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, Adam's Fall – Richard Elfyn Jones, Love came down at Christmas – arr. Stephen Cleobury, and How shall I fitly meet thee – Bach.
Why not have a listen to Ledger's?
Labels: Christmas, King's College (Cambridge), Lessons and Carols, Philip Ledger
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
As it is our care and delight to await the coming of the 2015 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 David Willcocks, the first of many carols and arrangements by Willcocks at this service. Willcocks, of course, is the famous former director of music of King's who died earlier this year.
- The invitatory carol is "What sweeter music" by John Rutter. Stephen Cleobury and King's College commission a composer to write a new carol every year. This carol was commissioned in 1987. We remarked last year that this carol seemed quite overdue. It has not been sung since 2008. It's been a full ten years since it was heard as the invitatory carol.
- After the First Lesson come two very familiar carols at this service.
- This is the truth sent from above - Vaughan Williams last sung in 2012
- Adam lay ybounden - Boris Ord, by the former director of music of King's, this is probably the most frequently sung carol after this lesson. It was last sung in 2011.
- After the Second Lesson
- Ding dong! merrily on high - David Willcocks, the first of three carols by Willcocks
- In dulci jubilo - Robert Lucas Pearsall, for a carol that is so closely associated with this service (at least in our minds) it is interesting to note that it hasn't been sung since 2010. Interestingly, these two carols were paired together after this lesson in 1999, though the order was reversed.
- After the Third Lesson
- Sussex Carol - David Willcocks
- Hymn: It came upon a midnight clear, this hymn was last sung in 2011 when it also followed Willcocks's "Sussex Carol" (though in that year there were three carols after the Third Lesson). The descant is that by Stephen Cleobury, which, with its opening parallel sixths, is one of our very favorites.
- After the Fourth Lesson
- A tender shoot - Otto Goldschmidt, last sung in 2010
- A spotless rose - Philip Ledger, last sung in 2012
- After the Fifth Lesson
- The angel Gabriel - David Willcocks, it is believed that this marks the first performance of this carol at this service, at least in recent memory. More often the Edgar Pettman arrangement is sung, as it was in last year's service.
- Nova, Nova - John Scott, a fitting tribute to a superb church musician who also died this year.
- After the Sixth Lesson
- In the bleak midwinter - Harold Darke, sometimes voted the "best" Christmas carol of all time, this was sung last year.
- Dormi Jesu - John Rutter, the second Rutter carol of the service. Note that Rutter celebrates his 70th birthday this year.
- After the Seventh Lesson
- The Shepherd's Carol - Bob Chilcott, this carol has been sung every other year since 2011. It occupies an unusual place as a "modern classic" that was not composed by John Rutter. It was originally written not for this service, but for the service recorded television broadcast "Carols for Kings".
- Hymn: God rest ye merry, gentlemen, this hymn is sung in the famous arrangement of David Willcocks
- After the Eighth Lesson
- This year's commissioned carol The Flight - Richard Causton
- Here is the little door - Herbert Howells, a splendid little carol that leans toward Epiphany. This will be the first time that this particular carol of Howells has been sung. Previously it was his "A spotless rose", which is sung frequently, including at last year's service. In fact, singing of this carol at this service goes back to at least 1936.
- After the Ninth Lesson the service concludes as it always does, with both hymns sung in their familiar David Willcocks arrangements.
- Hymn: O come, all ye faithful
- Hymn: Hark! the herald angels sing
The second organ voluntary is "Sortie on 'In dulci jubilo' " by David Briggs, a former organ scholar at King's. This organ piece was last performed in 2007.
The Sinden.org spreadsheet of carols at this service has been updated with this year's information.
This article was updated at 9 o'clock Central Time with descant information after an overwhelming response from our readers.
Labels: Christmas, David Briggs, Howells, John Scott, King's College (Cambridge), Ord, Philip Ledger, Richard Causton, Rutter, Willcocks
So last week, when we were all watching the consecration of Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary, there was a wonderful anthem by David Hurd.
Then this happened on Twitter
@nelsojl that really was lovely. I didn't know it.
— David Sinden (@sinden) October 13, 2015And then, this:
@nelsojl do we know you're top ten favorites? Because you need to blog that or something.
— David Sinden (@sinden) October 13, 2015So, today, we welcome Jessica Nelson, guest blogger, with a top ten list (in no particular order) of her favorite carols and anthems for Advent and Christmas.
- Philip Stopford, Lully, Lulla, Lullay (pub. Hal Leonard)
This makes me have all the feelings. Minimalism & some sexy suspensions, but not so long that it gets tedious.
- Jan Sandström, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (pub. Gehrmans, Stockholm)
It's like a modern choral chorale prelude. A post-modern take on Praetorius. Some really good prickly moments. I first heard this on a recording from Clare College that my fourth-favorite alto lent me. She has now been promoted to third-favorite alto.
- James MacMillan, O radiant dawn (pub. Boosey & Hawkes)
My favorite of the Strathclyde Motets. Furthermore, I could listen to James MacMillan read his grocery list all day long. He is also not terrible to look at. AND! You can follow him on the Twitter @jamesmacm.
