OK - Back to Tradition for me - Carols from King's commentary: Part 1

[grondfic]

I have this feeling that I haven't done a Carols Commentary since before lockdown. So this year, I'm making a supreme effort (and it bloody well better be worth it!)

Once in Royal David's City

Here we go with the boy soprano-soloist, followed by the gradual additions of choir-voices. STILL no female choristers, I notice. I shall sue!

But what is this??? Some of the servers and cross-carriers are female this year. It's a start, I guess. Congregation now joins in ... just in time for that damn descant on the final verse.

Bidding Prayer

A bit more wide-ranging this year He prays (inter alia) for The abused, the exploited, the oppressed

Ding Dong Merrily on High

They sing Ee-Oh rather than Eye-Oh. Still too twiddly for me. And now lots of 'gloooria!' in the backing instead of the usual ding-donging.

1st Reading – Isaiah

Spoken with some expression by a beautiful lady.

Adam Lay y-Bounden

Rather lost the words on that one.

And snow falls down on me Errollyn Wallen

Weird old tune. Sung mainly by the boys. VERY slow pace. Scroggly organ accompaniment. Not a fan.

2nd Reading – from Annunciation Denise Levertov

Another look at Mary and the visit of the angel -
Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings
the angelic ambassador

The poem comes from a different (and interesting) angle. Mary is free to make her choice on God's offer; and one is suddenly faced with the question - WHAT IF SHE'D SAID NO??

The Seven Joys of Mary

A PROPER folk-carol. Please don't over-egg the arrangement, guys.

It came Upon a Midnight Clear

One of my very favourite carols. Congregation allowed to join in on the gorgeous tune, so not over-arranged. Good! BUT wait - SHIIITT! - descant on the last verse. WWWHHHYYY??

3rd Reading – nativity Luke

King James version.

Away in a Manger

Always with the 'littul'. Nice boy-solo bit; but the words remain horribly twee.

Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day

SYNCOPATION and THE WRONG TUNE! F****ck! One beautiful trad carol 'rendered hideous' (quote from R.) and ruined. *sulks bigtime*

Part 2 follows shortly ...

Comments

[smallhobbit]

We sang Away in a Manger in our Family Nativity Fun nativity play this morning and one of the girls was really pleased and sang very happily - it has its place, but these were happy kids, not angelic choirboys.

[grondfic]

Actually, I just heard it sung again - this time by a group of kids from the Ukrainian refugee school. It was done very deliberately and earnestly; and it was a different experience altogether. I got very choked up by it.

[cmcmck]

Once in royal David's is local- written by Henry John Gauntlett who came from Wellington.

I do so object to over arranged carols.

[grondfic]

It has a great tune!

Have a lovely day tomorrow.xx

[abject_reptile]

'Away in a Manger'... I wouldn't be sorry to see it banned from the repertoire. Or perhaps I haven't recovered from hearing it sung outside the grocery store by two people collecting for the Salvation Army who followed it up with 'All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.'

[grondfic]

That experience sounds a bit unnerving!