King's College Cambridge 2008 #7 The Shepherd's Carol Bob Chilcott

[ivorlottandtonybroke]

Just heard it on Carols from Kings 2011. Awe-inspiring! Those shepherds had no Christmas tradition to help them understand what was happening, no wonder they were terrified. But they realised they had been chosen to see the Savour of the World; no wonder they were awestruck. For me, this marvellous music captures all the fear and awe of those shepherds.

[PolytheneLady]

This is so beautiful. Thank you,

[TheBottleofsand]

Just heard this on the radio...had to come and listen to it straight away :')

[freakylittlegnome]

tears of joy.

[Tyricojackson1]

beautiful!!



[TheWhiteAlbatrossSho]

THAT CHURCH REMINDS ME OF HOGWARTS!

[expostfactum]

just amazing.....totally lost in the moment when I was there and heard it live.

[fgbowen]

I am so glad someone put this on YT.

This is a stunning piece.

I am just captive every time.

[19shea85]

i feel really sorry for the one person who gave this video a dislike.

[annikee59]

I feel bad for those who've never sung in a choir. It's a magical experience.

[multimill]

@annikee59 TOTALLY agree with you. It is a life experience not to be missed.

[tlcsmithy]

I can't listen to this enough.....agreed that it brings the true meaning of the season to heart.  I think I get teary every time I hear that final note! Thank you Bob Chilcott!

[qantasCapt]

@tlcsmithy - Yes, it's just wonderful. It gives me goosebumps listening to those voices.....I'm sure you know what I mean!

[watkrhys]

I love the semitone dissonances in this piece, especially in the 'humming' parts when you can hear the vibrations - magic!

[careypolly]

When the relentless jingles in the shops get you down, when you wish Christmas meant more than a mad retail frenzy...listen to this. Time stops and your heart fills with the beautiful truth of Christmas.

[CatfishSpoonbender]

I was lucky enough to be at King's in 2000, and present at the Carol Service for which this was written. I'd never heard anything like it before, and still haven't since. Simply beautiful, and just gets more so every time I hear it. Happy memories.

[iluvashleytisdale72]

we're singing this in my high school choir now and i ALWAYS get chills every time i hear the very last cord. so lovely :)

[jazzbeaunola]

We stood on the hills, Lady, Our day's work done, Watching the frosted meadows That winter had won. The evening was calm, Lady, The air so calm, Silence more lovely than music Folded the hill. There was a star, Lady, Shone in the night, Larger than Venus it was and bright, so bright. Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady, It seemed to us then Of God being born in the world of men. And so we have come, Lady Our day's work done, Our love, our hopes, ourselves we give to your son.

[tlcsmithy]

@jazzbeaunola I found these lyrics last year too because as beautiful as it is, it is hard to understand the words. Good of you to post them! Thanks. (It is "the air so still...and also "telling of God being born" ...typos no doubt)

[chrisdgoldie]

Somebody post a link to they lyrics.

[randomcroatian]

Praise be to God....that was beautiful...

[cullenbelle]

soooooooooooo frikkin pretty!

[kyrio5a]

so cuuuute ^^

[pharaoh731]

Does anyone have the words to this beautiful song?

[pharaoh731]

Anybody know where I can get the lyrics to this BEAUTIFUL song?

I can't stop listening to it......

[pharaoh731]

I can't stop listening to this. So beautiful.....

[HoquetusVishudda]

Bob Chilcott, adoro su música!!!

[tlcsmithy]

Love, love, love it.......beautiful! Thank you.

[thunderbirdice]

Awesome! It will be better with more bass

5 star

[VlilV]

beautiful

if only there were more basses

[mikehattan]

Bitch, bitch, bitch....If only.....I will await your rendition soon...(G)

[Joshymoses1]

singing this tomorrow night at nine lessons and carols, gorgeous piece, were doing most of it as a small group of twelve tho, im singing second bass :) love it :D

[spiritdei]

Hope it went well Joshymoses1!

[lotrfan2001]

Divine. Absolutely beautiful.

