Hark the Herald - Its Christmas Carol time of year ...

LordSutch

Have you been to any Carol Services yet?

Old candle lit Churches, choirs of carol singers, mince pies & cream, hot toddies, non alcholic mulled wine, santa hats anybody? Lets hers your thoughts.

The Big one on the radio > Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at 'St Patrick's Cathedral' Dublin on Christmas Eve 4pm. Traditionally broadcast live on RTE Radio One. Great sing along, great atmosphere, all your favourite Christmas carols accompanied by a great Cathedral organ, full choir + kettle drums and a trumpeter for 'Hark the Herald'...

Multiple Carol services in many Churches right throughout this month.

Nick Park

We had our Carol Service on Sunday. The candles were the battery-powered variety (children in costumes and naked flames is a combination that is guaranteed to increase your liability insurance premiums). It was great fun. The shepherds weren't sure where to go, and did a couple of circuits of the church before they made it to the manger - I guess that's why the old theatre saying is never to work with children or animals. We sang a few of the old favourites, had a soloist who was a semi-finalist on the Voice of Ireland earlier this year, and a Moldovan pan pipe player. And, best of all, a genuine sense of awe about the whole concept of the God who created the galaxies coming to earth as a baby. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Jellybaby1

Been to five carol services but missed another one up to now. I could do with one or two more but I think most parishes have finished now and anyway there's not a lot of time left to fit another in. We've had organ, guitars, excited and amateur untrained choir belting out those favourite old carols, nervous young soloist who did a good job, and congregational singing that would lift your heart. Mince pies and tea and coffee afterwards and lots of hugs all round. Luvvly stuff!

LordSutch

I've been to two Carol Services so far, the 1st one being so very wonderful & traditional.
Once in Royal David's City (1st verse boy soloist), Hark the Hearld with the traditional tune* + nine lessons and another seven carols = Brilliant atmosphere and a bit of a sore throat the next day. The 2nd carol service was very modern, with modern Christmas carols or old carols sung to a beat ... not really my cuppa, but it was ok I suppose. Gotta keep the Yuff happy I guess )

*St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin use a different tune for Hark ...

Nick Park

LordSutch wrote: »

Hark the Herald with the traditional tune*

Just as a point of interest, the traditional tune was written by Mendelssohn to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the invention of the printing press. I always find a nice symmetry in that given that the words of Charles Wesley's Carol are so gospel-oriented and that Gutenberg's invention played such a pivotal role in the Reformation and the spread of the Bible in Europe.

Wesley originally intended Hark the Herald to be sung to the tune of the Easter hymn 'Christ the Lord is risen today'.

Peregrinus

LordSutch wrote: »

*St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin use a different tune for Hark ...

\

Nick Park wrote: »

Wesley originally intended Hark the Herald to be sung to the tune of the Easter hymn 'Christ the Lord is risen today'.

. . . which is the air they still use in St. Patrick's. None of your new-fangled Mendelssohn for them, thank you very much.

LordSutch

I was expecting this thread to be bursting at the seams

Any other Christmas Carol Service goers this year ?