Alle Jahre wieder (Germany)

Alle Jahre wieder
kommt das Christuskind
auf die Erde nieder,
wo wir Menschen sind.

Kehrt mit seinem Segen
ein in jedes Haus,
geht auf allen Wegen
mit uns ein und aus.

Steht auch mir zur Seite
still und unerkannt,
daß es treu mich leite
an der lieben Hand.

Sagt den Menschen allen,
daß ein Vater ist,
dem sie wohlgefallen,
der sie nicht vergisst.

Words: Wilhelm Hey (1837)
Music: Christian Heinrich Rinck (1846)

Coventry Carol (England)

VERSION I:






VERSION II: KENNETH LEIGHTON







Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young to slay.

That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever mourn and sigh,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Words: Robert Croo (1534)
Music: Anonymous (16th century)

2015 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols (Live Recording) from King's College, Cambridge

Live Sound Recording from BBC Radio of the 2015 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, sung by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge at 3:00pm, 24 December 2015.



Link: Program Booklet for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2015 (PDF)

See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:

• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2014 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2013 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 1954 (live)

See also: King's College, Cambridge's Carols from King's from previous years:

• Carols from King's 2015
• Carols from King's 2014
• Carols from King's 2013
• Carols from King's 2012
• Carols from King's 2011
• Carols from King's 2010
• Carols from King's 2003
• Carols from King's 2000
• Carols from King's 1996
• Carols from King's 1992

RELATED: 60 Years of Carols from King's 2014 (BBC Documentary)

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's recent CD release: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

2015 Carols from King's (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)

COMPLETE VERSION (with readings and prayers):



CAROLS ONLY:




Carols from King's 2015, the pre-recorded version as televised on BBC TWO.

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, directed by Stephen Cleobury
Organ Scholars: Tom Etheridge and Richard Gowers

See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:

• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2015 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2014 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2013 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 1954 (live)

See also: King's College, Cambridge's Carols from King's from previous years:

• Carols from King's 2014
• Carols from King's 2013
• Carols from King's 2012
• Carols from King's 2011
• Carols from King's 2010
• Carols from King's 2007
• Carols from King's 2003
• Carols from King's 2000
• Carols from King's 1996
• Carols from King's 1992

RELATED: 60 Years of Carols from King's 2014 (BBC Documentary)

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's recent CD release: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

1992 Carols from King's (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)

Carols from King's 1992, the pre-recorded version as televised on BBC TWO.

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, directed by Stephen Cleobury

See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:

• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2015 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2014 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2013 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 1954 (live)

See also: King's College, Cambridge's Carols from King's from previous years:

• Carols from King's 2015
• Carols from King's 2014
• Carols from King's 2013
• Carols from King's 2012
• Carols from King's 2011
• Carols from King's 2010
• Carols from King's 2007
• Carols from King's 2003
• Carols from King's 2000
• Carols from King's 1996

RELATED: 60 Years of Carols from King's 2014 (BBC Documentary)

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's recent CD release: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

Here is the Little Door

1. Here is the little door,
lift up the latch, oh lift!
We need not wander more,
but enter with our gift;
Our gift of finest gold.
Gold that was never bought or sold;
Myrrh to be strewn about his bed;
Incense in clouds about His head;
All for the child that stirs not in His sleep,
But holy slumber hold with ass and sheep.

2. Bend low about His bed,
For each He has a gift;
See how His eyes awake,
Lift up your hands, O lift!
For gold, He gives a keen-edged sword.
(Defend with it thy little Lord!)
For incense, smoke of battle red,
Myrrh for the honored happy dead;
Gifts for His children, terrible and sweet;
Touched by such tiny hands,
and Oh such tiny feet


Words: Francis Chesterton (1874-1936)
Music: Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging (Germany)

See also the English translation: Mary Walked Through A Wood of Thorn

Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging.
Kyrie eleison!
Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging,
Der hatte in sieben Jahrn kein Laub getragen!
Jesus und Maria.

Was trug Maria unter ihrem Herzen?
Kyrie eleison!
Ein kleines Kindlein ohne Schmerzen,
Das trug Maria unter ihrem Herzen!
Jesus und Maria.

