recorded for television broadcast) is certainly more internet-friendly.

It is important to clarify that though there is some overlap in the music of "Carols from Kings" and the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols", these are two distinct services. The Festival itself is heard as a live audio broadcast and is not video-recorded.

One similarity between the services, however, is the splendid effect of the fading winter sunlight through the stained glass of the chapel as the service progresses. This effect is well captured on video. At the request of the BBC, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols begins a little after 3 p.m. This year, the sun set at 3:51 p.m.

Here are the carols from this year's "Carols from Kings".

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, King's College (Cambridge), Lessons and Carols

Now that this blog has offered its traditional Preview of the music for this year's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge, England, and now that the college has posted the official service booklet (direct link to PDF) it seems meet and right to delve a bit deeper into the music at this year's service.

We begin this series with "The Flight" by Richard Causton

Richard Causton is currently a Fellow in Music at King's. In 2012, King's commissioned an Advent carol from Causton, "Out of your sleep". ("Richard Causton composes 2015 commissioned carol" from King's College; richardcauston.com)

The words of "The Flight" come from poet, and fellow blogger, George Szirtes. The blog reveals that Szirtes and Causton may be in the early stages of working on an opera together.

Szirtes himself came to England as a refugee (Poetry Foundation, Wikipedia), and the words of "The Flight" rely on this image. Its tragic repeated line haunts the entire poem: "we move on forever". These words take on extra significance given the extent of the present Syrian refugee crisis.

The lines "The sea is a graveyard / the beach is dry bones / the child…" may also give one great pause. The proximity of the world "child" to a beach of death conjures up one of the most significant photos in the news this year.

"The Flight" - George Szirtes

The child on the dirtpath
finds the highway blocked
The dogs at the entrance
snarl that doors are locked
The great god of kindness
has his kindness mocked 
   May those who travel light
   Find shelter on the flight
   May Bethlehem
   Give rest to them.

The sea is a graveyard
the beach is dry bones
the child at the station
is pelted with stones
the cop stands impassive
the ambulance drones

We sleep then awaken
we rest on the way
our sleep might be troubled
but hope is our day
we move on for ever
like children astray

We move on for ever
our feet leave no mark
you won’t hear our voices
once we’re in the dark
but here is our fire
this child is our spark.

On December 10 a report featuring an interview with Stephen Cleobury and choirboys aired on the BBC. The report also includes excerpts of "The Flight" in rehearsal. It starts at 40 min. 40 sec. in to the program World at One.

The reports from the boys are "difficult" and "glissandi".

"The story is about a small child, something that connects with peoples' experiences very strongly," Cleobury says in the interivew. "I think it's great to have something that is so strongly tied in to the contemporary scene."

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, George Szirtes, King's College (Cambridge), Richard Causton

Stephen Cleobury writes:

"This year's selection has a very strong King's basis. The commissioned carol is from Richard Causton, a Fellow of King's College, and a university lecturer in composition. He has, in turn, commissioned a new text from George Szirtes, which has strong contemporary resonances.

In September we heard the sad news of the death of one of my predecessors here at King's, the legendary Sir David Willcocks. His many carol arrangements and descants are known the world over, and we include a number of these. Near the beginning and the end are pieces by Vaughan Williams and Howells, both composers having been very closely associated with David Willcocks.

Also, during the summer, the world of church and organ music mourned the loss of John Scott, whose setting of Nova, Nova comes after the Annunciation lesson.

We mark the 70th birthday of John Rutter by including two of the carols he has written for King's over the years. Bob Chilcott, 60 this year, is a former chorister and choral scholar of King's, and his commission for the Choir is also programmed.

Carols by Boris Ord, Harold Darke and Philip Ledger also find a place. Ord and Ledger were, respectively, the predecessor and successor of Willcocks, while Darke looked after the Choir during WW2."

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, Darke, Howells, King's College (Cambridge), Ord, Philip Ledger, Richard Causton, Rutter, Willcocks

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge is surely single most listened to regularly occurring church service in the world. Through live and delayed radio and web broadcasts, this service reaches millions of listeners annually.

It has reached that magical point of the year where it comes time to examine what we shall hear at this year's Festival.

We at sinden.org also made some predictions and we need to see how our crystal ball performed.

