Once In Royal David's City : Westminster Cathedral Choir

[tomsaltsman]

In all fairness to Mastersingers, though, the entire choir can stay on pitch without instruments for very long periods. We did so in performance many times.

[tomsaltsman]

I am a trained tenor and instrumentalist myself, born in Sacramento, CA, and made a living as a singer/musician in San Francisco. After moving to San Antonio, TX, in 2003, I auditioned for the "symphony chorus" here called Mastersingers. To prove I could stay on pitch, I asked to audition without accompianment. I sang "Salve Regina" and only went SLIGHTLY sharp when finished; at least I didn't go flat. It's good ear training, though.

[tomsaltsman]

It's so amazing that for two entire verses, the hymn is sung WITHOUT instruments and DOES NOT GO FLAT! The organ comes in the exact pitch that it was started! Very difficult for even a professional adult choir! But Catholics usually have all the self-discipline of a headless chicken. The only musicians they worry about offending are the patholigically conceited, not God or the truly gifted. As a Catholic musician, I so often hear, "But he's lead the choir since he was five years old!"

[MrSinnical]

@tomsaltsman

If you ever heard how hard these boys practice you would understand. The soloist is an amazing musician though, can play and sing just about anything.

[mrmurph81]

Beautifully sung; beautifully photographed. It's videos like this that make Youtube worth visiting.

[moppettshow]

Someone should have told him Movember had finished.

[istgone]

@moppettshow Uncalled for.

[kamilla1960]

If only the Roman Catholic churches everywhere cultivated their musical tradition! Instead, for the most part, you have to go to an Anglican church to hear great Catholic music.

[shervinjb]

@kamilla1960 Not true, When I went to midnight mass at my Catholic Church, I heard & we all sang great Catholic Christmas Carols. =)

[kamilla1960]

@shervinjb That's encouraging.

[joffryvangrondelle]

@kamilla1960 well catholic means nothing more then '' in general'' thereis Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Greek Orthodox Catholic, Russian Catholic etc,. so Roman cathilic Music is still some different then Anglican music, but at the end we are all members of the catholic united church of God while local/national churchnames are irrelevant.

[kamilla1960]

@joffryvangrondelle You're right, only most Roman Catholic churches neglect the musical tradition.

[Tabornok4Star]

Absolutely beautiful. The world needs more of these carols/songs rather than ads for material items. Christmas is fun, but seems it has become more a time to see who may receive the best presents. "God Bless Us Every One."

[ottogunsche]

Superb! What a really lovely rendition of a great hymn.I only wish I could sing!

[RockenMusicLuver]

Wonderful, this CAROL!!!! Esp on the VERY, VERY EVE OF CHRISTMAS!!!!

[kennymuk]

I know! I am a Catholic and get really frustrated by congregations not singing! But this choir is really wonderful. went to a sung mass performed by them on the first Sunday of Advent. Out of this world!

[foodie65]

You can tell it's Westminster Cathedral - the choir is excellent but most of the congregation stand there mute and not singing the hymns. Why won't Caholics sing - even a traditional hymn at Midnight Mass? Pathetic.

[cristobalito1966]

Westminster Abbey is Anglo-Catholic i.e. High Church of England and was, naturally, Roman Catholic prior to Henry VIII deciding to form his own church.

[brassspitoon]

@cristobalito1966 A commonly held misperception. Henry made himself head of the Catholic church in England, with Latin masses continuing with a few  changes. The C of E and the Book of Common Prayer came about through the effort of Thomas Cranmer only when Henry was safely in the grave under the boy King Edward, Henry's son.

[ToolBag48]

Westminster Cathedral is indeed Roman Catholic.

[Thisburningfire]

@ToolBag48 You are right, its is Roman Catholic.

[jzubier438]

@elton1981 so do I this one is far too fussy

[Giscard58]

Absolutely superb!

[inkanew1]

Wow that boy who sang the soli is incredibly talented he has probably left but mate you have a career ahead of you and one hell of a voice

[priest008]

Hymns is lovely!! But is that what Westminster Cathedral looks like on Christmas Eve? WOW!! It is clear that Catholicism in England is dead......where are the great processions of priests? The Archbishop was there with 2 deacons....No cross, no acolytes.....and I never knew altar girls were permitted in Cathedrals, I thought it was a small allowance to places like Only girls schools where there would be no boys to serve....hmmm..

[93Chamade]

Ahh yes, it was decided that the opening procession to the crib should just include the thurifer, sacred ministers, MC's and the Arcbhishop. The full procession including Cross, Acolytes and Concelebrating Priests, can be seen during the singing of the Introit...

[brassspitoon]

@priest008 Catholicism is not dead but in your case (in my opinion) clericalism, ultramontanism, and misogyny are in full control. Did you actually see the laity fully filling the church? Oh wait, the laity don't count, those silly sheep. Take your time machine back to the 15th century where your like belong!

[josericardogb1]

@priest008 hahahaha you fool, Westminster Cathedral is Anglican, not Catholic...

