List of carols at the Nine Lessons and Carols, King's College Chapel

This is a list of carols performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College Chapel, Cambridge. The Festival is an annual church service held on Christmas Eve (24 December) at King's College Chapel in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The Nine Lessons, which are the same every year, are read by representatives of the college and of the City of Cambridge from the 1611 Authorized King James Version of the Bible.

The service is broadcast live in the United Kingdom on BBC Radio 4, and abroad on the BBC's overseas programmes as well; it is estimated that each year there are millions of listeners worldwide who listen to it live on the BBC World Service. In the UK, a recorded broadcast is also made on Christmas Day on BBC Radio 3.. A television programme entitled Carols from King's which is pre-recorded in early or mid-December is shown on Christmas Eve in the UK on BBC Two and BBC Four.

Carols In the table below, carols specially commissioned for the Choir of King's College Chapel are highlighted in green. To rearrange the table alphabetically or numerically by a particular column, click on the arrow symbol in the column heading.

TitleYear of first performanceLyricistComposerNotesAdam Lay Ybounden.195515th centuryOrd, BorisAdam Lay Ybounden.202315th century Martin, MatthewAlleluia! A New Work is Come on Hand196615th centuryWishart, Peter Charles ArthurThe Angel Gabriel2019From a Basque originalMoore, PhilipThe Angel Gabriel Descended to a Virgin.200215th–17th centuryHolloway, RobinThe Angels(Should you hear them singing among stars)1994Taylor, John V.Harvey, JonathanAngels from the Realms of Glory1978Montgomery, JamesOld French tune, arranged by Philip LedgerAngelus ad Virginem202213th century Martin, MatthewAway in a Manger.200519th centuryTavener, JohnThe Birthday of thy King(Awake, glad heart, get up, and sing!)1988Vaughan, Henry (adapted)Sculthorpe, PeterCarol of St. Steven1989W. Sandys' Christmas Carols (adapted)Goehr, AlexanderA Child is Born in Bethlehem196614th century Benedictine processional, translated by G.R. Woodward and othersScheidt, SamuelChristo Paremus Cantica199315th centuryBurrell, DianaThe CradleKing's College, Cambridge, "King's commissions a new carol for Christmas Eve", 28 November 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.2023Anonymous, 17th century Austrian, translated by Robert GravesFrances-Hoad, CherylThe Fayrfax Carol1997Early TudorAdès, ThomasFrohlocket, ihr Völker auf Erden(Rejoice, O Ye Peoples of the Earth)[Unknown]AnonymousMendelssohn, FelixA Gathering1991Andrewes, LancelotCasken, JohnThe Gleam.(Not yet shepherds the gilded kings)2003Plaice, StephenBirtwistle, HarrisonGlory, Alleluia to the Christ Child!(Out of the Orient Crystal Skies)[Unknown, sung 2008]17th centuryBullard, AlanGod Rest You Merry, Gentlemen1919English traditionalEnglish traditional, arranged by David V. WillcocksGod would be Born in Thee.(Lo, in the Silent Night a Child in God is Born)2004Silesius, AngelusBingham, JudithHark! The Herald Angels Sing1918 and every year sinceWesley, Charles, and Whitefield, GeorgeMendelssohn-Bartholdy, Jakob Ludwig Felix; descant by Stephen J. CleoburyA Hymn to the Mother of God[Unknown]Liturgy of Saint BasilTavener, JohnI Saw Three Ships[Unknown]Traditional EnglishTraditional English, arranged by Simon PrestonI Sing of a Maiden196515th centuryBerkeley, Lennox (also sung in a version by Patrick Hadley)If Ye would Hear the Angels SingPeter Tranchell website.[Unknown, sung 2008]Greenwell, DoraTranchell, PeterIlluminare Jerusalem.1985Bannatyne manuscript in (adapted).Weir, JudithIn Dulci Jubilo(In Sweet Rejoicing)191814th-century Germande Pearsall, Robert Lucas; edited by Reginald JacquesIn Dulci Jubilo(In Sweet Rejoicing)198814th-century GermanPraetorius, HieronymousIn the Bleak Midwinter[Unknown]Rossetti, ChristinaDarke, Harold EdwinIn Wintertime(When Thou wast born in wintertime)1983Askwith, BettyBerkeley, LennoxInfant Holy, Infant Lowly[Unknown, sung 2008]Polish traditional, translated by Edith M.G. ReedPolish traditional, arranged by Stephen J. CleoburyKing Herod and the Cock(There was a star in David's land)1977[Unknown]Walton, WilliamThe Lamb.