- Richard Felciano, The Eyes of All Hope in Thee, O Lord, (pub. ECS)
(The title of this YouTube video reads, "...hope in Three, O Lord." I feel like that Means Something.)
The alleluias remind me of Rejoice in the Lamb, but only a little.
- Elizabeth Poston, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (pub. ECS)
Purely, purely sentimental reasons. Millsaps College Singers. Every single year.
- Herbert Howells, A spotless rose (pub. Galaxy, I think?)
Because it's Howells. And the magnificent text painting. And because it's charm lies in that it's absolutely no longer than it is. It's like a little perfect pearl.
- Cesar Carrillo, O magnum mysterium (pub. earthsongs)
The sonic equivalent of Scotch. It makes you feel warm from the inside out.
- Philip Ledger, Advent Calendar (pub. Encore)
I have been totally smitten with this text by Rowan Williams for a couple of years. This is the best setting of it I've encountered so far. I wish more folks would set it. I think the possibilities are endless.
- Abbie Betinis, arr., In the bleak midwinter (pub. Abbie Betinis)
This, like the Stopford setting of the Coventry Carol, is one of the few settings of either of those carols that isn't overly sentimental, but instead captures the gravitas that those texts really demand. It's just nice to hear someone (and a young female composer, especially!) writing music for Advent/Christmas that isn't like listening to a Thomas Kinkade painting.
- David Hurd, A stable lamp is lighted (pub. GIA)
I think Hurd's writing just so masterfully captures the text. And it's just as much a Palm Sunday text as a Christmas one.
[Editor's Note: This setting also appears at Hymn 104 in the Hymnal 1982]
Honorable mentions:
- Mark Schweizer, The Stars Looked Down (pub. St. James Music Press)
I love G.K. Chesterton almost as George Herbert. Almost. - Randall Thompson, Nowel from The Nativity According to St. Luke (pub. E.C. Schirmer)
Like his "Alleluia," only different. And really beautiful.
Jessica Nelson lives in Tupelo, Mississippi, where she is organist/choirmaster at All Saints' Episcopal Church. In her spare time, she composes a little and watches Netflix a lot. You can follow her on the Twittergram @nelsojl.
Labels: Abbie Betinis, Advent, Cesar Carillo, Christmas, church music, Felciano, Howells, Hurd, Jessica Nelson, MacMillan, Mark Schweizer, Philip Ledger, Poston, Randall Thompson, Sandström, Stopford
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: 3.5Final 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
Today, Tuesday 11 December 2012 the service leaflet for this year's service was posted online. Last year's leaflet was also released online about this time, Tuesday 13 December 2011.
The service will once again open with "Once in royal David's city".
We should have been more confident with our prediction that the Invitatory Carol would be "Up! good Christian folk and listen" by Woodward because it totally is that carol.
We missed the mark in regard to the first carol after the First Lesson. That carol is "This is the truth sent from above" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, which was last sung in 2010 as the Invitatory Carol. Before that, it was sung in this position in 2007.
Stephen Cleobury has thrown a curve ball with a setting of "Adam lay ybounden" by Christopher Brown, a new work first performed 9 December 2006 in Linton, Cambridgeshire. This is the first time in my records that the sung setting of this carol has been composed by someone other than Peter Warlock or a Director of Music at King's.
Philip Ledger, who died on 18 November is commemorated with two carols in this year's service: his arrangement of "Good Christian men, rejoice", and "A spotless rose". "Good Christian men, rejoice", sung after the Second Lesson, has not been previously sung at the service in this arrangement -- and we have not been aware of it before now. You can listen to a performance on the Christ's College, Cambridge recordings page. We had predicted that Pearsall's "In dulci jubilo" would be sung here, (the same tune. Likewise, we predicted Howells's a "A spotless rose" to be sung after the Fourth Lesson, the same position it held in last year's service. It returns, but in the exact same setting by Ledger. This carol was composed for the King's service in 2002, but it did not bear the distinction of being the commissioned carol that year (it was "The angel Gabriel" by Robin Holloway).
We were right in our prediction that the Sussex Carol is not being sung after the Third Lesson. It is instead, a repeat of last year's "Nowell sing we now all and some". This is one of four repeats of the internal carols from last year's service (not counting the three constant carols that bookend the service: "Once in royal", "O come, all ye faithful", and "Hark! the herald"). The four carols being repeated are:
- Nowell sing we now all and some
- A spotless Rose - Ledger
- The Hymn "While shepherds watched their flocks by night"
- The Three Kings - Cornelius
All this repetition from last year may be meant to offset some of the extra "newness". In addition to the commissioned carol there is a carol written for the choir's last CD, and that new (shocking!) setting of "Adam lay ybounden".
The hymn after the Third Lesson. It is "Unto us is born a Son". For the 16 years for which we have records it will have been sung six times in this slot. It just edges out "It came upon a midnight clear" which has beens sung five times.
