RedSquirrelUK
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Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Dec 19, 2022 18:33:35 GMT
What's your favourite? Mine changes year to year, but this Christmas I'm loving the Carol of the Bells and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. I think my all-time favourite has to be In the Bleak Midwinter.
What don't you like? I really don't enjoy The First Noel. The words are nice but it seems to go on forever and it's so repetitive.
I see from the carol-singing thread that we have quite a few singers. Are there some choral arrangements/tunes that you like better than others?
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Post by Delta Dawn on Dec 19, 2022 18:37:41 GMT
I like Come All Ye Faithful and I learned it Latin growing up so I mix English with Latin.
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Post by grammadee on Dec 19, 2022 18:41:49 GMT
I love several carols/Christmas songs. Maybe my favourites are the ones that tell a story. Good King Wenceslas reminds me of my very rural childhood. Little Drummer Boy somehow always gets me as I see the whole story from a little kid's view. Belleau Wood with its story of enemy soldiers uniting in song brings tears to my eyes, even though it is a bit far fetched. Love the line "Heaven's not beyond the clouds; it's just beyond the fear." Gives me shivers.
But of the actual church carols, Silent Night is my number one.
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RedSquirrelUK
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Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Dec 19, 2022 18:44:09 GMT
I love several carols/Christmas songs. Maybe my favourites are the ones that tell a story. Good King Wenceslas reminds me of my very rural childhood. Little Drummer Boy somehow always gets me as I see the whole story from a little kid's view. Belleau Wood with its story of enemy soldiers uniting in song brings tears to my eyes, even though it is a bit far fetched. Love the line "Heaven's not beyond the clouds; it's just beyond the fear." Gives me shivers. But of the actual church carols, Silent Night is my number one. Ooh I don't know that one. Off to Youtube... Thanks! ETA: my goodness, that's beautiful {sniff} |
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Post by ntsf on Dec 19, 2022 18:49:38 GMT
watchman tell of us of the night.. minor key, welsh tune.
and o holy night
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Post by Merge on Dec 19, 2022 18:53:31 GMT
My party trick is that I can sing all the verses of pretty much any traditional carol. I can sing the soprano, alto, or tenor parts. If the carol is traditionally sung in more than one language, I can usually do both languages.
(This is a terrible party trick and clear evidence of my misspent youth.)
Favorites:
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (prefer in French)
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
In the Bleak Midwinter
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
On the other thread I mentioned that I don't participate in the staff caroling at my school. It's because they don't actually sing carols. They sing Feliz Navidad and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and while that's all fine and good, I just (stomps feet) don't want to sing those things. Haha. I like the old carols best.
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Post by papersilly on Dec 19, 2022 18:57:49 GMT
classic: o holy night (hate to say it but i like celine dion's version the best)
fun: marshmallow world by dean martin
modern: last christmas by wham
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Dec 19, 2022 19:00:17 GMT
My favorite is "O Come O Come Emmanuel." I love the message and the harmony when sung a capella.
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Post by Linda on Dec 19, 2022 19:04:29 GMT
Once in Royal David's City is my favourite traditional carol.
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Post by Linda on Dec 19, 2022 19:08:33 GMT
Belleau Wood with its story of enemy soldiers uniting in song brings tears to my eyes, even though it is a bit far fetched. beautiful song - and actually not as far fetched as it seems - there was an unofficial Christmas truce in 1914 and troops from both sides did sing carols and share rations etc.. |
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Post by grammadee on Dec 19, 2022 19:36:42 GMT
beautiful song - and actually not as far fetched as it seems - there was an unofficial Christmas truce in 1914 and troops from both sides did sing carols and share rations etc.. Wow. Now I have shivers again... |
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Post by lisae on Dec 19, 2022 19:38:29 GMT
My favorite is Joy to the World.
