Your Favorite Christmas Carol? "Sacred Miscellany" wants to know
  • Matilda
    Posts: 76
    Once He Came in Blessing
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • mmeladirectress
    Posts: 1,103
    bumping this thread, to get back to the original post :-)

    for our little choir -
    It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (yes! for the meaning of the text)
    Saint-Saens Tollite Hostias (not a carol, but a parishioner's young son told us that when he hears that, he knows it's Christmas - and we agree)
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 248
    Hark, the Herald Angels Sing has done it for me ever since I was a preschooler.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • AnimaVocis
    Posts: 156
    Unto Us is Born a Son has always been a favorite of mine.

    https://youtu.be/dGS7igsATgs?si=M2pSm7Vj009tZdNj

    This and Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen!
  • Diapason84
    Posts: 81
    I have a soft spot for the tune “The Wise Men” by Berthold Tours in the Hymnal 1940, as an alternate for the text “Saw you never, in the twilight.” It’s syrupy but also strangely charming.
    Thanked by 1Paul F. Ford
  • sdtalley3sdtalley3
    Posts: 263
    I didn’t know about “O Little One Sweet” by JS Bach till a few years ago, but the more I look and listen to it, the more I need to try and convince my DM to fit it in this Christmas!

    https://youtu.be/bSI5ZyfuVOc?si=4afX2rFORei1xoBT

    Thanked by 2francis Paul F. Ford
  • trentonjconn
    Posts: 633
    Decidedly non-liturgical, but I quite like the Sans Day Carol. Quempas and Personent Hodie are up there too.
  • Felicia
    Posts: 117
    From a posting in 2018:
    @Maureen
    I recently spent an evening on YouTube, finding out that St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote a bunch of famous Christmas songs.

    @M. Jackson Osborn
    ...finding out...
    Such as?

    The most popular Christmas song in Italy, "Tu scendi dalle stelle" (literally, "You come down from the stars") is credited to St. Alphonsus de Liguori. He based it on a traditional carol in Neapolitan dialect, "Quanno nascette ninno." The New Saint Basil Hymnal of 1958 had an adaptation in English.

    Here is a recording of Andrea Bocelli singing two verses:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK932hwc8UA

    For a more rustic, folksy, outdoors sound, played on zampogna (bagpipe) and ciaramella or piva (shawm), which might be how it sounded in the 18th century:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2rg5Rytbww


    Thanked by 3CHGiffen Paul F. Ford M. Jackson Osborn
  • PhilipPowell
    Posts: 117
    Not my favorite but it’s a hidden gem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwICADplEgA
    Thanked by 3Anna_Bendiksen sdtalley3 CHGiffen
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,789
    The Sussex Carol

    Followed by,
    The Salutation Carol
    The Truth sent from above
    Praise of Christmas
    First Nowell
    The Wexford Carol
    Down in yon Forest
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen mmeladirectress
  • francis
    Posts: 10,848
    Two by JSB

    A child is born in Bethlehem (chorale number 12)

    Break forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D7E0jM0F3M8g
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen trentonjconn Brian Michael Page
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 248
    I also adore this arrangement of In dulce jubilo:

    https://youtu.be/MrweXsImVhg?si=21TLo7sy66O-4jmc
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,116
    When Daniel Hyde's first lessons & carols run with the King's College Choir was broadcast over the radio, one could immediately hear the difference in choral sound. (A family member who is a recording wiz was so captured by the change that he was able to rip an excellent capture from the feed so we were able to listen to it and compare to prior KCC recordings over the course of the holiday week....) A top musical group, be it choral or instrumental, can under the right direction pull off that kind of relatively speedy pivot in character.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Anna_Bendiksen
  • Brian Michael Page
    Posts: 157
    My top six:
    O come, all ye faithful (Arr. Willcocks)
    Hark! the herald angels sing (Arr. Willcocks)
    O little town of Bethlehem ("Forest Green")
    Bel Bambino (I have a rather light arr. by Alex Peloquin from early in his career that's quite nice)
    God rest ye merry, gentlemen (While I like the standard accompaniment in most hymnals, I find the accompaniment in the Hymnal 1940 quite interesting, and, while in my car, I like listening to the Arthur Harris arrangement as played by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting - sounds like the soundtrack to a western B-film lol).
    Away in a manger (the Kirkpatrick tune)
    BMP
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 232
    My top three Christmas hymns are:
    With Glory Lit, the Midnight Air Revealed
    See Amid the Winter's Snow
    Sleep Holy Babe