(Little lamb, who made thee?)1982Blake, WilliamTavener, JohnAlthough the carol was first performed at the Festival in 1982, its première performance was given by the Winchester Cathedral Choir a few days before.Misere' Nobis.(Jesu of a Maiden Thou wast Born)2006Medieval English carol (adapted)Turnage, Mark-AnthonyThe Night when She First Gave Birth(Mary)2008Brecht, Bertolt, translated by Michael HamburgerMuldowney, DominicNoël (Now comes the dawn).(Stardust and vaporous light)2007Gilder, Richard WatsonDean, BrettNowel, Nowel, Holly Dark1986de la Mare, WalterBennett, Richard RodneyNowell Sing We Now All and Some1984MedievalMedieval, edited by John StevensO Come, All Ye Faithful.1918 and every year since18th-century Latin, translated by Frederick OakeleyWade, John FrancisTraditionally the arrangement by David Willcocks is used.O Mercy Divine2018Wesley, CharlesWeir, JudithWritten to mark the centennial service in 2018.On Christmas Day to My Heart.1999Paman, ClementBennett, Richard RodneyOnce in Royal David's City.1918 and every year sinceAlexander, Mrs. Cecil FrancesGauntlett, Henry J.; arr. A. H. Mann, David Willcocks, Stephen Cleobury, et al.Since 1919 this carol has always been the processional carol, with verse 1 sung unaccompanied by a boy soloist.O radiant dawn2023Isaiah 9.2MacMillan, JamesOut of youre slepe202315th-centuryNelson, RobinOne Star, at Last(Fix on one star)1984Brown, George MackayDavies, Peter MaxwellThe Oxen(Christmas Eve and twelve of the clock)1982Hardy, ThomasRadcliffe, PhilipRadcliffe was a longtime Fellow in Music of King's College.Pilgrim Jesus(Iesus! Christus! In the manger of my body)1996Crossley-Holland, KevinPaulus, StephenRemember, O Thou Man[Unknown, sung 2008]16th centuryRavenscroft, ThomasSeinte Marie Moder Milde199513th-century manuscript in the Library of Trinity College, CambridgeMacMillan, JamesA Spotless Rose is Blowing200214th-century German, translated by Catherine WinkworthLedger, PhilipA Spotless Rose is Blowing192915th-century German, translated by C. WinkworthHowells, HerbertSpring in Winter2001Smart, C., from Hymn &c: The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus ChristWoolrich, JohnStarry Night o'er Bethlehem2004Willcocks, AnneWillcocks, DavidSweet Baby, Sleep! What Ails My Dear?(Wither's Rocking Hymn)1933Wither, GeorgeVaughan Williams, RalphSwetë Jesu199213th centuryMaw, NicholasThere is No Rose[Unknown]15th-century EnglishJoubert, JohnThere is No Rose.202115th-century EnglishMcDowall, CeciliaThe Three Kings1932Cornelius, Carl August Peter and Nicolai, P.; translated by H.N. BateCornelius, Carl August Peter; arranged by Ivor AtkinsThe Three Kings.2000Sayers, Dorothy L., from The Three Kings (1916)Dove, JonathanTomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day[Unknown]Traditional EnglishGardner, JohnUnto Us is Born a Son[Unknown, sung 2008]15th-century Latin, translated by G.R. WoodwardPiae Cantiones (Devout Songs), arranged by David V. WillcocksUp Good Christen Folk.1918Woodward, George RatcliffePiae Cantiones (Devout Songs), arranged by G.R. WoodwardIn the first service in 1918, this was the invitatory carol followed by "Once in Royal David's City"Verbum Caro Factum Est(The Word was Made Flesh)[Unknown]John 1:14Hassler, LeoWassail Carol(Wassail sing we in worship of Christ's Nativity)1967[Unknown]Mathias, WilliamWhat Sweeter Music Can We Bring1987Herrick, RobertRutter, JohnWinter Solstice Carol.1998Swayne, Giles (English words); Magnificat antiphon for Christmas Day (Latin words)Swayne, GilesБогородиџе Дево радуйся, Благодатная Марие, Господь с Тобою(Bogoroditse Dyevo – Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee)1990Orthodox Liturgy (in Russian)Pärt, Arvo

See also Anglican church music Christmas carol

Notes

Further reading .

External links King's College Chapel's webpage about the service