Live Sound Recording from BBC Radio of the 2014 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, sung by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge at 3:00pm, 24 December 2014.
Historical recording of the 1954 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's
College, Cambridge under the direction of Boris Ord.
Hymn - Once in royal David's city Bidding Prayer Carol - And there were shepherds (JS Bach) First Lesson - Genesis 3 Carol - Up! good Christen folk (Piae Cantiones) Carol - In dulci jubilo (Pearsall) Second Lesson - Luke 1 Carol - Hail, Blessed Virgin Mary! (arr. Charles Wood) Third Lesson - Matthew 1 Carol - A virgin most pure (arr. Charles Wood) Fourth Lesson - Luke 2 Hymn - While shepherds watched Fifth Lesson - Matthew 2 Carol - The Three Kings (Peter Cornelius) Carol - Sing lullaby (arr. Edgar Pettman) Sixth Lesson - John 1 Collect and Blessing Hymn - O Come all ye faithful
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The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, directed by Boris Ord
Organ Scholar - Hugh McLean
UPDATED - 25 Dec 2014:
To mark 60 years of the BBC broadcast of Carol's from King's College
Cambridge; BBC screened a digitally remastered copy of the 1954 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:
An amazing documentary broadcast on the BBC Christmas Day 2014.
Features rare footage from many years of the Carol broadcasts since 1954
and revealing interviews with giants of Choral composing today such as
John Rutter and Bob Chilcott, both past choral scholars at Kings. As
well as an interview with Jonathan Willcocks son of the great Sir David
Willcocks who will be 95 this year. An unbelievably good Christmas gift
and treat.
See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:
Carols from King's 2014, the pre-recorded version as televised on BBC TWO.
Hymn - Once in royal David’s city Carol - Up! Good Christen Folk (Piae Cantiones) First reading - Isaiah 9 Carol - A tender shoot (Otto Goldschmidt) Carol - Sussex Carol (arr. David Willcocks) Second reading - Letter from Private Cunningham of the 5th Scottish Rifles Carol - Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! (arr. Stephen Cleobury) Carol - In the bleak mid-winter (Gustav Holst) Hymn - It came upon the midnight clear Third reading - Luke 1 Carol - The angel Gabriel (arr. Edgar Pettman) Carol - Benedicamus Domino (Peter Warlock) Fourth reading - Whereto shall we liken (Christina Rossetti) Carol - A Spotless Rose (Herbert Howells) Carol - Joys Seven (arr. Stephen Cleobury) Hymn - God rest you merry, gentlemen Fifth reading - Luke 2 Carol - The lamb (John Tavener) Carol - Ding! Dong! merrily on high (arr. Mack Wilberg & Peter Stevens) Sixth reading - Matthew 2 Carol - Noel nouvelet (Stephen Jackson) Seventh reading - Royal Presents (Nathaniel Wanley) Carol - The three kings (Peter Cornelius) Carol - A babe is born all of a may (William Mathias) Eighth reading - John 1 Carol - God is with us (John Tavener) Hymn - Hark! the herald-angels sing Voluntary - Vom Himmel hoch BWV 606 (JS Bach)
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The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, directed by Stephen Cleobury
Organ Scholar: Douglas Tang
See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:
Après la longue attente, Après le rude hiver, La nouvelle éclatante Ebranle l’univers. Fini le dur tourment, Le Messie va paraître, L’annonce des prophètes
S’accomplit maintenant. Les humbles de la terre, Les pauvres du Seigneur Pourront lever la tête Et réjouir leur cœur. L’amour de Dieu s’étend Sur tous ceux qui le craignent, La splendeur de son règne Eclaire les vivants.
O Seigneur, ta puissance Nous soutient chaque jour, Eveillant l’espérance De ton prochain retour. Le désespoir n’est plus Car ta bonté fidèle Est la vie éternelle: Oh! viens, Seigneur Jésus!