    King's College has recordings of the latter two which are quite nice.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Don9of11
  • francis
    Posts: 10,848
    also

    In the Bleak Mid Winter

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE0aIQp9V4s
    Thanked by 3sdtalley3 CHGiffen Paul F. Ford
  • PhilipPowell
    Posts: 117
    also

    In the Bleak Mid Winter


    Harold Darke’s setting to the same words is always hit for congregations here.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Don9of11Don9of11
    Posts: 716
    These a some of the christmas songs/ carols that St. Mary's choir in Akron, Ohio would sing for our Christmas programs which we did Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, about 1/2 hour before Mass. Adeste Fideles was always a favorite at Offertory. Many of these are out of print and likely in the public domain. If any of these look interesting, I have copies that I can share. Our Christmas program consisted of some of these selections but not all.

    In Old Judea - Adam Geibel/ Bruce Carleton (1929 solo/ 1943 choral)
    O Babe Divine - Italian Carol/ Howard McKinney (1956 SA)
    O Night of Holy Memory - Ira Wilson (1917 choral)
    Sleeping the Christ Child Lay - James Hall (1926 choral with Alto Solo)
    Sleep Holy Babe (St. Basil's 1918 hymn)
    Christmas Bells - Lester Price (1906 - unison)
    Christmas Bells - Lee Rodgers (1938 choral)
    His Natal Day (Ring Bells of Christmas) - Edward Norman (1929 choral)
    The Christmas Song - Ira Wilson (1916 choral)
    To Hear the Angels Sing - E. Lorenz (1909 choral)
    The Prince of Peace - A.J. Weiss/ Wm. Ashmall (1923 choral)
    Birthday of a King - W. Neidlinger/ E.C.C. (1950s choral)
    Sleep My Jesus Sleep - Dutch Lullaby/ Clarence Dickinson (1927 choral with Alto or Bass Solo)
    Adeste Fideles/ O Come All Ye Faithfull - V. Novello (1950s choral)
    With Glory Lit The Midnight Air Revealed - Dielman (1906 choral)
    The New Born King - Charles L'espoir (1932 Solo)
    The Christ Child - Margaret Beaulieu (1937 Solo)
    The Song That Will Never Cease - Howard Smith (1904 unison)

    The Mass setting was always the Christmas Carol Mass (Latin/ English) - James Korman (1937 choral) Everyother year was Latin.
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen mmeladirectress kenstb
  • mmeladirectress
    Posts: 1,103
    forgot one
    Of the Father's Heart Begotten (Corde Natus ex Parentis)
    Thanked by 2tomjaw ServiamScores
  • CGM
    Posts: 705
    Wynton Marsalis's live rendition of Winter Wonderland, because Stephen Scott's piano playing is so incredibly hip.

    New York Voices's I wonder as I wander. An amazing arrangement & performance, even though the keyboard sound is terrible.

