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grondficContinuation ....
4th Reading - Angels and shepherds
A lot of the nativity story takes place at night, doesn't it? I wonder at what exact time the baby was born? Hopefully some hours earlier than the shepherd-incursion.
St Day Carol (The Holly Bears a Berry)
*Phew!* Apart from a few twiddles in the intro, this one is being sung straight, and to the correct tune. ... as white as the milk - lovely.
O Come all ye Faithful
Everyone up to sing this one. So I should hope! Descant on penultimate verse this time - no better!
5th Reading BC-AD U A Fanthorpe
This is so utterly delicious that I long to quote it in its entirety, but will content myself with the last-verse denouement -
And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect
Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.
Still Still Still
I shall have to declare an interest here. This is one I regularly sing in the bath at this time of year. The original lyrics (in German) are charming (provided you remember all the rules governing use of the 3-gendered dative and accusative pronouns ... whilst scrubbing your back and carrying the melody)
So natch, I sneer when the choir wimpily sings a somewhat-altered set of English lyrics. The tune, though ... Oh the tune!
6th Reading – Wise Men
Enter King Herod. In my mind, this role should always be played by Anthony Valentine, whose wonderful voice gave all his villains a kind of 'insinuationary' quality (sadly he passed away before landing the Herod gig).
Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar (mashup with counter-narrative)
Guest baritone Gareth Brynmore John sings the main carol, quite beautifully. The choir's counter-narrative is a bit uncalled for.
7th Reading – St John
In the beginning was the word ....
O Radiant Dawn James MacMillan
Dirgy.
Fantasia on Christmas Carols Vaughan Williams
Natalie Clein gives an intro on the cello, and Gareth Brynmore John reappears for -
This is the Truth Sent from Above
Come all you Worthy Gentlemen
On Christmas Night all Christians Sing
Natalie also adds a lovely little coda.
Prayer and Blessing
Unexceptional.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
One final blast for the masses.
Organ Voluntary J S Bach
Are we going to get any of this, since the programme is verging on an overrun? YES! A snippet plays whilst the creds roll. And now, I'm off to catch up with the Princess of Wales' carol service on The Other Side.
4th Reading - Angels and shepherds
A lot of the nativity story takes place at night, doesn't it? I wonder at what exact time the baby was born? Hopefully some hours earlier than the shepherd-incursion.
St Day Carol (The Holly Bears a Berry)
*Phew!* Apart from a few twiddles in the intro, this one is being sung straight, and to the correct tune. ... as white as the milk - lovely.
O Come all ye Faithful
Everyone up to sing this one. So I should hope! Descant on penultimate verse this time - no better!
5th Reading BC-AD U A Fanthorpe
This is so utterly delicious that I long to quote it in its entirety, but will content myself with the last-verse denouement -
And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect
Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.
Still Still Still
I shall have to declare an interest here. This is one I regularly sing in the bath at this time of year. The original lyrics (in German) are charming (provided you remember all the rules governing use of the 3-gendered dative and accusative pronouns ... whilst scrubbing your back and carrying the melody)
So natch, I sneer when the choir wimpily sings a somewhat-altered set of English lyrics. The tune, though ... Oh the tune!
6th Reading – Wise Men
Enter King Herod. In my mind, this role should always be played by Anthony Valentine, whose wonderful voice gave all his villains a kind of 'insinuationary' quality (sadly he passed away before landing the Herod gig).
Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar (mashup with counter-narrative)
Guest baritone Gareth Brynmore John sings the main carol, quite beautifully. The choir's counter-narrative is a bit uncalled for.
7th Reading – St John
In the beginning was the word ....
O Radiant Dawn James MacMillan
Dirgy.
Fantasia on Christmas Carols Vaughan Williams
Natalie Clein gives an intro on the cello, and Gareth Brynmore John reappears for -
This is the Truth Sent from Above
Come all you Worthy Gentlemen
On Christmas Night all Christians Sing
Natalie also adds a lovely little coda.
Prayer and Blessing
Unexceptional.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
One final blast for the masses.
Organ Voluntary J S Bach
Are we going to get any of this, since the programme is verging on an overrun? YES! A snippet plays whilst the creds roll. And now, I'm off to catch up with the Princess of Wales' carol service on The Other Side.