Voici l'Étoile du Matin
Que fait lever l'amour du divin,
Pure et sainte lumière,
Répands dans nos cœurs ta clarté,
Viens dissiper l'obscurité
Qui règne sur la terre.
Seigneur, Sauveur, Fils du Père,
Ta lumière Salutaire
Nous conduit et nous éclaire.
Tu viens Jésus pour nous chercher
dans notre nuit et nous guider
à travers nos détresses.
Tu vois nos peines, nos malheurs,
tu deviens le libérateur
du mal qui nous oppresse
Seigneur, Sauveur, Fils du Père,
ta lumière salutaire
nous conduit et nous éclaire.
Laissant la puissance et l'honneur,
tu parais comme un serviteur,
pauvre et dans la souffrance.
Tu prend sur toi tous nos péchés
et ton amour nous rend a paix,
la joie et l'espérance.
Seigneur, Sauveur, Fils du Père,
ta lumière salutaire
nous conduit et nous éclaire.
Text: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, by Philipp Nicolai
J'écoute: que dit le Seigneur? Ce que dit le Seigneur, c'est la paix: La paix pour son peuple, ses amis, ceux qui reviennent à lui de tout coeur. Proche est son salut pour qui l'adore. Et la Gloire habitera notre terre. Béni soit celui qui vient, le roi, au nom du Seigneur. paix dans le ciel et gloire au plus haut des cieux. Amen.
1 Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing;
Fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace:
O refresh us, O refresh us,
Traveling through this wilderness.
2 Thanks we give, and adoration
For thy gospel's joyful sound:
May the fruits of thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound!
Ever faithful, ever faithful
To the truth may we be found!
3 So whene'er the signal's given
Us from earth to call away,
Born on angel's wings to heaven,
Glad the summons to obey
May we ever, may we ever
Reign with Christ in endless day!
Hvalite imia Gospodnie, hvalite, rabi, Gospoda. Blagoslovjen Gospod ot Siona, živy vo Ierusalimie. Ispoviedaitiesia Gospodievi, iako Blag, iako v viek milost iego. Ispoviedaitiesia Bogu Niebiernomu, iako v viek milost iego. Aliluia, aliluia, aliluia.
Louez le nom du Seigneur, louez, serviteurs du Seigneur, Alleluia. Beni soit le Seigneur depuis Sion, lui qui habite Jerusalem. Rendez grace au Seigneur, car il est bon, car eternel est son amour. Rendez grace au Dieu du ciel, car eternel est son amour. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, servants of the Lord. Alleluia. Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who resides in Jerusalem. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his love is everlasting. Alleluia. Words: Psalm 135, 1.21; 136, 1.26. Music: Dimitry Arzumanov
Mẹ Maria đẹp tươi như bình minh chiếu rạng ngời Vầng trăng lung linh trời đêm so với mẹ còn kém xa Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh Mẹ như hoa thơm ngàn hương luôn tỏa bay chín tầng trời Mọi âu lo không hề vương!Ôi xác hồn mẹ sáng tươi Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh Mẹ oai phong nơi tòa cao như đoàn viên tiến vào trần Mười hai sao thêu triều thiên nhân Đức Mẹ ngời sáng hơn Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh
Mẹ Maria đẹp tươi như bình minh chiếu rạng ngời
Vầng trăng lung linh trời đêm so với mẹ còn kém xa
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh
Mẹ như hoa thơm ngàn hương luôn tỏa bay chín tầng trời
Mọi âu lo không hề vương!Ôi xác hồn mẹ sáng tươi
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh
Mẹ oai phong nơi tòa cao như đoàn viên tiến vào trần
Mười hai sao thêu triều thiên nhân Đức Mẹ ngời sáng hơn
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh
Viens, Saint Esprit du ciel fait jaillir l'éclat de ta splendeur.
Viens, père des pauvres.
Viens, Esprit généreux,
viens, lumière des coeurs.
Toi le parfait consolateur, merveilleuse fraîcheur,
dans notre âme tu fais habiter la paix.
