Libera and Aled Jones - Little Town of Bethlehem

[CHINTEBOY]

i remember this , im chris one of libera at the time , we had finished late doing a concert the evening before , then having to get up early to go the tv studio lol

[thesupernovastar1234]

@CHINTEBOY  LOL hi chris XDDDDD

[harmonypianist]

Very nice, congratulations!

[2007249]

I wish i could sing like that

[Fozzymaple]

This was the first time I'd ever heard the text of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" set to the tune of Forest Green...it is beautiful, I like this text to this tune. I wish they had not been using "canned" accompaniment though.

[emh0tep]

W..O..W....

his vocal is still awesome, even since he was 9yrs old!

[jkeppel90]

Who's the presenter?

[schwarzwaldvache]

Who cares?

[jkeppel90]

I'm going to see Aled in the National Concert Hall in September. Can't wait.

[patrick9648]

The tune on this is called "Forest Green" by Ralph Vaughn Williams. Its also used on the hymns "I sing the almighty Power of God" and"O Lord who came to Earth to Show" and numerous others in many church hymnals. I actually like it better than the traditional one most often heard in America. And no its not arrogant for changing it. That is a common practice on both sides of the pond. It adds variaty. Away in a Manger also has more than one tune also, I like them both.

[Waldo99]

I agree the concept is not "arrogant", it is just not the original composition of the carol. The original intent of the creator of the carol is the best version.

[kianudaisuki]

Chris is laughing!!!!

[LittleRose0994]

I can't see joshua madine! =(

[Baracheta]

Beautiful sound, religion can obviously do good things too.

[sshashi2006]

hahaha he called them "libra" instead of "lib-er-a"

[CorruptedByDougie]

aww michael sam and tom look so young!

[TheAUKid]

@CorruptedByDougie LOL Especially now, another 2 years later!

[TEMPLAR606]

Remarkable combination-Aled and Libera together!Thanks for sharing!

[susiemv]

They're a beautiful blend of divine voices, aren't they? Libera have backed Aled in a number of songs on his albums, but do have a look for Aled's new DVD just released called "Aled's Christmas Carols"...Libera sing with him on this as well and it's sublime. It's a really gorgeous collection of carols with Aled taking a tour of Belgium, Israel and Italy, telling the story behind the carols. An essential part of every Christmas for me from now on. :)

[andreamoboe]

Fantastic song! Love Aled's voice. And he is such a great person.

[Libera36]

Oh my gosh!! Not only do I love this version of O Little Town Of Bethlehem (never heard it before!) but the boys are adorable!! Sam Leggett couldn't have had a better debut!!

[matthewcsmith]

This is fantastic

[delflord]

DOES ANYONE HAVE MARBLE HALLS BY ALED?

[MoonyWoozy]

There is an other video with that song on Youtube. You can easily find it.

[delflord]

where? I can see the one i made but that's all

Delf

[MoonyWoozy]

Sorry, I did'nt know that it was yours. ^^"

[carachiri]

Enjoy it in all its glory and share the joy of the true spirit of Christmas. Whoever sang it once, wherever it originated, this is a beautiful carol sung by an absolutely extraordinary baritone and the most fabulous boy-band of choristers. Aled Jones has a stunning voice and so too do Libera.

[contrarymotion]

Amen. Why does it matter what melody it is? It shouldn't. Casting crowns has yet another take on this. It only matters that it is beautfiully done by the voices involved. I love both melodies (in Canada it is a mixed bag), and the quality of singing here is wonderful.

[coolfrenchguy]

I prefer the american version...but this is nice.... as paracltelux said "chacun a son gout"!

[carmenluvinray]

I LOVE THESE SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH !!

[Waldo99]

All the above is true, and as noted the hymn was written by the american (Brooks), and the music given to it by Brooks and Redner is the original music for the hymn. Therefore, the Brits changing it is definitely out of line artisitically and my mentioning it is certainly not "big-headed". Now, back to your regular programming.

[Waldo99]

It is still played far more in the original version and the brit version is unknown in hte US, so that is not a big deal. The arrogance comment was in response to the "big headed" comment. As if saying that one should not alter an original piece of music is "big headed".

[ieuz123]

Phillips Brooks, an Episcopal priest, was inspired when he was visiting the town of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his church and his organist, Lewis Redner, added the music.

[ieuz123]

Redner's tune, simply titled "St. Louis", is the tune used most often for this carol in the United States. Meanwhile, the English tune "Forest Green", adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams, is the tune most often used for this carol in the United Kingdom and sometimes in the U.S. as well, especially in the Episcopal Church.

[ieuz123]

Another version by H. Walford Davies is usually performed only by choirs rather than as a congregational hymn. This is because the first four verses are for treble voices with organ accompaniment, with only the final verse as a chorale/refrain harmony. This version is traditionally used at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols in Kings College, Cambridge.

[Waldo99]

I'm not being "big-deaded". This carol was written by an American and the Brits in their arrogance changed the tune for their own tastes. That's big headed if you ask me. Stick to the original and don't play with a classic.

[obsessi0nsxo]

Calling British people arrogant is really rude. What's done is done. They changed the tune, big deal. You can't change that.

[suzziej18]

why are the americans so big headed??

This is lovely and calming.

[Waldo99]

This is an american christmas carol, but the brits changed the melody and their version does not compare to the original american version...

[xeddieizzardx]

I'm afraid I've never heard the original version being in Britain; I feel this has been the melody for too long to know the original.

[paracletelux]

I completely disagree. As an American, I've never cared for our version. It's too cutesy. Libera introduced me to this version and I much prefer it. Chacun à son goût, and all that.

[bethanybaldwin]

thank you for posting this!!

[paracletelux]

This is so incredibly beautiful. I especially love the crescendo...Robert Prizeman does the best arrangements! I think this is also Sam L.'s first TV appearance. What a fantastic debut!