Of the Father's Love Begotten

Of the Father's Love Begotten, sung by the St Martin's Chamber Choir. The hymn is by the fourth century Roman Christian poet, Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius.

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Sister Mary Had-a But One Child

Baritone Michael R McBride singing the spiritual "Sister Mary Had But One Child."

   

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Nativity Carol (John Rutter)

My introduction to John Rutter was in the recording, The Holly and the Ivy: Carols from Clare College. I love Christmas music and this album became a favorite and made me pay attention to the work of John Rutter who is one of the most notable composers and choral directors living today. Rutter has certainly made his mark in sacred choral music.  “Nativity Carol” is one of Rutter’s compositions and appears on The John Rutter Christmas Album.  It is performed here by the King’s College Choir, Cambridge

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O Little Town of Bethlehem (Vaughan WIlliams) King's College Cambridge

The beloved carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was written by the Rev. Phillips Brooks for his Sunday School in 1868. He had spent Christmas in Bethlehem two years before. Brooks was born in Boston in 1835, graduated at Harvard College 1855, and was ordained in 1859. He served as rector at the Church of the Advent, Philadelphia, and later at Trinity Church, Boston.

Most congregations that sing this carol use the tune ST LOUIS, composed by Lewis Redner. Here we hear FOREST GREEN which is an English folk tune associated with the ballad "The Ploughboy's Dream." Ralph Vaughan Williams turned FOREST GREEN into a hymn tune for The English Hymnal (1906), using it as a setting for "O Little Town of Bethlehem." 

Vaughan Williams played a primary role in establishing English sacred music in the 20th century. Himself an agnostic, he took on the task of revising the English Hymnal and the result was both solid and magical. He had long collected English folk tunes and incorporated many of those tunes in hymns he composed for the hymnal.

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The Wexford Carol

One of my all-time favorite Christmas carols, performed by Clare College Choir under the direction of John Rutter.

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Of the Father's Love Begotten

"Of the Father's Love Begotten" is a 5th century hymn composed by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius. From the YouTube notes: The communion hymn from Midnight Mass 2011, broadcast live from St George's Cathedral Souhwark. The hymn is sung by the Choir of St George's Cathedral, the Cathedral Girls Choir and the congregation. The verse harmonisation is by Sir David Willcocks, the last verse and descant by David Briggs. The Choir is director by Nick Gale with Norman Harper at the organ.

St George's Cathedral, Southwark is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark, south London and is the seat of the Archbishop of Southwark.

 

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In the Bleak Midwinter

On this, the first Sunday of Christmastide, the fourth day of Christmas, listen to the beautiful carol sung by the Gloucester Cathedral Choir. "In the Bleak Midwinter" is a superb combination of the poetry of Christina Rossetti and the music of Gustav Holst. The video presentation is magnificent. Watch for the impromptu representation of "only his mother in her maiden bliss, worshiped the Beloved with a kiss."  

For Unto Us a Child Is Born (Handel)

Here is another seasonal favorite from Handel's Messiah. I remember discovering this one around the age of 12 or 13. It was on a record album containing a collection of songs for Christmas. I was at that stage of realizing that there was more to Christmas than "Santa and his elves." I found the music then as now to be quite uplifting and celebratory. As with "Comfort Ye," George Frederick Handel again uses the book of Isaiah for his text (Isaiah 9: 6 - 7).

 

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