    Betty Carter's Let it snow. I know, she's not everybody's cup of tea. But I love her phrasing.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • bhcordovabhcordova
    Posts: 1,167
    O Holy Night
    Joy to the World
    The Huron Song
    O Come All Ye Faithful
    Silent Night
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,934
    Anything Alfred Burt wrote.
  • mmeladirectress
    Posts: 1,103
    Here's a carol from at least 18th cent. Quand Dieu naquit à Noël
    I have no boychoir, no dulcimer, no flute, but one day we WILL find an arrangement which we can sing!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXtdmrXZdTg
    Thanked by 2sdtalley3 CHGiffen
  • achoyce91
    Posts: 173
    Veni, veni, Emmanuel.
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen hilluminar mmeladirectress
  • francis
    Posts: 10,848
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X9GfuAAXcko
    Thanked by 2mmeladirectress CHGiffen
  • francis
    Posts: 10,848
    also

    https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=580956334&channel=ftrc&q=holst+christmas+carol&tbm=vid&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-sr7-5LeCAxXSkIkEHav_BQcQ0pQJegQICxAB&biw=955&bih=478&dpr=2.61#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:e86b0cb1,vid:SE0aIQp9V4s,st:0
    Thanked by 2mmeladirectress CHGiffen
  • Jeffrey Quick
    Posts: 2,092
    Flos de radice Jesse/Oh how a rose e'er blooming
    Thanked by 2mmeladirectress CHGiffen
  • kenstb
    Posts: 369
    I love "Nous voici dans la ville". It has made my Christmas season since I was a child. I also like "Lullay my Liking" by Gustav Holst.
    Thanked by 2m_r_taylor CHGiffen
  • Benedetta
    Posts: 1
    Hello, I'm looking for the music score for piano, soprano and alto of O Babe Divine - Italian Carol/ Howard McKinney (1956 SA). Anyone could please help me? I've seen that @don9of11 has performed it. Thanks so much for your help
    Thanked by 1Don9of11
  • Don9of11Don9of11
    Posts: 716
    Benedetta, sent you a pm.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,986
    Coventry Carol.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,199
    Tooting my own horn, but here is my setting of "Veni, veni, Emmanuel".

    Performance by the English Seminar Choir of Basel, Switzerland, in the Elisabethenkirche, Basel, and at Saint Pierre de Clages, Switzerland. Michael Uhlmann, director. (2010):

    https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/images/0/0f/06_O_come,_o_come_Emmanuel_(Giffen).mp3

    PDF score and MP3 (synthesized) realization attached.
    Giffen-Veni veni Emmanuel.pdf
    202K
    Giffen-Veni, Veni Emmanuel-160kbps.mp3
    8M
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn oldhymns
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    Of The Father's Love Begotten (equalist, not in three... and I want to hear/sing all the verses)
    Thanked by 5M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen LauraKaz hilluminar ServiamScores
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,424
    ...(equalist, not...)
    I am moved equally by 'three' or 'equal'. It is one of the very best of all Christmas hymns. Willcocks' arrangement is the perfect offertory anthem for those for whom something more challenging is not possible.
    The notes are known and easy enough, even such as can be spent fruitfully on doctrine and nuance and excruciating nuance and very clear diction. The last stanza

    The notes are easy enough that one can, relieved of the burden of wasting time on learning note, and use from the first to make every syllable, phrase. and sentence flow artfully and with confidence along so that the climax, when it arrives serve as a glorious
    foundation for the organ's sudden appearance, as delivered from the accompaniment mode to one of co-operating organ and voices wending their royal drive and mutual gayety. It will repay a certain pedantic and merciless emphasis on all punctuation
    and rhyme. And be a stickler for diction and good breathing and uniform vowel sounds
    from every singer (BLEND)
    This is a fine, grave hymn, having the gravity that an offertory anthem should have
    And it is the perfect for a village choir and for a city quire that can boast of greater recources.
    Thanked by 2Adam Wood mmeladirectress
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    I will enjoy it in three if it is offered that way. But we were asked for our favorite.
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn LauraKaz
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,424
    .
  • francis
    Posts: 10,848
    MJO… it’s so good to . you
    Thanked by 1mmeladirectress
  • Andrew_Malton
    Posts: 1,189
    * Sussex Carol
    * Bóg się rodzi
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Chant_Supremacist
    Posts: 43
    Current selection for carolling before this year's midnight mass.

