It seems only yesterday that we celebrated Christmas . . . but another year has passed, and the liturgical calendar has rolled around yet again.
I don’t know about you, but I’m heartily sick of the ghastly versions of Christmas carols one hears in every supermarket and shopping mall (and over far too many radio stations) at this time of year. As an antidote, here’s the Choir of Kings College, Cambridge, with their “Carols from Kings” album. The track listing (time in minutes and seconds, followed by title) is as follows:
00:00:00 Once in royal David’s city
00:04:41 Rejoice and be merry
00:06:11 Ding dong, merrily on high
00:08:19 What Sweeter Music
00:12:37 O little town of Bethlehem
00:16:17 A Spotless Rose
00:19:25 Heer Jezus heeft een hofken (organ variations)
00:26:44 King Jesus hath a garden
00:30:10 The Lamb
00:33:39 Bogoróditse Dyévo
00:34:55 Infant holy, infant lowly
00:36:43 Illuminare, Jerusalem
00:39:12 While shepherds watched
00:41:54 Quittez, pasteurs
00:45:05 In dulci jubilo (organ prelude)
00:48:06 In dulci jubilo
00:50:46 The First Nowell
00:56:09 Coventry Carol
00:59:17 Personent hodie
01:01:49 O come all ye faithful
Now, why can’t they play that in supermarkets, instead of some bimbo bleating at the top of her tone-deaf voice about Christmas without tears, without a single mention of the reason for the season?
Peter
Glorious! But as to your question: These and their like not played because carols demand attention. That detracts from the “buy” message.
(Full disclosure – choir member for decades)
I felt compelled to do this one as my solo in church today;
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep,
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men"
Till, ringing singing, on it's way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
I just bought Katica Illényi's album of Christmas music played on the Theremin.
I would suggest also listening to her play the theme from "Once Upon A Time In The West."
My father loved hearing "O Holy Night" and when I hear it sung it always brings back memories.