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kate
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Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Dec 19, 2022 19:39:45 GMT
I am a huge fan of A Ceremony of Carols (Britten) and most of the Willocks/Rutter 100 Carols for Choirs. If you're a fan of British-style choral singing, do yourself a favor and listen to Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. The performance is exquisite - and the end just completely undid me. Tagging Merge because I think you'll especially appreciate it! |
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lindas
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Post by lindas on Dec 19, 2022 20:03:20 GMT
O Holy Night is by far my all-time favorite. Just for fun it would be Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer. When DS and his cousins were little they would sing it for mom, she loved it.
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peabay
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Post by peabay on Dec 19, 2022 20:07:49 GMT
I am a huge fan of A Ceremony of Carols (Britten) and most of the Willocks/Rutter 100 Carols for Choirs. If you're a fan of British-style choral singing, do yourself a favor and listen to Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. The performance is exquisite - and the end just completely undid me. Tagging Merge because I think you'll especially appreciate it! We sang those in our high school Glee Club - challenging for a bunch of Catholic high school girls, but we had an amazing choral teacher who really believed in us. My favorite carol we sang was The Star Carol. Not famous but beautiful. I can't believe this version by Simon and Garfunkel isn't in regular rotation on the holiday channels: The Star Carol |
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huskergal
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Post by huskergal on Dec 19, 2022 20:23:31 GMT
I love "O Holy Night". Josh Groban's is my favorite.
I love "Silent Night". I especially love Mannheim Steamroller's version.
I love "O Little Town of Bethlehem".
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Post by phoenixcov on Dec 19, 2022 20:24:43 GMT
My favourite has always been Silent Night especially like to hear it sung in German. I could do that many years ago.
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styxgirl
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Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Dec 19, 2022 20:58:25 GMT
I just love "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake (From the group Emerson, Lake and Palmer) The words are awesome. Especially the end. My favorite recording of it is off of the 2002's CD A Classic Rock Christmas. The choir is not quite so prominent as in the youtube versions. Love the lyric video though! They said there'll be snow at Christmas They said there'll be peace on earth But instead it just kept on raining A veil of tears for the virgin birth I remember one Christmas morning A winter's light and a distant choir And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell And their eyes full of tinsel and fire They sold me a dream of Christmas They sold me a silent night And they told me a fairy story 'Till I believed in the Israelite And I believed in father Christmas And I looked to the sky with excited eyes 'Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn And I saw him and through his disguise I wish you a hopeful Christmas I wish you a brave new year All anguish, pain and sadness Leave your heart and let your road be clear They said there'll be snow at Christmas They said there'll be peace on earth Hallelujah, Noel be it heaven or hell The Christmas we get we deserve |
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styxgirl
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Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Dec 19, 2022 21:07:10 GMT
I am a huge fan of A Ceremony of Carols (Britten) and most of the Willocks/Rutter 100 Carols for Choirs. If you're a fan of British-style choral singing, do yourself a favor and listen to Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. The performance is exquisite - and the end just completely undid me. Tagging Merge because I think you'll especially appreciate it! Thank you for sharing this! It is beautiful!! |
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Post by GamGam on Dec 19, 2022 21:14:02 GMT
I am a huge fan of A Ceremony of Carols (Britten) and most of the Willocks/Rutter 100 Carols for Choirs. If you're a fan of British-style choral singing, do yourself a favor and listen to Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. The performance is exquisite - and the end just completely undid me. Tagging Merge because I think you'll especially appreciate it! I will be singing the Britten Ceremony of Carols as part of my Church’s celebration of Epiphany. And our selection of music for Christmas Eve includes 4 carols from the 100 Carols for Choir book. We are quite British in our music selections. And it is hard for me to pick a favorite. |
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
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Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Dec 19, 2022 21:14:06 GMT
I am a huge fan of A Ceremony of Carols (Britten) and most of the Willocks/Rutter 100 Carols for Choirs. If you're a fan of British-style choral singing, do yourself a favor and listen to Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. The performance is exquisite - and the end just completely undid me. Tagging Merge because I think you'll especially appreciate it! Yes! I listened to Ceremony of Carols while I was writing my Christmas cards, and we sang many of the carols in our carol service last night from CFC1. I adore Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. |
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MrsDepp
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Jun 30, 2014 18:36:02 GMT
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Post by MrsDepp on Dec 19, 2022 21:20:44 GMT
I love Mary did you know and O Holy Night, and Carol of the Bells.