[Thisburningfire]

@josericardogb1" It is the largest Catholic church in England and Wales, and should not be confused with Westminster Abbey of the Church of England."- so it says on Wikipedia !So, as ToolBag48 said, it's Roman Catholic.

[PatroniFan]

I love this ditty....

[elton1981]

I prefer the wilcox descant

[Mamadoody]

This brings tears to my eyes every time. I first heard it many years ago when my father brought home at album of Kings College 9 Lessons and Carols. Every time I hear this, I think of him, and am reminded how much he wanted to travel to England to be there in person Christmas Eve. Sadly he died before he could make the trip. I hope to make it myself sometime. Absolutely hauntingly beautiful!

[robilo100]

Despite I am not Anglican, I have to recognice the splendor and majesty of this performance. Lonf live to traditional roots of Western Civilization!!

[croc17]

@robilo100 This is not Anglican, it is the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster.

[EnglandSouth]

Did Eoghan McCarthy solo Once In Royal David's City when he was at Westminster Cathedral Choir?

[adventurer00821]

Sounds like Christmas in Heaven!

[nelbudy]

@dami9989 In the Episcopal Church the servers at the altar are called "acolytes". I think the same is true for the RC Church. And of recent, both boys and girls may serve as Crucifers (cross bearers) Thurifers (incense bearers) and Torches (candle bearers).

[adventurer00821]

Absolutely a happy song to listen to.... I can't stop playing it over and over again.

[ambodrona1]

libera's interprétation is the best . i can't find an other version best than their

[joeyboi87]

Matthew's playing is great, tis not easy with him having been in the organ loft having to keep in time with the choir and congregation!

[patrickjs865]

@dami9989 Think you will find that person is called a crucifer (with the incense) ..and it's a girl!! We have girls occasionally at the altar in the RC church!!

[croc17]

@patrickjs865 Think you will find she is the thurifer (with the thurible) a crucifer carries a crucifix.

[maggijude]

@patrickjs865 " thurifer" actually (the "Incense thingy" is a thurible, you see. A "crucifer" carries the crucifix equally logically

[mottledbrain]

At Christmas time (December 25 - January 6) my favourite recording is one entitled "Carols From Westminster". It's on a cassette tape, but it is the best Christmas recording I've ever heard.

This piece is my favourite from it.

[mrmurph81]

What a terrific performance!

[stad97]

the soloist sang very well, but he's not opening his mouth wide enough for the vowels. it sounds a little like he's chewing on something, or holding back.

[treble6wccs]

if i had put my real age i wouldnt have an account

[chinwo]

@treble6wccs Good job! Such strong vocal chords! God bless ya!

[treble6wccs]

hey, im the guy who sung the solo

[drwestbury]

Then I congratulate you most heartily. I first heard you at the Christmas concert on 16th Dec and said then that you had a glorious voice. I shall be at the Cathedral on Ash Wednesday and hope you sing the solo on Alegri's Miserere. Thank you for singing for us.

[freestylerlad]

I doubt that very much! ur profile says your 19

[expostfactum]

If he put 12 yrs old...youtube wouldnt let him have an account. I know some boys who are in no way the age they claim they are on their profile...So you really cant go by that.

[treble6wccs]

@freestylerlad thts because if i put my real age i'd wouldnt have an account

[expostfactum]

If that is you...then you are awesome!!! I got to hear your choir a couple of years ago. You may have been there already. Yall were amazing. Probably one of the best choirs in the UK if not the world.

[Bhadiang]

and i was serving at that mass i had a lot of things to do and it was my first midnight mass i was holding one of the candles in the gospel i was on the left and you were great and i applause you for that

[Operaandchant90]

@treble6wccs well done, mate. ive spent many of my days as a church horister, and sang that many times. do continue singing when your voice breaks :D

[rbuckley513]

@treble6wccs You sounded excellent..I also sung this in the same arrangement under the direction of Michael Stairs, Philadelphia. It's nice to have a good ear to keep this on key for the choir. Bravo!

[stevenjackson1958]

@treble6wccs

Beautiful job mate ! absolutely superb.

[OraCarols]

@treble6wccs amazing



[lustful2]

Hmn that would be the fault of the BBC who televised the Mass. The Mass is timed from start to finish so inevitably some verses may have had to be ommited. Still the descants were out of this world I think they were written by either James O 'donnell or Daivd Hill the previous director's of music at Westminster Cathedral. Yeah the boy trebe chorister was simply divine perfect pitch and stayed in tune all the time.

[applehead112]

Beautiful soloist - not sure, however, about the point of including the carol at all, as many of the verses were omitted. It is my favourite, and the narrative is actually beautifully constructed: it sounds very incongruous, therefore, to skip from the very beginning to the very end!

[tritus67]

Wonderful as always, thank you!!

[donhenri01]

Beautifull, and marvellous voice of the soloist! thanks for that and merry Christmas.