The choir of king s college cambridge conduct a rehearsal of their christmas eve service of a festival of nine lessons and carols in king s college chapel on. The service of nine lessons and carols was first sung at the cathedral of truro, england, and was later adapted for use in king s college chapel, cambridge, where the service has been sung each christmas since 1918 this service of christian worship recounts the birth of jesus, the fall of humanity, and the promise of the messiah in short bible readings from genesis through the prophets and. A festival of nine lessons and carols help the king s college chapel and choir support the 500yearold chapel and its great musical tradition by donating online. Women in music describes the role of women as composers, songwriters, instrumental performers, singers, conductors, music scholars, music educators, music criticsmusic journalists and in other musical professions. From the annual festival of nine lessons and carols members of the choir of king s college in cambridge and director stephen cleobury perform the truth from above, arranged. The original service, first heard at king s college chapel in 1918, was devised by e. When stephen cleobury came to king s in 1982 he was keen to demonstrate a commitment to contemporary music for the college s liturgies. There are two new audio and video recordings for fans who want to experience more of a festival of nine lessons and carols and the choir at kings college. Below are the links to the midi files of the music in the fabulous. Recorded using cuttingedge technology, our catalogue features flagship recordings of some of the greatest choral works of all. Written by hungarianborn poet george szirtes, it was inspired by the plight of refugees trying to make their way to europe. In 1918 it was adapted for the chapel of king s college, cambridge, by its dean, eric milnerwhite, who also wrote the bidding prayer.
Thank you for being here, and we hope to see you again soon. The choir of kings college cambridge, broadcast christmas eve 1992. A festival of nine lessons and carols is the christmas eve service held in kings college chapel. This years lessons and carols service was the first led by daniel hyde. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother. Did you miss a festival of nine lessons and carols. The 30voice king s college choir performed the legendary a festival of nine lessons and carols service of biblical readings and music at 9 a. A festival of nine lessons and carols the traditional service of readings and carols from king s college cambridge that, for many people around the world, signals the beginning of christmas. Held in the candlelit chapel of kings college, cambridge, this service marks for many people around the world the beginning of christmas. Use your back button to get back to this page all the links will take you back to the archive home page.
Truly he taught us to love one another, his law is love, and his gospel is peace. He decided that one way of doing this would be to commission a new carol each year for inclusion in a festival of nine lessons and carols. The service has remained virtually unchanged since that time, and has spread through all the world. Eric milnerwhite, dean of king s college, cambridge, adapted the service for use in the chapel at king s. It was planned by eric milnerwhite, who, at the age of thirtyfour, had just been appointed dean of king s after experience as an army chaplain which had convinced him that the church of england needed more imaginative worship. We call jesus the king of kings, but we are reminded of his humble beginnings. This service is intended to be a time of spiritual preparation, as we watch and wait for the coming of the kingdom of god.
I drew this at the time when the world was captivated with the birth of a new baby in the british royal family. Advent is a season of both quiet reflection and joyful expectation. Jordan, chaplain jeff buettner, director of choral activities middlebury college choir. A festival of nine lessons and carols was first held on christmas eve 1918. The choir of king s college cambridge, broadcast christmas eve 1992.
An advent service of lessons and carols duke chapel. Innovation and variations beloved in christ, be it this christmas eve. What is the history of the festival of nine lessons and carols. The festival was introduced in 1918 to bring a more imaginative approach to worship. Park street church presents a festival of nine lessons. The centenary service presents 2018s 100thanniversary service, recorded live and presented in 5. Loved by millions, the festival of nine lesson and carols is a traditional part of the runup to christmas for many families. People stand in line for hours to hear the choir of king s college s annual festival of nine lessons and carols, and when you hear this recording, you will understand why. The service includes lessons telling the story of the birth of christ, with choir anthems and christmas carols.