[amimavro]

Beautiful sound and beautiful piece!

[FR665XN]

We did this for 9 lessons and carols a couple of years ago. I really love it!

[Eurofrank1]

Well done! everyone ! Absoutely suberb! Bob Chilcott - still my favourite soloist of Pie Jesu from the Fauré Requiem. Hasn´t he come a long way !!! I would love to come and hear you all every day, but I´m not willing to pay those crazy house prices in Cambridge. When is the BEEB going to publish DVDs of the nine lessons and carols at King´s??

[VlilV]

they sell CDs

[Eurofrank1]

The DVD is now available!!! (not only thanks to me ;) )

[KleineHeike]

Heavenly :')

[Scinders]

Thanks for posting this,I really appreciate it.I first heard this when it was written for the actual service of that year and have loved it ever since .All the best

[spiritdei]

You're very welcome!

[Lemmekas]

Does anybody know who's the guy from 0:35 on the right? what's his name? :)

[jibberjabber]

Mmmmmmm Chilcott. I could eat his music. Cheesy like a good lasagne :)

[rumms5000]

absolutely amazing!

[grandplans]

I haven't listened to this group much but it sounds so beautiful.

[TennysonShallott11]

There is a sublime recording of this by James O'Donnell and the Choir of Westminster Abbey on a recently released Hyperion disc 'A Christmas Caroll' with some other beautiful Christmas music, modern and traditional. This is truly beautiful though, shame it wasn't sung at the actual 2008 Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve. Thank you, spiritdei.

[multimill]

Were you at the actual service? As far as I am concerned, this programme alone is worth the TV licence fee although I am a little sad to hear that this wasn't sung at the actual

Christmas Eve service. I guess it was pre-recorded? Would love to know. What happened to Hark! The Herals Angels Sing? I don't recall hearing it and that must be a first!

[TennysonShallott11]

Yes it's a little known fact that the BBC 2 'Carol's from King's' which is shown here is actually pre-recorded about a month in advance. It differs from the actual Nine Lessons and Carols in the fact that its readings are more secular (i.e.poems) than the actual nine biblical readings on Christmas Eve. Ironically, most of the music from this programme wasn't played at the service at all! But it is still fantastic, and I agree, well worth the license fee.

[spiritdei]

You're very welcome! I have been watching/listening to the service since the sixties. It never gets old!

[TennysonShallott11]

Quite right! I've only been listening for 5 years or so because of my age - I started at 15 and have, since then, always regarded it as the start of Christmas. Stephen Cleobury always makes a commendable job of it: mixing traditional and modern and commissioning new carols - what did you make of this years new one, if you heard it (or indeed remember it!)? I believe it was called 'Mary' or something.

[spiritdei]

Hi TennysonShallott11, following your query, I listened to the piece again and have indeed posted it. It takes awhile for new work to grow on me unless we are dealing with an instant classic. I must say I like 'Mary.' It's unhurried and beautiful.

[TennysonShallott11]

I agree - just listened to your upload of 'Mary' - quite exquisite. Rather enjoyed 'Lux Aurumque' too - a shame that this wasn't sung at the Nine Lessons. 'Illuminare Jerusalem ' by Weir was also sung; what do you think of that? A very different sound to 'Mary' but that haunting organ pedal refrain I find to be just wonderful.

[spiritdei]

Haven't heard it yet, but will comment when I do!

[lydiolaaaaa]

This piece is absolutely beautiful.

I'm in my final year as a chorister at Chester Cathedral and singing this piece nearly brought me to tears!

[vk2ah]

The volume is ok for me. The boy at the end his collar must have been uncomfortable for him as he was pulling it down and turning his head to make it more comfortable.

[multimill]

Get over the collars and enjoy the divine music!!!

[spiritdei]

I agree, I uploaded the clips without further editing to get the best quality, but surprisingly the volume is low. Apologies, will see what I can do to fix.

[multimill]

As usual, the choir of King's College turn in a peerless performance at Christmas. Christmas begins for me once I have seen this programme and would never be the same without it. This piece was SUPERB!!