• The first carol will be "Once in Royal David's city" - Yes, it is. Obviously.
  
  +1 Point; Score: 1
• Rutter's "What sweeter music" seems quite overdue - Well, it still is. We said it would be the Invitatory Carol, but that slot is occupied by "A Babe is Born" by William Mathias. This carol was last sung in 2007. Music by Rutter was last sung in 2012 ("All bells in paradise").
  
  -1 Point; Score: 0
• We haven't heard the Warlock "Adam lay ybounden" in a long while - We hedged our bets in this instance, and said that if it wasn't the Warlock it would be the Ord. But, of course, it's neither. It's the setting by Philip Ledger, director of music at King's 1974-1982, who died in 2012.
  
  -2 Points; Score: -2
• The second carol after the Third Lesson will be "God rest ye merry, gentlemen". - Wrong again! For the third year in a row, the hymn is "Unto us is born a Son". There have not been three consecutive years of the same hymn in this position (this same hymn was sung here in 2012 and 2013). HOWEVER, the hymn is sung later in the service.
  
  -.5 Points; Score: -2.5
• Cleobury will put down his own "Joys Seven" after the Fifth Lesson - Yes, he did. This carol was last sung in 2009.
  
  +7 Points, one for each joy; Score: 4.5
• "While shepherds watched their flocks by night" will be the second carol sung after the Seventh Lesson. It isn't. For the first time in the last six years, the carol has changed to God rest ye merry, Gentlemen.
  
  -1 Point; Score: 3.5

  Final Score: 3.5 not a great showing this year.

A larger number of carols have not been addressed by our predictions. Here they are, in order.

After the first lesson we hear Remember, O thou man by Thomas Ravenscroft. This lovely, simple carol was last sung in 2011.

After the second lesson we hear the Peter Maxwell Davies carol "One Star, at Last". This carol, with words by George Mackay Brown was commissioned for this service in 1984. It was the second in the series of annually commissioned carols in Stephen Cleobury's tenure.

Sung much less often that the Pearsall setting, the older setting by Hieronymus Praetorius of In dulci jubilo follows. This eight part motet was last sung in 2008.

The unbeatable Sussex Carol arranged by David Willcocks follows the third lesson. It last appeared in 2011.

The immaculate A spotless rose of Herbert Howells follows fourth lesson. It is the only Howells carol to appear in the service (at least in recent memory*), and it has not been sung since 2008. As it's superb final cadence fades, the choir will take up the strains of the medieval "There is no rose", a carol that appears frequently in the service of the years, and was last sung in 2009.

The fifth lesson brings the simple Gabriel's Message by Edgar Pettman, last sung just a couple years ago.

Harrison Birtwistle's "Lullaby" comes up after the sixth lesson. Though it hasn't been sung before, Birtwistle's "The Gleam" was the commissioned carol in 2003. The Birtwistle is followed by the familiar Gustav Holst setting of In the bleak midwinter. This carol was last sung in . . . wait a minute. We think the choir has recorded this, but we can't find any indication that it has been sung in this service in recent memory*. The homophonic ease of this carol is probably need as a foil to (we presume) the polyphonic difficulty of the Birtwistle.

Similarly, Hector Berlioz's L'adieu des Bergers (The Shepherd's Farewell), has also been sung by the choir (see below) but never at this service -- note that Carols from Kings, pre-recorded for television broadcast, is not the same as the Christmas Eve service, which is broadcast live on the radio only.

Director Stephen Cleobury has commissioned a new carol every year since 1983. This year the commission goes to Swiss composer Carl Rütti. His setting of "I wonder as I wander" (see below) is familiar to listeners to this service. "I wonder" was last sung in 2011. We will update this paragraph with information about this year's commission De Maria Virgine as that information becomes available.

After the Rutti commission follows the rather saccharine setting of Ding! Dong! merrily on high by Mack Wilberg. Though previously sung in 2007, 2009, and 2010, many of us question whether this carol will really have a long tenure in this service.

The other traditional elements of the service are in place: the final two hymns are "O come, all ye faithful" and "Hark! the herald angels sing". The service concludes, as always with the Bach Organ Prelude on "In dulci jubilo," BWV 729. The final organ voluntary, which changes year to year, is the Final of the Sixth Organ Symphony by Charles-Marie Widor.

