Gauntlett: Once in Royal David's city

Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Celebrates The 80th Anniversary Broadcast of Its Christmas Eve Service and The 800th Anniversary Of Cambridge University.

The 2008 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, recorded live by BBC Radio 3 in "the magnificent recording studio that is King’s College Chapel.” The service marked the 80th anniversary of its first BBC broadcast and the start of a year-long celebration of the 800th anniversary of Cambridge University. The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, is conducted by its Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury.

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, founded in the 15th century, has been described as “a crowning glory of our civilisation.” It is famous the world over for its quintessentially English sound and, in particular, for its iconic Christmas Eve service, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, introduced in 1918 as a more imaginative approach to worship. The choice of carols varies each year. Held in King’s College Chapel and broadcast by the BBC since 1928 (with the exception of 1930), the service is currently broadcast internationally. Thus, every year, millions of listeners around the world, from adventurers at the foot of Everest and the middle of desert to families making their own Christmas preparations at home, are able to share the traditional English Christmas Eve service with those seated in the pews at King’s College Chapel.

When Stephen Cleobury became Director of Music at King’s in 1982, he added a “new” tradition to the service. Eager to embrace contemporary music and incorporate it into the existing format, Cleobury began commissioning a new carol each year for inclusion in the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. The 2008 programme includes Illuminare Jerusalem by Judith Weir (1985), What sweeter music by John Rutter (1987) and Mary, commissioned from Dominic Muldowney for the 2008 service.

Another “new” composer represented in the 2008 service is Peter Tranchell (1922-1993), former University of Cambridge lecturer in Music, whose contribution is If ye would hear the angels sing. The other carols are traditional, some well known (O come, all ye faithful; God rest ye merry, gentlemen; Hark! The herald-angels sing), others less so (Angels from the realms of glory; Infant holy, Infant lowly; A spotless rose).

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge consists of sixteen choristers and fourteen choral scholars. It was founded in response to King Henry VI’s desire for daily sung services in his magnificent chapel and this remains its primary purpose. Its international reputation, established by the radio broadcast of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, has been consolidated by regular international tours and by the critical and commercial success of its EMI Classics releases.

“King’s College, Cambridge, is a byword for the very best in Christmas music”. BBC Music Magazine

“I would happily sit in King’s College Chapel listening to this choir sing for the rest of my days.” The Times

A varied programme of Christmas music, including familiar and some unfamiliar items, recorded in the largest mediaeval church in Northern Europe with its spectacular acoustic.

First recordings of new carols by Richard Shephard and John Scott Whiteley.

Robert Sharpe’s first recording with the Minster Choir since taking up the appointment of Director of Music at the Minster in September 2008.

Mark Waddell’s “Rocking” included here was specially written for these choristers for this CD. Like David Hill’s arrangement of “Away in a manger”, it demonstrates the power of a good tune in the hands of a skilful arranger. This is one of the most respected Cathedral choirs in the country.

A collection of well-loved traditional Carols performed by the critically-acclaimed Truro Cathedral Choir, directed by Robert Sharpe.

Features all the Carols regularly sung at Truro Cathedral’s Nine Lessons and Carols and Midnight Mass services.

First recordings of two new carols by leading British composers Gabriel Jackson and Howard Skempton, commissioned by Truro Cathedral.

Includes Regent producer Gary Cole’s blues-inspired arrangement of Away in a Manger.