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Documentary following the world's most famous choir through a special year of music, in the centenary year of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's.
CAROLS FROM KING'S - ORDER OF SERVICE WITH NOTES
Once in Royal David's City.
Choir and congregation
The words by Mrs C F Alexander come from a set of 'Hymns for Little Children' (1824).
The tune 'Irby' was written as a Christmas carol by Henry John Gauntlett and published in 1849. Gauntlett became organist at the age of 10 in the church where his father was the vicar, but went on to work as a lawyer for 15 years before becoming a professional musician who wrote over 1,000 hymn tunes.
The descant is by Stephen Cleobury.
Bidding Prayer
A Tender Shoot
Choir
Music by Otto Goldschmidt (1829-1907). This German composer was a pupil of Mendelssohn and moved to London in 1858 where he became organist of two churches in Wimbledon and founded the London Bach Choir with whom he conducted the first complete performance in English of Bach's B minor Mass.
This is the Truth Sent from Above
Choir
This is a traditional carol from Herefordshire, collected and arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and published in 1919. As is very common, only the first five verses are performed here.
First reading: Isaiah 9
Isaiah speaks of the peace that Christ brings.
Sussex Carol [On Christmas Night All Christians Sing]
Choir
A traditional carol from Sussex, also collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The sparkling arrangement is by Philip Ledger, Stephen Cleobury's predecessor as Director of Music of King's College Chapel.
The Holly and the Ivy
Choir
The words are a traditional English carol collected in Gloucestershire by Cecil Sharp and published in 1911.
The tune comes from France, and is arranged here by June Nixon, one of Australia's best known organists, choir trainers and composers. Dr Nixon has been Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne since 1973
Second reading: The Heart in Waiting, by Kevin Crossley Holland
The English poet Kevin Crossley-Holland has written eight collections of poetry and has translated Beowulf and oth
The traditional celebration of Christmas from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge begins with a solo chorister singing 'Once in Royal David's City'. Stephen Cleobury conducts the famous chapel choir in carols old and new, including 'The Angel Gabriel', 'The Holly and The Ivy' and 'Silent Night', while the story of the Nativity is told in the familiar words of the King James' bible along with Christmas poems by Rainer Maria Rilke, William Austin and Laurie Lee.
The traditional Christmas carol concert from King's College Chapel, Cambridge. Stephen Cleobury conducts the famous chapel choir in carols old and new, including Once in Royal David's City, In Dulci Jubilo, Ding Dong Merrily On High and Angels from the Realms of Glory. The story of the Nativity is told in the words of the King James Bible and in Christmas poems by Edwin Muir, GK Chesterton and Ben Jonson.
DEAN
The Reverend Dr Stephen Cherry
CHAPLAIN
The Reverend Richard Lloyd Morgan
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Dr Stephen Cleobury
ORGAN SCHOLARS
Douglas Tang
Tom Etheridge
Richard Gowers
A solo chorister singing Once in Royal David's City begins the Christmas celebration from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge. Stephen Cleobury directs the famous choir.
A solo chorister sings Once In Royal David's City to begin the traditional celebration of Christmas from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge.
The world-famous choir, directed by Stephen Cleobury, sings a glorious selection of carols, including Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (Wilberg), The Holly and the Ivy, The Three Kings (Cornelius) and O Come All Ye Faithful.
The Christmas story is told in the words of the King James Bible and in poems by Rowan Williams, Charles Causley and UA Fanthorpe.
The three directors of music at King's College since 1957, filmed in 2001