Our spreadsheet of all the carols since 1997 has been updated

*We have resorted to the phrase "in recent memory" when necessary because our records only go back to 1997. We very much wish to continue this research, in person, in Cambridge, in 2016/17. Surely a sabbatical is needed.

Labels: Bach, Berlioz, Birtwistle, Cleobury, Holst, Howells, Mackay Brown, Mathias, Maxwell Davies, Ord, Pearsall, Philip Ledger, Praetorius, Ravenscroft, Rutter, Rutti, Warlock, Widor, Wilberg, Willcocks

Please read this article closely. There are many puns and there are TWO (2) possible ways to earn a homemade fruitcake sent to you ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!!

As it is our care and delight to await the coming of the PDF of the King's College service leaflet for this year's Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, we must in heart and mind go to this webpage and refresh it endlessly until the document we seek is found.

OFFER OF FREE BAKED GOOD: If you find the 2014 service leaflet before I do I will send you a homemade fruitcake. You may email me at dsinden@gmail.com, tweet me @sinden, or even call me if you can figure out how. This offer is valid to the person who contacts me first, regardless of medium.

In the mean-time, I have some half-baked predictions (not like the fruitcake mentioned above, which will be fully-baked and delicious).

• The first carol will be "Once in Royal David's city" - this will not surprise anyone.
• Rutter's "What sweeter music" seems quite overdue - In fact, last year's service was noticeably Rudderless Rutterless. Look for it as the Invitatory Carol after the Bidding Prayer. Or look for something else by Rutter somewhere else.
• We haven't heard the Warlock "Adam lay ybounden" in a long while - not since 2006. So I would put good money on this -- but! There was no "Adam lay" setting at all last year, which was quite unusual. The carol text had been a staple of the service since at least 1997 (probably well before that, but further research is required*) A robust rendition of the Ord may be in ORDer to restore the balance. Oh dear, here we go with the puns.
• The second carol after the Third Lesson will be "God rest ye merry, gentlemen". - You can count on it. Let nothing you dismay.
• Cleobury will put down his own "Joys Seven" after the Fifth Lesson - I mean, if I keep predicting this it has to happen, right?
• "While shepherds watched their flocks by night" will be the second carol sung after the Seventh Lesson. Money in the bank. The Old Bank of Winchester. (Hymn tune joke - har har har)

I have no clues about the commissioned carol this year, so I'm not going to hazard a guess.

A final note or two or three (so, a chord, really) about another fruitcake offer: If you can provide me with an order of service prior to 1997 so I can fill in more boxes on my nifty spreadsheet, I will also bake and send you a delicious fruitcake ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. One homemade fruitcake per person, please. Don't be greedy. They don't keep well you know.

That is all. Happy Advent. Happy refreshing. Happy baking.

*I am eagerly awaiting a fully funded sabbatical to visit King's College and really research these and other questions. My sabbatical year should be 2016/17ish. Ahem, vestry in the parish where I currently serve...

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, food and drink, hymns, John Rutter, King's College (Cambridge), Ord, Warlock

It's Christmas time. And what better time to take a look at the Christmas hymns in The Hymnal 1982? In particular, we will be looking at the less commonly sung hymns in the Christmas section. You may wish to begin with part 1 of this series, or get caught up on part 2 (hymns that score a 9 or a 10) or part 3 (hymns that score a 6, 7, or 8) or part 4 (hymns that score a 4 or a 5).

We're using a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the least popular and 10 being the most popular. (On this scale we cranked it up to 11 for hymns which are unbelievably popular.) Here we at last get to those hymns that are truly uncommon in Episcopal services. Hymns that score a 2 or a 3 on our popularity scale.

Region 3: Uncommon tunes for hymns already discussed

• Hymn 85: "O Savior of our fallen race" (CHRISTE, REDEMPTOR OMNIUM). While we could understand the occasional singing of this hymn to GONFALON ROYAL, it would be a rare congregation indeed that would sing this plainsong hymn on a Sunday morning in Christmastide. It would, however, work admirably at an Evensong or Compline service in this season.
• Hymn 90: "It came upon a midnight clear" (NOEL). First, I must fully disclose a great personal bias toward this tune. I really like it. And I greatly prefer it to the gross sentimentality of CAROL.

