King's College Cambridge 2008 #4 The Holly and the Ivy arr Walford Davies

[funkymonkey829]

Astounding how the harmony and the melody sound so sweet

[pangursperson]

sweet singing of the choir indeed :-)

[pjs077]

Truly the peak of civilization's achievement for this year. I am very blessed just to be able to hear this choir from my New York home on Christmas Eve. Thank you from the debts of my spirit and soul.

[spiritdei]

@pjs077 Blessings to you!

[kotetsu131]

What a very excellent tenor soloist. You know, being a musician myself I am always astounded how the directors of boys choirs are able to train 11 and 12 year-olds to this level of musicianship. It just seems counter-intuitive to me because they simply aren't mature enough emotionally to and intellectually to have the necessary discipline and grasp the musical nuance and yet clearly they do....

[alynna555]

Beautiful.....

[zemotheon12987]

I would love to be in a choir like this :)

[MissJeanBrodie]

I love it!

[orchote]

Cool how Harry Potter shows up at 0:13

[OneWingedDeathAngel]

The treble soloist makes this the best year EVER for them. It's my new dream to meet him.

[spiritdei]

@OneWingedDeathAngel I agree, he was "Jolly Good!"

[midientse01]

OMG they sing like a dream. Love it Love it Love it

[CrimsonFox1000]

Its weird seeing Alex Stobbs in the choir having seen the movies.

[3NUNS]

the rising of the sun and the running of the deer ... a hunting song ?

[sgut1947]

The treble soloist has a unique voice rather different from (more delicate than) most cathedral trebles, and it's totally charming in this carol.

[MillyC94akahorsemad]

That looks like Ely Cathedrale ? i dunno if it is :) lovely song x

[uniden999]

@MillyC94akahorsemad Kings College Chapel

[nocturne163]

Beautiful !!

[lovemetu]

@nocturne163

Glad you liked it, the setting is wonderful as well.

[joeygsmom]

very pretty, Christmas songs always make me a little sad but I cant stop myself from listening.

[bookworm266]

The guy who joins in at 1.35, is he a tenor or a countertenor?

[KyleFesy]

@bookworm266 i believe he is a countertenor, the lowest note of his phrase is D4 and his highest is D5. he could be anything honesty, im a bass and i can do that no probs.

[bookworm266]

@KyleFesy. Thank you very much!

[uniden999]

@bookworm266 Countertenor, most likley because he is singing in a falsetto

[tobesograteful]

Wonderful voices! If I could sing like that I would use it to sing songs of Praise to GOD too.

[jainarulz1]

we play this in band, thisis really good!

[TheDLIV]

This masterpiece was well done! Bravo to spiritdei for posting.

[spiritdei]

@TheDLIV I'm glad you liked it.  My intention was the share the pleasure!

[silharima]

This is exquisite! Such music lifts the soul into a pure world it can't enter on its own. I feel transported into that lovely realm as I listen to it.

[TheDresden777]

I like this version it almost comes as near as good but, not better than the Scottish National Chorus Conducted by none other than John Currie.

[spiritdei]

@TheDresden777 Can you post a link to some of their material?

[nightgrooveruk]

Amazing thrilling & enjoyed singing along the second time of listening :) thank you Namaste :)

[BananaPie395]

sometimes i wish i could just regress into an 11 year old boy and sing like this. ps: im a girl...

[chinwo]

WOW! I luv....d voices! Softens my heart when I hear it. Amazing would be an understatement! Thanks Spiritdei

[spiritdei]

Glad you like it, its one of my favourites!

[cajudiego]

Great!!!! no words to explain my admiration for these voices and songs.

[lotrfan2001]

so beautiful.

[TVWriterGuy]

Sublime. Simply sublime.

[obio71691]

hey, what is the name of this "holly and the ivy" version, and author, cuz i wanna buy it for my singers to perform? and does it come in satb as well, or only tbb?

[simkon1]

This version was only written for a boys chorus, but there are many excellent versions to choose from.

[firstsopranosrule]

It's the H Walford Davies arrangement and scored for SATB with the verses done as solos/duets.  You can find it in Carols for Choirs book 2

[obio71691]

oh!! thanks!!!

[picardythirds]

you can also find it in 101 Carols for Choirs

both are edited by John Rutter and David Willcocks

[spiritdei]

@picardythirds Some say John Rutter is a god among men in the field of Chorale music!

[ludovicoacidity]

lol at 1:35

[michaelnrdx]

@ludovicoacidity 1:35 is HOT!

[cabbalistic]

Isn't that Alex Stobbs upper right at 0:03?

[Daviesgram]

Ya, he's a choral scholar at King's.

[grandplans]

I wish I could come up with something other than beautuful, but, no other word for me can describe this group.

[stephenliamcorina]

love it kings does it good

[stevenorway]

beautiful

[Chrisy299]

Thanks for posting the music of nice lessons and carols.

I love that and was hoping to hear the current version.

Very nice...

[spiritdei]

You're welcome!

[annieverbum]

I've always loved this carol, and no one can beat King's version! Thank you so much for posting all the carols in this year's Nine Lesson! If not for you I can never have such pleasure of enjoying the service I so dearly love each year. Any chance you can upload the readings as well, just for the completion of the whole service?

[spiritdei]

You're welcome! Since you've asked I will upload the readings. I wasn't sure if there would be any interest.

[spiritdei]

I was hoping someone would comment on this clip. It was my favourite carol of the evening!