It was planned by eric milnerwhite, who, at the age of thirtyfour, had just beenappointed dean of king s after experience as an army chaplainwhich had convinced him that the church of englandneeded more imaginative worship. A festival of nine lessons and carols gets a centenary. Discipleship ministries a christmas eve or christmas. Declare gods glory among the nations, gods marvelous works among all. Bbc world service a festival of nine lessons and carols. The hymns and carols vary in each service though it is traditional to begin with. A festival of lessons and carols for advent cosponsored by the office of the college chaplains and the college choirs of the college of the holy cross 8. A service of lessons and carols presbyterian mission agency. Thomas episcopal church in hanover, nh, which has presented the festival of nine lessons and carols since 1935. Milnerwhite adapted it for the chapel of king s college, cambridge, england, where a parallel service was devised to mark the first sunday of advent. The king of kings lay thus in lowly manger, in all our trials born to be our friend. The 30voice king s college choir performs the legendary festival of nine lessons and carols service of biblical readings and music. The service is very popular, and some people start queuing the night before as demand for seats always exceeds the number available. For 101 years these have been the first words spoken in the festival of nine lessons and carols in the chapel of king s college, cambridge, england.
Joseph memorial chapel college of the holy cross worcester, massachusetts marybeth kearnsbarrett 84, presider director office of the college chaplains. Celebrate with a festival of nine lessons and carols. Rarely does a choir sound quite as pure, smooth, and together as they do on this recording. Programs a festival of nine lessons and carols apm stations. The most famous festival of nine lessons and carols is that of king s college, cambridge, which began in 1918. A festival of nine lessons and carols archive kings. The service includes carols and readings from the bible. There are two new audio and video recordings for fans who want to experience more of a festival of nine lessons and carols and the choir at king s college a festival of nine lessons and carols. The festival is an annual church service held on christmas eve 24 december at kings college chapel in cambridge, united kingdom. In 1918, king s college in cambridge, england, began performing the festival of nine lessons and carols each year on christmas eve, and in the united states, the groton school in groton, mass. The carol service held on december 24 inside the king s college. The lessons and carols service as we present it here at st. It is one of englands most distinctive and successful religious exports. Performances of the nine lessons and carols have become an advent tradition.
This year, a new carol has been written and composed for the service. Hosted by michael barone, a festival of nine lessons and carols is a live music and spokenword broadcast from the chapel of king s college in cambridge, england. Christophers is more or less based on the festival of nine lessons and carols as celebrated on christmas eve at the chapel of king s college, cambridge. The readings from the nine lessons and carols there are many different readings at christmas and if you go to the christmas services, including christmas carol services and concerts, christingles and nativity plays, it is likely that you will hear quite a few of the most common ones. The nine lessons and carols service from kings college. About the king s college choir history of the service king s college chapel website 2015. The festival of nine lessons and carols held on christmas eve at kings college chapel is open to the general public. Every christmas eve, millions of people tune in to watch the choirs a festival of nine lessons and carols from king s a service which has been continuously broadcast since 1928. This is a list of carols performed at the festival of nine lessons and carols at kings college chapel, cambridge. Collection of mepkin abbey, moncks corner, sc sunday, december, 2015 4. A festival of nine lessons and carols kings college. Benson, then anglican bishop of truro, england, composed a festival of nine lessons and carols, based on ancient sources, for christmas eve. The recording label of king s college, cambridge was created in 2012 to capture the heritage of the choir and organ of king s college and the unique acoustic of king s college chapel. As every year since 1928 but one, this service was broadcast worldwide by the bbc.
Benson, the first bishop of truro and later archbishop of canterbury. What is the festival of nine lessons and carols and what. Advent lessons carols washington national cathedral. Lessons and carols for advent and christmas the night visitors 2015 janet mckenzie. The music department at christs episcopal church presents a traditional service of nine lessons and carols, which originated at kings college, cambridge, in 1918. It was first broadcast in 1928 and is now broadcast to millions of people around the world. He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger, behold your king, before him lowly bend.
Nine lessons and carols cover art royal family this is a traditional silhouetted manger scene with mary tending the baby jesus while joseph stands over them. The king s festival of lessons and carols is a christian religious service, of course, and the original residential colleges were all christian religious foundations. From the candlelit chapel of kings college, cambridge, and based around nine bible readings interspersed with christmas hymns and carols sung by the famous chapel choir. As far as christmas eve carol services go a festival of nine lessons and carols is one of the most famous in the world. Very soonother churches adapted the service for their ownuse. For me, the service has especial resonance, because this was the college where i studied as an undergraduate and so the distinctive sound.