  And a descant now in publication by Stephen Cleobury is a real favorite of mine (much better than that of his predecessor David Willcocks in this instance).

  As a church musician in the American South, where the Arthur Seymour Sullivan tune FORTUNATUS holds such sway on Easter Day, it is an odd twist of fate that this Sullivan Christmas tune has not caught on at least in these parts.

  The Hymnal 1982 Companion doesn't mince words; it simply states that this is the tune known by congregations in England. It was included first in The Hymnal 1940 and retained in the current hymnal.

  Interestingly, in that earlier hymnal a First Tune and Second Tune were often provided for a hymn of the same number. This approach reinforced the notion that a "hymn" is really the words, while the associated tune is a more malleable thing. It was standard for the more "common" tune to be listed first. In The Hymnal 1940 NOEL is the first tune, while CAROL is the second. The current hymnal could be seen as reversing this preference with Hymn 89 (CAROL) serving as the "First Tune" and Hymn 90 serving as the "Second Tune".

  As it is, I don't get the sense that this is sung by any congregations, the weight of association of CAROL with these words being too great.

Region 2: The truly uncommon

I have never sung any of these hymns, nor am I aware of any American congregations who have. (I would love to hear of any who have sung these.) They score a 2 on our scale.

• Hymn 88: "Sing, O sing, this blessed morn" is an orphan hymn. It comes from England, but it is not sung there. I don't think it's sung here either.
• Hymn 95: "While shepherds watched their flocks by night" (HAMPTON). This is an interesting tune, but I don't think it's caught on. It is nice to note that there is a continuing desire on the part of the Episcopal Church's hymnal editors to widen the melodic vocabulary for these words -- the alternative tune being CAROL in The Hymnal 1940.
• Hymn 106: "Christians, awake, salute the happy morn". Here is a hymn whose unpopularity in the United States seems a bit puzzling. As I write this, I have in mind the Sung Eucharist on Christmas Day at Westminster Abbey where this hymn was sung at the Entrance (see a PDF of the service leaflet). This is a brilliant choice for Christmas Day. Christians, awake! Even if you were up well past midnight the night before. Salute the happy morning (i.e., not the evening)! Rise to adore the Mystery of Love. Are you still wearing your pajamas?! etc.

  The hymn is filled with marvelous turns of phrase as only John Byrom could compose. Byrom was "one of the more remarkable of the gallery of distinguished characters that the eighteenth century provides," claims Erik Routley in The English Carol.

  The tune YORKSHIRE also seems eminently singable, though it is a bit long.

  This hymn has a long pedigree in the Episcopal Church, the hymn being first published in 1871, and published again paired with the present tune only three years later.

  Has it fallen out of favor?

  It looks a bit overwhelming on the page, and this may be one reason it is not chosen. The Hymnal 1982 wisely stars stanzas 2 and 3, giving permission to omit them without ruining the logic and sense of the hymn. And indeed, the singing of four stanzas only (st. 1, 2, 5, & 6) is congruent with the practice at Westminster Abbey.

  But I can also imagine a scenario in an Anglo-Catholic parish where the full length of this hymn would be just perfect for the ceremonial of an entrance rite replete with incense.

  In hearing it sung and studying it for a few moments I am disappointed that I have not made its acquaintance until now.

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, Hymnal 1940, Hymnal 1982, hymns, less familiar hymns, Routley, Willcocks

It is time, as it so often is this time of year, to "prepare ourselves to hear again" the annual Preview of the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge.

This service is, surely, the most famous regular church service in the world. It is heard live on the radio by a global audience numbering some 30 million. And nowadays it's heard by even more people in the days afterward through streaming audio from the BBC.

Keep in mind that we also made some very vague predictions for this service. First, let's check in on how we did.

• The first carol will be "Once in Royal David's city" - It is!

  Points: +1

• Rutter's "What sweeter music" seems a bit overdue - It still is! It is not a part of this year's service. We thought it might be heard as the Invitatory Carol after the Bidding Prayer, but no dice. That honor goes to a Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003) arrangement of "Ding! dong! merrily on high". This is the first time it will be sung at the service.

  -1 Point. Score: 0

  This is not one that we are familiar with. A bit of digging shows that it's a little "notey", but not in an altogether unpleasant way. It's certainly more reserved than that blasted Wilberg thing, about which we have very mixed feelings.