Dans la peine, tu es le repos, dans l'épreuve la force,
dans la tristesse la consolation.
Lumière bienfaisante,
pénètre l'intimité de nos coeurs car nous te sommes fidèles,
sans ta présence dans l'homme il n'y a rien, rien qui soit pur.
A ceux qui se confient en toi et te reçoivent dans la foi,
accorde tous tes dons, donnes-leur de grandir en toi,
de persévérer dans le salut.
Donne-leur la joie qui demeure.
At the Lamb's high feast we sing
praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide
flowing from his pierced side;
praise we him, whose love divine
gives his sacred Blood for wine,
gives his Body for the feast,
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Where the Paschal blood is poured,
death's dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel's hosts triumphant go
through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, Paschal bread;
with sincerity and love
eat we manna from above.
Mighty victim from on high,
hell's fierce powers beneath thee lie;
thou hast conquered in the fight,
thou hast brought us life and light:
now no more can death appall,
now no more the grave entrall;
thou hast opened paradise,
and in thee thy saints shall rise.
Easter triumph, Easter joy,
sin alone can this destroy;
from sin's power do thou set free
souls newborn, O Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Risen Lord, to thee we raise;
Holy Father, praise to thee,
with the Spirit, ever be.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
Whose blood set us free to be people of God? (Refrain)
Power, riches and wisdom and strength,
And honor and blessing and glory are his. (Refrain)
Sing with all the people of God
And join in the hymn of all creation. (Refrain)
Blessing and honor and glory and might
Be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. (Refrain)
For the Lamb who was slain
has begun his reign. Alleluia. (Refrain) Text: based on Revelation 5. Text (c) Copyright 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship
Tune: FESTIVAL CANTICLE, Irr. By Richard Hillert (1975).
In a tradition dating from 2004 the renown King's College Choir presents
Easter from Kings, Passiontide to Easter Day from the Chapel of King's
College, Cambridge.
Hymn - There is a green hill far away Welcome Miserere mei, Deus (Gregorio Allegri) Reading - Mark 11 Hosianna dem sohne Davids (Bartholomäus Gesius) Reading - Upon the asse that bore our Saviour (Richard Crashaw) Hymn - Ride on, ride on in majesty (arr. Philip Ledger) Reading - Mark 14 Panis angelicus (César Franck) Ave verum corpus (William Byrd) Reading - Mark 14 Ah, holy Jesu (Crüger / JS Bach / Johann Heerman) Lacrimosa from Requiem in D-Minor (K.626)(Wolfgang A. Mozart) Reading Mark 15 Crux fidelis (John IV of Portugal) O Saviour of the world (Frederick AG Ouseley) When I survey the wondrous cross (arr. Stephen Cleobury) Reading - Good Friday 1613 (John Donne) Christe, adoramus te (Claudio Monteverdi) Where you there? (arr. James Whitbourn) Reading - Luke 24 This joyful Eastertide (arr. Charles Wood) Hallelujah Chorus (G.F. Handel) Reading - I got me flowers (George Herbert) Reading - Everyone Sang (Siegfried Sassoon) Let all the world, from The Five Mystical Songs (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Blessing Hymn - Jesus Christ is risen today (arr. Stephen Cleobury) Voluntary - Christ lag in todesbanden BWV 625 (J S Bach)
See also - Easter from King's from previous years:
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky he’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
Words: Paraphrase of Surrexit Christus hodie (c. 1372) in Lyra Davidica (1708)
Tune: EASTER HYMN 77.77 + Alleluias (Lyra Davidica, 1708)
Antiphon: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The strife is o'er, the battle done;
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun:
Alleluia!
The powers of death have done their worst,
but Christ their legions hath dispersed;
let shouts of holy joy outburst:
Alleluia!
The three sad days are quickly sped;
he rises glorious from the dead;
all glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!
Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death's dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live, and sing to thee:
Alleluia!
Text: Finita iam sunt praelia, Latin, 12th c, tr. Francis Pott, 1832-1909
Tune: VICTORY 888 + Alleluias, by Giovanni P. da Palestrina (1525-1594), adapted by William H. Monk (1823-1889).
O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom, but you led your Saviour to the cross.
O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy immortal One, have mercy on us.
For forty years I led you safely through the desert. I fed you with manna from heaven, and brought you to a land of plenty; but you led your Saviour to the cross.
Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy immortal One, have mercy on us.
What more could I have done for you? I planted you as my fairest vine, but you yielded only bitterness: when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink, and you pierced your Saviour's side with a lance.
Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy immortal One, have mercy on us.
I opened the sea before you, but you opened my side with a spear.
I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud, but you led me to Pilate's court.
O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
I bore you up with manna in the desert, but you struck me down and scourged me.
I gave you saving water from the rock, but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.
O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
I gave you a royal sceptre, but you gave me a crown of thorns.
I raised you to the height of majesty, but you have raised me high on a cross.
O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
1. This day God gives me
Strength of high heaven,
Sun and moon shining,
Flame in my hearth,
Flashing of lightning,
Wind in its swiftness,
Deeps of the ocean,
Firmness of earth.
2. This day God sends me
Strength as my guardian,
Might to uphold me,
Wisdom as guide.
Your eyes are watchful,
Your ears are list’ning,
Your lips are speaking,
Friend at my side.
3. God’s way is my way,
God’s shield is ’round me,
God’s host defends me,
Saving from ill.
Angels of heaven,
Drive from me always
All that would harm me,
Stand by me still.
4. Rising I thank you,
Mighty and Strong One,
King of creation,
Giver of rest,
Firmly confessing
Threeness of Persons,
Oneness of Godhead,
Trinity blest.
De tout mon coeur, Seigneur, je te rends grâce :
tu as entendu les paroles de ma bouche.
Je te chante en présence des anges,
vers ton temple sacré, je me prosterne.
Je rends grâce à ton nom pour ton amour et ta vérité,
car tu élèves, au-dessus de tout, ton nom et ta parole.
Le jour où tu répondis à mon appel,
tu fis grandir en mon âme la force.
Tous les rois de la terre te rendent grâce
quand ils entendent les paroles de ta bouche.
Ils chantent les chemins du Seigneur :
« Qu'elle est grande, la gloire du Seigneur ! »
Si haut que soit le Seigneur,
il voit le plus humble ;
de loin, il reconnaît l'orgueilleux.
Si je marche au milieu des angoisses,
tu me fais vivre,
ta main s'abat sur mes ennemis en colère.
Ta droite me rend vainqueur.
Le Seigneur fait tout pour moi !
Seigneur, éternel est ton amour :
n'arrête pas l'oeuvre de tes mains.
Comme un cerf altéré brâme
Après le courant des eaux,
Ainsi soupire mon âme,
Seigneur, après tes ruisseaux;
Elle a soif du Dieu vivant,
Et s'écrie, en le suivant :
"Mon Dieu, mon Dieu! quand sera-ce
Que mes yeux verront ta face?"
I am risen and behold and am with you, Alleluia! You have placed you hand on me, Alleluia! O God, how wonderf'lly you know me, Alleluia!
