£8.99 – £13.00
The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Henry Websdale & Dónal McCann Organ Scholars
Guy Johnston Cello Soloist
Directed by Sir Stephen Cleobury
The Revd Dr Stephen Cherry Dean
The Revd Andrew Hammond Chaplain
Ian Griffiths Dean’s Verger
Malwina Sołtys Deputy Dean’s Verger
Released 8 November 2019
Available up to 192kHz studio master quality.
Looking for the two supplementary tracks for the CD product? Download them here.
Available as a cd
“It’s superb, captured in rich, resonant sound with wonderful heft from the organ. A total winner.”
Limelight Magazine
In 2018 Sir Stephen Cleobury and the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge celebrated 100 years of Nine Lessons & Carols, the iconic festival that is enjoyed by millions around the world each year at Christmas time. Now this landmark event is available in its entirety on the official anniversary release from the King’s College label.
In addition to being the 100th anniversary, the 2018 Festival marked the final time that Sir Stephen Cleobury, the College’s longstanding Director of Music, would lead the service before his retirement in September 2019. During his tenure, Cleobury introduced the tradition of commissioning a new carol each year, and this release includes the world premiere of O mercy divine, written by current Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir.
Captured in the highest quality at up to 192kHz and 24-bit audio, A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols: The Centenary Service is the definitive account of the anniversary and the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime piece of musical history.
| Playing time – 81:55 | |||
| 1 | Once in royal David’s City | 4:21 | H. J. Gauntlett and A. H. Mann, desc. S. Cleobury |
| 2 | The Bidding Prayer, Lord’s Prayer and Benediction | 3:17 | |
| 3 | Up! good Christen folk | 1:20 | Piæ Cantiones, harm. G. R. Woodward |
| 4 | First Lesson | 2:44 | |
| 5 | Adam lay ybounden | 1:11 | Boris Ord |
| 6 | Jesus Christ the apple tree | 2:40 | Elizabeth Poston |
| 7 | Second Lesson | 1:03 | |
| 8 | In dulci jubilo | 3:05 | German traditional, arr. Robert Lucas de Pearsall |
| 9* | I saw three ships | 2:15 | English traditional, arr. Simon Preston |
| 10 | Third Lesson | 1:08 | |
| 11 | Nowell sing we | 3:08 | Mediæval, ed. Stephen Cleobury |
| 12 | Unto us is born a Son | 2:21 | Piæ Cantiones, arr. David Willcocks |
| 13 | Fourth Lesson | 1:59 | |
| 14 | A Spotless Rose | 2:45 | Herbert Howells |
| 15 | The Lamb | 3:07 | John Tavener |
| 16 | Fifth Lesson | 2:31 | |
| 17 | Joys Seven | 3:15 | Traditional, arr. Stephen Cleobury |
| 18 | Bogoróditse Dyevo | 1:16 | Arvo Pärt |
| 19 | Sixth Lesson | 1:01 | |
| 20 | What sweeter music | 4:09 | John Rutter |
| 21 | Stille Nacht | 2:29 | Franz Gruber, arr. Philip Ledger |
| 22 | Seventh Lesson | 1:40 | |
| 23 | In the bleak mid-winter | 4:08 | Harold Darke |
| 24* | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | 2:54 | After C. Tye, desc. Stephen Cleobury |
| 25 | Eighth Lesson | 2:45 | |
| 26 | O mercy divine | 3:57 | Judith Weir |
| 27 | Sir Christèmas | 1:44 | William Mathias |
| 28 | Ninth Lesson | 2:09 | |
| 29 | O come, all ye faithful | 4:23 | Adeste fideles, desc. David Willcocks |
| 30 | Collect and Blessing | 1:06 | |
| 31 | Hark! the herald angels sing | 3:25 | Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, desc. Stephen Cleobury |
| 32 | In dulci jubilo, BWV 729 | 2:37 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
Soloists
Once in royal David’s City George Hill
I saw three ships George Hill
A Spotless Rose Charlie Baigent
Joys Seven Jack Bowley
In the bleak mid-winter James Micklethwaite
Organists
During the service the organ was played by the Senior Organ Scholar, Henry Websdale.
Recorded live at 192kHz 24-bit PCM in the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, by kind permission of the Provost and Scholars, 24 December 2018.
With thanks to Steve Richards and the BBC Radio Outside Broadcast team.
Read more about the 1918 service booklet in the news story.
1918 Service Paper