The commissioned carol by Australian composer Carl Vine, "Ring out, wild bells is heard as the second carol after the Fourth Lesson. We're standing by our prediction that it will be awesome.
The hymn after the Seventh Lesson is not "God rest ye" as we thought it might be. It's "While shepherds", one of the four repeats mentioned above.
Since 2000, Stephen Cleobury has included one of his own carol arrangements in the service. The trend continues this year with "The Cherry Tree Carol", the melancholy story of pregnant Mary and indignant Joseph that could be equally at home in an Advent carol service. It was last sung in 2004.
John Rutter's "All bells in paradise" a carol written for the recently released Lessons & Carols CD on the college's new CD label is included in the service after the Sixth Lesson.
William Mathias's "Sir Christèmas" from his carol sequence Ave Rex is the final choir carol of the service. We don't believe that it has been sung at the King's service before.
The famous spreadsheet of all the carols sung at the service since 1997 has been updated.
Labels: Carl Vine, Christmas, Christopher Brown, John Rutter, King's College (Cambridge), Mathias, Philip Ledger
The website of King's College has proclaimed that "The 2012 service booklet will be available at the beginning of December."Well, it's already December 4, and no such service booklet is posted!
I'm afraid that I have no recourse, except to offer my (somewhat) annual predictions for the service.
I'm at somewhat of a disadvantage here. Since this is Stephen Cleobury's 30th Carol Service at King's, it would be great to see what he selected in his first year as Director of Music, but my records only go back to 1997. So, I will once again make my (somewhat) annual appeal: if anyone has orders of service older than this, I would love to see them. I will bake you cookies and send them ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
- The service will begin with "Once in royal David's city". Barring the zombie apocalypse.
- It is possible that the Invitatory carol could be "Up Good Christian folk and listen" by Woodward. No carol has been repeated in this category except for this carol, and it has not been sung since 2004. Before that it was sung in consecutive years in 1997 and 1998 (as far as my records go.) This carol has not been sung elsewhere in the service. I should also note that in 2004 it was followed by a second Invitatory carol: "On Christmas night" by Willcocks.
- The first carol after the First Lesson will be "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree" by Elizabeth Poston.
- The second carol after the First Lesson will be Philip Ledger's setting of "Adam lay ybounden". Ledger died several weeks ago, and I think this will be one of two or more places that he is commemorated in the music choices.
Other carols by Ledger that have been sung in recent years that may recurr:
- A spotless rose
- Angels from the realms
- I saw three ships
- Sussex Carol (but likely not, see below)
- A spotless rose
- Pearsall's "In dulci jubilo" will be sung after the Second Lesson.. It was not sung in the service last year, which is the first time it had been omitted since 2002. It is most commonly sung in this position.
- The Sussex Carol will not be sung after the Third Lesson. Sorry for the negative prediction, but I think it will be omitted this year. This was a spot of surprise in last year's service. The carol was included for the third year in a row, but immediately preceded by the medieval "Nowell Sing we now all", which was a break with precedent. It meant that there were three carols (one a hymn) sung after the Third Lesson.
- "O little town of Bethlehem" will be the hymn after the Third Lesson.
- I think it's time for Howells "A spotless rose" to return, and if it does so, it will be after the Fourth Lesson. It may be Ledger instead, which was sung last year.
- I predict the commissioned carol, about which I know nothing, will be awesome.
- The Hymn after the Seventh Lesson will be "God rest ye merry, gentlemen"
- I fear the return of the Mack Wilberg "Ding dong", and if it does return it will be after the Eighth Lesson
Labels: Christmas, Howells, King's College (Cambridge), Philip Ledger
It's time once again for the annual broadcast of A Service for Advent with Carols, sung by the very fine Choir of St. John's, Cambridge.
You can listen the service for the next six days at the BBC, and we at Sinden.org highly recommend that you avail yourself of this opportunity.
You can download a PDF of the service at the College website.
This service is famed for many reasons. The singing is of the highest standard, and the liturgy is very thoughtfully conceived. The service is divided into four sections (The Message of Advent, The Word of God, The Prophetic Call, and The Christ-Bearer) mirroring the four weeks of Advent. In fact, the collects at the head of each of the first three sections is the Prayer Book collect for the respective Sunday of Advent. The fourth collect, however, either must come from a different source or was specifically composed for the service.
The seven Advent "O Antiphons" are evenly distributed throughout the four sections.
Highlights this year include:
- "There is a flower" by John Rutter. This a capella carol was composed specifically for John's as a sort of counterpart to his beter-known "What sweeter music", written for King's College.
- The energetic "Vigilate" by James Long (b. 1987), a new carol commissioned for the service.
- "A Spotless Rose" by Philip Ledger, who died just a few weeks ago.
- The return of Matthew Martin's Magnificat, which I thoroughly enjoyed when I first heard it on an Evensong webcast from May.
- "The Seven Joys of Mary" by William Whitehead which is just plain good fun.
Labels: Advent, James Long, John Rutter, Matthew Martin, Philip Ledger, St John's (Cambridge), William Whitehead
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