• We haven't heard the Warlock "Adam lay" in a while - and we still haven't. It was last performed in 2006. We missed our guess on this too.

  -1 Point. Score: -1

  There is no "Adam lay" carol at this year's service; a version by Brown was sung last year. Instead we get that happy "apple" alternative by Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987), last sung in 2009, and the premiere of the Thea Musgrave (b. 1928) carol commissioned for this year's service. If we had read that text a little more closely we could have predicted this too. Bad form on our part.

  -1 Point. Score: -2

• The second carol after the Third Lesson will be "God rest ye merry, gentlemen" - Nope. It's "Unto us a Son is born". Phooey.

  -1 Point. Score: -3

• A work by John Tavener will be heard either after the fourth or fifth lessons. We believe it will be either "A Hymn to the Mother", last heard in 1997 or "The Lamb". Actually, it will probably be "The Lamb", which was commissioned for the service in 1982. In that case it would be after the Fourth Lesson. - And it is indeed "The Lamb" after the Fourth Lesson. Well done, us.

  +2 Points. Score: -1

  However, a slight correction: this carol was not commissioned for this service. We got that wrong.

  Tavener said:

  I wrote The Lamb in 1982 while being driven by my mother from South Devon to London. It came to me fully grown so to speak, so all I had to do was to write it down. It was inspired by Blake and by my three-year-old nephew, Simon.

  (source)

• Cleobury will put down his own "Joys Seven" after the Fifth Lesson - unless he surprises us with a new carol of his, that is. - Well, I think we have two surprises. Two new (to us, anyway) Cleobury carols.

  +2 Points. Score: 1

  The first is "Love came down at Christmas", a Cleobury setting of the Rosetti poem and existing tune by R. O. Morris. (First page of this carol [PDF]). This is in fact a new new carol, having been written for last year's "Carols from King's", a made-for-TV version of the Christmas Eve service with largely different music.

  The second Cleobury carol arrangement is "Angelus ad virginem", which is heard immediately after the Fifth Lesson. It occupies the same position in the service held in 2006 by the original medieval version of this carol. And, hey! It's after the Fifth Lesson, just like we predicted!

  +1 Point. Score: 2

• "While shepherds watched their flocks by night" will be the second carol sung after the Seventh Lesson. - Huzzah!

  +1 Point. Score: 3

• And might we hear some Britten? We haven't. And this certainly seems like a good year for it. - It is a very good year indeed.

  Look, there's a Britten carol after the "The Lamb". It's "Here we bring new water", a simple ditty from his collection Friday Afternoons for trebles alone.

  +1 Point. Score: 4

  Oh, wait, there's another one! After the very next Lesson we get his famous A Hymn to the Virgin. I wonder if they'll utilize a different space in the chapel for the second choir?

  +2 Points. Score: 6

  Holy cow! There's a third Britten carol! It's "A boy was born", the opening section of the larger a capella work A Boy was Born, one of the earliest pieces to really put Britten on the map.

  +3 Points. Score: 9, as in Nine Lessons and Carols.

  See? Who needs Nate Silver when you have our totally intuitive ability to predict this stuff and a completely unbiased and scientific scoring system? It was a little rough there for a while, but in the end we come up smelling like a rose. Smell a rose, indeed!

There are quite a few things our predictions didn't touch on.

There's the "Joy the the world" after the Second Lesson which the choir will sing straight out of The New Oxford Book of Carols.

The wonderful Judith Weir (b. 1954) carol Illuminare, Jerusalem which is a true favorite of ours. Commissioned for this service in 1985, it's a piece that uses the choir very well and exploits the effect of the organ in that acoustic in the most remarkable way.

The David Willcocks (b. 1919) arrangement of "Away in a manger" is a literal repeat from last year's service. Same carol in the same spot. While Willcocks is, we think, always represented by at least a descant, the choir do not always sing one of his carols. This year, however, will be the third consecutive year that the choir have sung a Willcocks carol arrangement.

The hauntingly beautiful Bob Chilcott (b. 1955) "The Shepherd's Carol" is becoming more regular at this service. It has been sung three times since it's composition. It was originally written for the "Carols from King's" broadcast in 2000. It was sung at this service the very next year, and again in 2011.