    1. Silent night
    2. What Child is This
    3. Gaudete Christus est Natus [choir]
    4. God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen
    5. The Holly and the Ivy
    6. Lo How a Rose [choir]
    7. Once in Royal David's City
    8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

    I see these as tasteful crowd pleasers by and large. Gaudete and Holly/Ivy might not be universally known, but they should be, so in they go. What Child will be sung unflattened (insert Norman Rockwell "Freedom of Speech" meme).

    Some others scheduled for different times: O Come All ye Faithful, The First Noel, Puer Natus, Noel Nouvelet, Flos de Radice Jesse.
    Thanked by 2Roborgelmeister cesarfranck
  • mmeladirectress
    Posts: 1,103
    The "crowd pleasers" here include
    Stille Nacht / Silent Night / Noche de Paz
    Tomorrow Shall Be my Dancing Day
    Gaudete Christus est Natus

    my own favorites
    The Holly and the Ivy (old tune -see Christmas Revels) all verses!
    Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming
    the Sans Day Carol
    Thanked by 2Roborgelmeister Chant_Supremacist
  • cesarfranck
    Posts: 162
    Once in Royal David's city, Sussex carol, The holly and the ivy, The first Nowell,Adeste Fidelis, Hark the herald angels. Many other favorites, but my selections are based on what congregation and choir can easily sing. Finally, I am not a fan of Joy to.the world.
    Thanked by 4Chant_Supremacist oldhymns mmeladirectress Roborgelmeister
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 232
    Cesar, I'm in your camp in not being a fan of Joy to the World--it's just too secular to hear at Mass. It reminds me of the music at the mall when thousands are doing their Christmas shopping! There are so many other good choices, and you have indicated several.
    Thanked by 1Roborgelmeister
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,815
    Joy to the World--it's just too secular
    ???

    We always sing "O come all ye" "O little town" "Silent night" "Hark the herald" at Midnight Mass and "Angels we have heard" "It came upon the midnight" "Joy to the world" for the diurnals.

    My favorites though are "Lo how a Rose" and "Of the Father's love"; like Adam I'm an equalist. Bêtes noirs are Greensleeves and "The first Noel": when a congregation tries to breath after semiquavers ("this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is") it rather gets on my nerves, and 3x6 (The first…in fields…Nowell") is something I will only endure on years with two Sundays before Epiphany.
  • RoborgelmeisterRoborgelmeister
    Posts: 177
    Joy to the world is a paraphrase (and a good one) of a psalm, but speaks nothing of the Incarnation of Our Lord. It came upon the midnight clear was written by a Unitarian, and the text proves it. It too, says nothing of Our Lord.
    Thanked by 1oldhymns
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,367
    I don't know, the last verse is an obvious reference to John 1, ps. 98 is the last psalm of Christmas Matins, it's about the coming of the King…am I missing something?

    We place the Infant in the crèche after Vespers concluding with O Little Town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN). Midnight Mass begins with Silent Night and concludes with Angels We Have Heard On High. Which I love…at the second Mass.

    If I had full control: O Come Divine, Messiah, before going to the crèche with the baby Jesus or to place the Infant King statue on the high altar. Adeste Fideles afterwards (the ministers can sit if the priest needs to take off the cope). Hark the Herald, Angels Sing to conclude.

    See my comments above for dawn. At my old parish, we concluded the day Mass with Joy to the World. I am not really sure which carols that I'd prefer to have for any singing before midnight Mass. There are a lot of good ones, some less familiar ones…and one must make choices!
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,934
    "The Great God of Heaven" by H.R. Bramley, to the tune of A VIRGIN UNSPOTTED. I don't know, something about the line of the fourth verse has always stuck with me . . .

    O wonder of wonders, which none can unfold:
    The Ancient of Days is an hour or two old.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,815
    Without even trying to, Ann Callaway cracked me up with a page of corrections for her carol Verbum caro factus est, which I'm engraving and which will be sung at each of our churches this Christmas. The top of the page read "The last Noel".

    P.S. She now says it was in fact calculated to get a rise.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
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