King's College Cambridge 2010 #19 O Come All Ye Faithful

[AndrewParkes100]

One of the most uplifting of all Christmas hymns performed by one of the best choirs in the world backed up by one of the best voiced cathedral organs there is. Yes perhaps the descant on the third verse may seem to be uncomfortable to some listeners but hats off to Dr Cleobury for not being afraid to push the boundaries and to experiment with new ideas. Organ harmonies on the last verse are amazing and I enjoy the little fanfare the organist puts in at the end. Merry Christmas everyone!

[brassspitoon]

I'm glad I went to the website of Kings to learn more about this videotaped BBC version. Not being a Brit I assumed it was the world famous broadcast from Kings. Not so. This is taped before that radio broadcast, and per the website PDF booklet Kings and the BBC reserve the right to do alterations at the end and overdub any small errors. The congregation is not the public queue for the famous broadcast but friends and family. If you're British you already knew that but some of us didn't.

[gooseholla1]

@brassspitoon Yeah... they sit and do re-takes if it is rubbish.

[manthasagittarius1]

Does anyone know why this is sometimes called the Portuguese Hymn?

[tmlmta]

@manthasagittarius1 Because before it was discovered that John Francis Wade wrote it it was attributed to the King of Portugal.

[stmicheli]

very very beautiful!

[rsleuth1939]

Fantastic Praise The LORD. Richard

[09Arvat]

Thanks I appreciate you letting know - he is fantastic,

[Naschef]

The finest version by the best...

[09Arvat]

Does anyone know who the organist is?



[TaffTalk]

@09Arvat Mr Chang

[KennnnnnyTucky]

@09Arvat The organist is Ben-San Lau, senior organ scholar. Check out another flawless performance from him on Kings College Cambridge 2010 #9 Ding Dong Merrily On High.

[manthasagittarius1]

I grew up in this tradition as a chorister, from the age of the smallest of these little fellows, in America. We always used this version, or one very similar, with the massive unison of choir and congregation on the last verse, and the rich brooding harmonies elaborated in the organ alone. It always gave me chills from the very first time, about the age of 6 or 7. It felt like the mind of God.

[asparadog]

do any other countrys do this?

[tokbusje]

@asparadog yes, in Amersfoort, Holland we celibrate X-mas with a simular programm

[LilDumar]

I have to go see them perform one year. They are really excellent.

[TaffTalk]

@LilDumar Mr Chang

[march131958]

The organist is great! Who is he?

[KennnnnnyTucky]

@march131958 Organist is Ben-San Lau, senior organ scholar. Last year he was said to be in his second year studying music. Check out another flawless performance from him on Kings College Cambridge 2010 #9 Ding Dong Merrily On High.

[march131958]

The organist is great!

[jseina]

woooow soprano voice in 02:52+ !!!!!

supermajestic :)

Thanks a lot

[ds1868]

@jseina Treble, not soprano. Trebles - boys, sopranos - girls/women. This is an all male choir (trebles, counter-tenors, tenors, basses), has always been an all male choir in its 500 years history, and always will be.

[donhenri01]

Waw! A new descant for this carol?! Kings College choir is getting rid of the ol' Willcocks' descants?! Shoking and untraditionnal!

Pax et Bonuù

[olcorganist]

@donhenri01 King's hasn't sung the Willcocks descants since Ledger took over; he wrote his own Descants, and Cleobury wrote his own when he took over. Cleobury actually wrote new descants in 2009, this is one of them. "Once in royral", with that wonderful top B, is another, and there is also a new "Hark the herald", yet to be sung. King's did do the Willcocks "O come" and "Hark" in 2009 for Sir David's 90th birthday. Cleobury's new descants are in "Christmas at King's College" from Novello.

[Sportymike]

Great. Merry Christmas from Ireland