Richard Rodney Bennet's (1936-2012) Susani is sung after the Eighth Lesson. This is fitting honor for a composer who died on Christmas Eve last year.

Finally, the sails are raised for Simon Preston's (b. 1938) "I saw three ships" in the year of the composer's 75^th birthday.

Labels: Bennett, Britten, Christmas, Cleobury, King's College (Cambridge), liturgy, Musgrave, Poston, Tavener, Williamson

The service booklet [PDF] for the 2013 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge, has now been posted to the college website.

We have taken the opportunity to update our famous spreadsheet with this year's carols.

Behold: King's College Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (1997-2013) (link corrected, sorry!)

However you choose to peruse this information, please be sure to familiarize yourself with this year's selections.

Labels: Christmas, Cleobury, King's College (Cambridge), liturgy

The inclusion of a newly commissioned piece of music at the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge is a tradition that began with Stephen Cleobury's tenure in 1982. This, of course, prevents the service from ever being the same from year to year.

It also is very fittingly incarnational. A creative response to God's greatest act of creation that we recall at Christmas.

This year's commissioned carol at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has been composed by Thea Musgrave.

The text she has chosen is a poem from William Blake's Songs of Experience

Hear the voice of the Bard,
Who present, past, and future, sees;
Whose ears have heard
The Holy Word
That walked among the ancient trees;

Calling the lapséd soul,
And weeping in the evening dew;
That might control
The starry pole,
And fallen, fallen light renew!

‘O Earth, O Earth, return!
Arise from out the dewy grass!
Night is worn,
And the morn
Rises from the slumbrous mass.

‘Turn away no more;
Why wilt thou turn away?
The starry floor,
The watery shore,
Is given thee till the break of day.'

William Blake (1757–1827)

Labels: Blake, Christmas, Cleobury, King's College (Cambridge), Musgrave

There is surely no blog on the internet that geeks out as much about the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge as this one.

Last year, we even reported that the King's website's claim that the service booklet would be available in the beginning of December was a little bit hasty. It wasn't available until slightly later.

This year, King's only goes so far as to say that the service booklet will be available "in December".

Thankfully, this once again gives Sinden.org the opportunity to make semi-educated guesses about what long-time music director Stephen Cleobury has put down for this year's service.

Open Source Liturgy Information: By the way, you may view a spreadsheet of music at previous years' services that we at Sinden.org have maintained. And see below about how you can earn your VERY OWN HOMEMADE FRUITCAKE.

• The first carol will be "Once in Royal David's city" - this will not surprise anyone.
• Rutter's "What sweeter music" seems a bit overdue - We bet we'll hear it as the Invitatory Carol after the Bidding Prayer.
• We haven't heard the Warlock "Adam lay" in a while - but maybe that's just us.
• The second carol after the Third Lesson will be "God rest ye merry, gentlemen"
• A work by John Tavener will be heard either after the fourth or fifth lessons. We believe it will be either "A Hymn to the Mother", last heard in 1997 or "The Lamb". Actually, it will probably be "The Lamb", which was commissioned for the service in 1982. In that case it would be after the Fourth Lesson.
• Cleobury will put down his own "Joys Seven" after the Fifth Lesson - unless he surprises us with a new carol of his, that is.
• "While shepherds watched their flocks by night" will be the second carol sung after the Seventh Lesson.
• And might we hear some Britten? We haven't. And this certainly seems like a good year for it.

There's so much music to think about.

We haven't even mentioned the commissioned carol by Thea Musgrave. We're not sure where that will go. Probably later in the service.

In some ways the service is more unpredictable than it has been in years past. This is, in our judgement, a good thing.

Also, let it be stated that if you can email service information from earlier than 1997 we will gladly bake and send you a fruitcake ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

Labels: Britten, Christmas, Cleobury, John Rutter, King's College (Cambridge), Musgrave, Tavener, Warlock

Part 1

Part 2

Labels: Cleobury, Easter, Holy Week, King's College (Cambridge)

There's something utterly remarkable about the ending of this carol, which I think is a result of a superb director, also the composer here, who knows the acoustic of the chapel and the sound of the organ intimately.

Labels: 12 Days of YouTube, Christmas, Cleobury, King's College (Cambridge)