I also love rocking around the Christmas tree -Brenda Lee’s version (for a more upbeat tune, it makes me want to dance and be merry and spread joy)
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Post by Merge on Dec 19, 2022 21:36:40 GMT
I am a huge fan of A Ceremony of Carols (Britten) and most of the Willocks/Rutter 100 Carols for Choirs. If you're a fan of British-style choral singing, do yourself a favor and listen to Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. The performance is exquisite - and the end just completely undid me. Tagging Merge because I think you'll especially appreciate it! Oh yeah, that’s right up my alley! |
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MrsDepp
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Jun 30, 2014 18:36:02 GMT
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Post by MrsDepp on Dec 19, 2022 21:41:23 GMT
I like Come All Ye Faithful and I learned it Latin growing up so I mix English with Latin. I had to learn it in Latin. I usually will sing along in Latin when/if I hear it playing |
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Post by stampnscrap1128 on Dec 19, 2022 21:47:10 GMT
What Child is This
O Holy Night
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Post by peasapie on Dec 19, 2022 21:49:53 GMT
I like The Holly and the Ivy for traditional songs.
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Post by peasapie on Dec 19, 2022 21:54:14 GMT
I just love "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake (From the group Emerson, Lake and Palmer) The words are awesome. Especially the end. My favorite recording of it is off of the 2002's CD A Classic Rock Christmas. The choir is not quite so prominent as in the youtube versions. Love the lyric video though! They said there'll be snow at Christmas They said there'll be peace on earth But instead it just kept on raining A veil of tears for the virgin birth I remember one Christmas morning A winter's light and a distant choir And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell And their eyes full of tinsel and fire They sold me a dream of Christmas They sold me a silent night And they told me a fairy story 'Till I believed in the Israelite And I believed in father Christmas And I looked to the sky with excited eyes 'Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn And I saw him and through his disguise I wish you a hopeful Christmas I wish you a brave new year All anguish, pain and sadness Leave your heart and let your road be clear They said there'll be snow at Christmas They said there'll be peace on earth Hallelujah, Noel be it heaven or hell The Christmas we get we deserve The melody is lovely and the orchestration is astounding, IMO. It's not really a Christmas song, though - more a protest of Christmas. But I like it, too and I listen to it during the holidays. I feel the same way about the Joni Mitchell song Coming on Christmas. I love the song, the lyrics and the melody, but it's a sad song about her breakup with Graham Nash. meh - life is complicated, right? |
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 19, 2022 22:05:25 GMT
O Holy Night is my favorite, both to sing and to listen to. Martina McBride's version always brings tears to my eyes.
I used to not like Mary, Did You Know? when I heard it on the radio, but several years ago I sang it as part of our Christmas ensemble and I just love it now.
We also did Away in A Manger but with a different melody that I kind of prefer.
I don't think I ever knew In The Bleak Midwinter before hearing it on Call the Midwife, but I really like it.
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Post by myboysnme on Dec 19, 2022 22:24:10 GMT
There are so many songs I love but many I really dislike certain renditions, like Jackson 5 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Ugh! My hears bleed.
Adore these: Oh Holy Night, Carol of the Bells, Christmas Canon,
I tend to love the very old traditional ones from my childhood - Joy to the World, Oh Come Emanuel, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Good King Wenceslas - the church tunes.
Then Silver Bells, Chestnuts Roasting... , Sleigh Ride, White Christmas
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Post by Ryann on Dec 19, 2022 23:38:19 GMT
My favorite carol is I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
I tend to prefer modern/original christmas songs.
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