1. O Lord, you search me and you know me. You know when I sit down and rise up again, Alleluia! (Antiphon)
2. Behold, Lord, you know all things both ancient and new. You have conceived me, and laid your hand upon me, Alleluia! (Antiphon)
3. Glory be to the Father of Love, And to the Son, who is risen from the dead, And to the Spirit giving us new life, As it was in the beginning, is now, and every shall be, Alleluia! (Antiphon)
Composer: Michael Barger
Michael Barger grew up in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His work is
highly influenced by Islamic and Byzantine Arabic chant and especially
by the Lebanese Byzantine chanter, Sister Marie Keyrouz
Composer's Notes:
The
text of I Am Risen is that of the Introit (Entrance chant) of the Roman
rite celebration of the Eucharist on Easter day, Resurrexi et adhuc
tecum sum, which serves as the antiphon for the chanting of Psalm 139. The composition was inspired by the recording of Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum on Ensemble Organum's recording, Chants of the Church of Roman - Byzantine Period. It is devoted to
chants of the Church of Rome when most of the popes came from the
churches of the Byzantine Empire ( 590-752), coinciding with the rise
of the Prophet Muhammad (550-632) and the Umayyad Caliphate (660-750). Liturgies were celebrated with chants in both Greek and Latin. Musically the hymn is in the Mixolydian mode
and marked by chords of the ninth.
Carii pe heruvimi cu taină închipuim, Şi făcătoarei de viaţă Treimi întreit-sfântă cântare aducem, Acum toată grija cea lumească să o lepădăm, Ca pe Împăratul tuturor, să primim, Pe Cel înconjurat în chip nevăzut de cetele îngereşti.
We, who in a mystic way represent the Cheubim And sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, Let us now lay aside all earthly care So that we may welcome the King of All, Who comes escorted by invisible angelic hosts.
Ioan Zmeu was a great 19th century chanter, composer, and professor of
Romanian Orthodox music. He was born January 30, 1860, in Botoşani where
he studied with his father Emanoil Zmeu at the School of Church Music.
He completed his studies in Constantinople and Jerusalem. He
served as protopsalt (head chanter) and professor of vocal music at the
the School for Church Singers in Rimnicu Vilcea (1882-1886), the great
monastery of Curtea de Argeş (1886-1894), and from friom 1894 to 1901
at the Metropolitanate (subsequently as of 1922, the Patriarchate) in
Bucharest. He returned to Curtea de Argeş and spent the last twenty-one
years of his life there dying on April 28, 1922 at the age of sixty-two.
Zmeu was one of the greatest composers of Romanian Byzantine chant in the
19th and early 20th centuries with numerous compositions and editions of
books of chant to his credit. There was an explosion of interest in
chant in Romania beginning in the early 19th century with the printing
and composing activities of such great names as Anton Pann and Dimitrie
Suceveanu, and Zmeu is one of the outstanding figures of the era.
Unlike composers in the Latin Church, Romanian composers continued to compose
liturgical chants well into the 20th century. The last major plain
chant masses in the Gregorian tradition in the West were composed during
the French Baroque period by Henri Dumont (1610-1684) and
Michel-Richard de Lalande (1657-1726) and remained in the repertorie
of some French parishes into the early 20th century.
This Heruvic or Cherbuic Hymn is among the greatest of Zmeu's compositions. The
Cherubic hymn accompanies the preparation of the eucharistic gifts for
the Great Entrance of the Byzantine Divine Liturgy. Since the ritual
and prayers invoved may be quite lengthy, Cherubic Hymns may last as
long as ten minutes and more. The length of time required by the
liturgical action make the Cherubic Hymn the longest piece of music by
far in the Divine Liturgy allowing composers ample scope for their art.
The Heruvic is sung by the group Psalmodia under the direction of Dr. Archdeacon Sebastian Barbu-Bucur (b. Feburary 6, 1930).
Revêts, Seigneur, de ta justice
Le Prince de la paix
Et parmi nous qu'il établisse
Son royaume à jamais.
En lui, les plus humbles du peuple
Trouvent un défenseur,
Délivrant les fils de la veuve
Et brisant l'oppresseur.
Qu'il règne sur toute la terre,
Sur tous les océans,
Tant que le soleil les éclaire
Jusqu'à la fin des temps.
Dans son royaume sans frontières
Les grands s'inclineront;
Et tous les peuples qu'il libère
En paix le serviront.
Paraphrase of Psalm 72:1-3
Text:Théodore de Bèze (1562)
Music: L. Bourgeois 1543
