Christmas Carols for the Christmas Season

I love Christmas Carols. I love Christmas music. I wish we could sing them all year long. So I spent this Christmas season listening to Christmas music on the radio and on Christmas Day there were several great TV programs of Christmas music. (In fact we had a small TV war when my cousin switched the channel temporarily to a football game. I won, it was my house!)

So lets start with the history of Christmas Carols. I googled History of Christmas Carols and came up with the following links:

from Ask.Com http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/a/carols.htm

Word Origin
The word carol or carole is a medieval word of French and Anglo-Norman origin, believed to mean a dance song or a circle dance accompanied by singing. Broadly defined, carols express religious joy and is often associated to the Christmas season. Carols are also used to describe late medieval English songs on various subjects with a verse and refrain. Often the verse and refrain (also called burden) alternates.

History of Christmas Carols
It is unclear when the first carol was written but it is believed that circa 1350 to 1550 is the golden age of English carols and most of the carols followed the verse-refrain pattern.

During the 14th century carols became a popular religious song form. The theme often revolved around a saint, the Christ child or the Virgin Mary at times blending two languages such as English and Latin.

By the 15th century the carol was also considered as art music. During this time elaborate arrangements were made and carols were considered an important contribution to English medieval music. The Fayrfax Manuscript, a court songbook featuring carols, was written by the end of the 15th century. The songs were written for 3 or 4 voices and themes were mostly on the Passion of Christ.

By the 16th century though the popularity of carols faltered, almost disappearing entirely if not for the revival that happened by the middle of the 18th century. Most of the carols we know today were written during this period.

Then there was the Wikipedia version which I will let you look at for yourself. Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_carol#History

While baking cookies on December 20, I heard the news on WNYC nationall public radio. John Rutter was interviewed and asked about his favorite carol. He said "In Dulce Julibo" which the announcer did not know so she asked him to sing it. He did, but he said that was his radio vocal debut and he will stick to conducting and composing. He said he used to be a boy sporano! He was interviewed because he has composed a new Christmas Carol. It is on his new CD "A Christmas Festival". This can be found on the following website along with a sample of the music. http://www.collegium.co.uk/us/ Although the Christ Church choir has sung a lot of Rutter music and I love it I heard on another interview on National Public Radio that he is a non believer. (note: I heard this on SoundCheck) Whatever, he writes or arranges beautiful music and he must get his solace from that.

Music directors in Great Britain and some in the United States were surveyed as to their favorite Christmas Carol. The list is surprising. This was another interview that I heard on WNYC Soundcheck about the poll. Here is the link if you want to listen to the program; http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2008/12/24

Fifty Greatest Christmas Carols

BBC Music Magazine recently polled choirmasters and choral experts on the greatest Christmas carols ever. We find out what songs made the Top 50. (It’s not “Silent Night.”)

Last Carol Standing

“In The Bleak Midwinter” is the world’s best Christmas carol, according to a poll of leading choirmasters and choral experts from the UK and US. The song came out top in a poll conducted by a BBC Music magazine poll, placing above well-known carols “Silent Night,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and “Once in Royal David's City.” Oliver Condy, editor of BBC Music joins us to share the results.

My new favorite carol is "Once in Royal David's City" I think it is in our hymnal. I found another site that has favorite hymns and the words and music if you want to sing along. I think it is for churches that don't have choirs and beautiful organ and great music directors like we do. Here is the link to " Once in Royal David's City" but you can search for others. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/n/onceirdc.htm

Well this should get you started on your carol singing. Tomorrow I will be singing "Oh Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion at Grace United Church in Flemington, the new UCC church start that Christ Church supports.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Jeannette Brown