Charlottechicken Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Just came across this article whilst looking for a site to download my favourite carol: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/13/nxmas113.xml My personal favourite is the Coventry Carol, now I just have to figure out how to download it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I do love Christmas carols, they really signify Christmas for me. I have the kind of singing voice that your average rhinocerous would be proud of , so listening to me singing is never a good idea, but I can never resist singing along to some of my favourite carols. I think my absolute favourite has to Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, but I love them all really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Little donkey....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Good choice Annie I have got a christmas album in my car at the moment and I have to keep playing The Little Drummer Boy Not sure it's a proper carol but I love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I love Christmas carols and have a big pile of CDs on my kitchen stereo which I'm going to start playing from today. I love so many but my favourites would have to be See Amid The Winter's Snow and Once In Royal David's City. I just wish they'd pitch them a little lower so I can sing along instead of squeeking or singing like a bloke ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I like the duet with Bing Crosby and David Bowie - little drummer boy oooh and O little Town of Bethlehem oooh and Silent Night ooooh and.... oh heck - I love them ALL (except "in the bleak mid winter" which, unless sung really well sounds like a real dirge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 So many to choose from, I love ,in the bleak midwinter,o holy night and let there be peace on earth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Just came across this article whilst looking for a site to download my favourite carol: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/13/nxmas113.xml My personal favourite is the Coventry Carol, now I just have to figure out how to download it That is a top carol! Good choice! Did you know that it dates from the 16th century and was taken from a pageant put on by shear-men and tailors of Coventry, England, on the steps of the city’s cathedral between 1534 and 1584; this in turn was based on a much older morality play that tradesmen mounted far the entertainment of their monarchs and town officials. The song’s minor tune and gently lulling words were sung by the women of Bethlehem shortly before King Herod’s men came to slaughter their infant sons in an attempt to kill the newborn "King of the Jews." (so I discovered in some research I did for a Carols through the Ages talk I did last week...) Phil (if you have any trouble downloading - just let me know - I can email you an MP3 version...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 One of my favourites is 'It came upon the midnight clear' I love this line: 'And man, at war with man, hears not the love-song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing!' Another of my favourites is 'O little town of Bethlehem'. At church the organ stops playing for the verse which begins 'How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given' and we have the whole church (500+ people) singing unaccompanied. Very special every year! I have also been introduced to another verse (in New English Hymnal) which I haven't grown up with. It ends 'The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more'. That makes me feel excited! Silent Night is absolutely wonderful, especially when you know the story of how it came about. (tell me if you want to know!) "Ooops, word censored!"ody's mentioned 'See him lying on a bed of straw'. That always goes really well, with its Calypso rhythm. Perhaps we should add a poll to this thread to find out which carol is our collective favourite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Oh Ginette, the memories just came flooding back of singing See Him Lying On A Bed of Straw at primary school many, many moons ago! I'd forgotten that one. Lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Not since primary school? You are missing out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I love 'Come and join the celebration'. We give out loads of shakers, bells and tambourines for all the littlies to join in. Great fun, but not always very rhythmic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Yes, that's a good one - maybe more for children. We sing it on Christmas morning with a tambourine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 WE had our Christmas production at school yesterday - 'Snow White & the 7 Other Dwarves' & at the end we have a community singing session. I spoke to a visiting member of staff at the end of the day and she said she has never been so scared of hearing our version of Jingle Bells in all her life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Reference to Jingle Bells always makes me laugh - when Jake was about 18 months old, he was asleep in his pram at the back of the Church. He must have woken and heard singing but waited for the quiet of prayers before singing 'Jingle Bells' really loudly - echoing all around the pram - and it wasn't Christmas - it was Easter My favourites are In The Bleak Midwinter and Coventry Carol. Nice to hear the origins of the Coventry Carol Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 It has to be 'In the bleak midwinter' for me I'm afraid. It's working on a frost here on the fens this evening and it feels appropriate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Well my all time favourites are... (i can't pick one!) Oh Come all ye faithful, Oh little town of bethlehem, Hark the herald angels, Christians awake and the sussex carol (i know i'm biased living in Sussex but its really nice!) Have been listening to Graham Kendricks 'the gift' in the car all week though. That has some lovely christmas stuff on it and reminds of my childhood back in the 80's when it was new! Had the school christmas carol concert at a really high anglican church in the week, had to confess to being a bit uneasy coming from a free church background - it was so formal! but the carol singing was dire from the parents, teachers and kids. Was v. depressing. Carols need Organs, trumpets and drums and lots of people singing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Once In Royal Davids City, with the Salvation Army band playing, at the Watchnight Service. Makes me cry with joy every year, and takes me right back to my childhood, and the first time I was allowed to stay up for the Service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Haha Chookiehen. Mentioning the sally army has got me thinking of that bit in 'Merry Christmas Mr Bean' which i watched with the kids at work this week when he ends up conducting the salvation army v. hilariously through their christmas carols! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Have been listening to Graham Kendricks 'the gift' in the car all week though. That has some lovely christmas stuff on it and reminds of my childhood back in the 80's when it was new! indeed it does - good call! we're singing his candle Song tomorrow... Like a candle flame Flickering small in our darkness Uncreated light Shines through infant eyes... etc. very nice! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I like 'Like a candle flame' and we usually use it somewhere between Christmas and Candlemas. But I like better Kendrick's 'What kind of greatness' - absolutely fantastic words. Does anyone know 'In a world where people walk in darkness'. The chorus goes: For the light is stronger than the darkness and the day will overcome the night. Though the shadows linger all around us, let us turn our faces to the light. It's just like a Music Hall song! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 'Like a candle flame' is lovely. Haven't heard of the other one Ginette? Is it on rumours of angels cd??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Was v. depressing. Carols need Organs, trumpets and drums and lots of people singing! I agree! our village Carol Service is always at the Anglican church - one year I will convince them to have it at our (free) church, with the whole band - drums, guitars, keyboards + wind section - the works! I haven't seen the Graham Kendrick CD, sounds good, I love his songs. Must look out for that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Snowy, OH was at the local village anglican church when we met - whereas i come from a evangelical free church background and we have compromised now, we are at the local baptists! Our village CofE church (where we got married) is actually quite lively for an anglican church (just not lively enough for me!) however as OH has loads of friend there still, we go occasionally and they do do a good carol service! Well the carols and music are good, i don't really do liturgy and its not exactly spirit filled! We sometimes walk to the midnight mass at Christmas and its actually always chock full of people who don't usually go to church (which i suppose Phil would say is a good witnessing opportunity!) Its just the services that people go to where NOONES a 'proper' Christian i find hard (and by that i include some (not all) Anglicans who just 'go to church' but don't really have a proper 'faith' ) It was like this mid week. I don't think any of the parents at the school service were christian and the headmaster said a prayer and a blessing etc etc when he has no faith whatsoever and has been sleeping with the (married) head of the pta this year! It just feels a bit weird. It was a really high anglo-catholic church i think, i can't imagine they have anything other then an organ and don't sing anything written after 1726! Still each to their own! I'll shut up and get off my high horse now before i upset anyone!!!! Get the Graham Kendrick CD - its an oldie but a goodie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 In the Bleak Midwinter is my all time favourite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