Da hab'n die Dornen Rosen getragen.
Kyrie eleison!
Als das Kindlein durch den Wald getragen,
Da haben die Dornen Rosen getragen!
Jesus und Maria.

Wie soll dem Kind sein Name sein?
Kyrie eleison!
Der Name, der soll Christus sein,
Das war von Anfang der Name sein!
Jesus und Maria.

Wer soll dem Kind sein Täufer sein?
Kyrie eleison!
Das soll der Sankt Johannes sein,
Der soll dem Kind sein Täufer sein!
Jesus und Maria.

Was kriegt das Kind zum Patengeld?
Kyrie eleison!
Den Himmel und die ganze Welt,
Das kriegt das Kind zum Patengeld!
Jesus und Maria.

Wer hat erlöst die Welt allein?
Kyrie eleison!
Das hat getan das Christkindlein,
Das hat erlöst die Welt allein!
Jesus und Maria.

See also the English translation: Mary Walked Through A Wood of Thorn

Words & Music: Traditional 16th c. Germany

I Sing Of A Maiden (I Syng Of A Mayden)

TUNE I: PATRICK HADLEY












TUNE II: ARNOLD BAX








TUNE III: LENNOX BERKELEY










Lyrics in Original Middle English:

I syng of a mayden
That is makeles;
Kyng of alle Kynges
To her Son she ches.

He cam al so stylle
There his moder was
As dew in Aprylle
That fallyt on the gras;

He cam al so stylle
To his moderes bowr
As dew in Aprylle
That fallyt on the flour;

He cam al so stylle
There his moder lay
As dew in Aprylle
That fallyt on the spray;

Moder and mayden
Was never non but she;
Wel may swych a lady
Godes moder be.

Lyrics in Modern English:

I sing of a maiden
That is matchless,
King of all kings
For her son she chose.

He came as still
Where his mother was
As dew in April
That falls on the grass.

He came as still
To his mother's bower
As dew in April
That falls on the flower.

He came as still
Where his mother lay
As dew in April
That falls on the spray.

Mother and maiden
There was never, ever one but she;
Well may such a lady
God's mother be.

Historical Information

Words: 15th c. Middle English, Sloane Manuscript 2593, ff.10v-11
Music:
Tune I: Patrick Hadley
Tune II: Arnold Bax
Tune III: Lennox Berkeley

The Truth From Above (England)

This is the truth sent from above
The truth of God, the God of love
Therefore don't turn me from your door
But hearken will both rich and poor

The first thing that I do relate
Is that God did man create
The next thing which to you I'll tell
Woman was made with man to dwell

And after that, 'twas God's own choice
To place them both in Paradise,
There to remain of evil free
Except they ate of such a tree.

But they did eat, which was a sin,
And so their ruin did begin,
Ruined themselves, both you and me,
And all of their posterity.

Thus we were heirs to endless woes
Till God and Lord did interpose
And so a promise soon did run
That he would redeem us by his son

And at that season of the year
Our blessed redeemer did appear
He here did live and here did preach
And many thousands he did teach

Thus he in love to us behaved
To show us how we must be saved
And if you want to know the way
Be pleased to hear what he did say

Words: Traditional
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Adam lay ybounden (Philip Ledger)

See also: Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)

Adam lay ybounden
Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter,
Thought he not too long.

And all was for an apple
An apple that he took.
As clerkes finden,
Written in their book.

Ne had the apple taken been
The apple taken been,
Ne had never our ladie,
Abeen heav'ne queen.

Blessed be the time
That apple taken was,
Therefore we moun singen.
Deo gracias!

See also: Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)

Historical Background

Words: Sloane Manuscript 2593 (15th century)
Music: Philip Ledger (b. 1937)

O Savior, Rend The Heavens Wide

See also the German original: O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf

1. O Savior, rend the heavens wide;
Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down;
Unbar the way to heaven's crown.

2. O Father, light from heaven send;
As morning dew, O Son, descend.
Drop down, you clouds, the life of spring:
To Jacob's line rain down the King.

3. O earth, in flow'ring bud be seen;
Clothe hill and dale in garb of green.
Bring forth, O earth, a blossom rare,
Our Savior, sprung from meadow fair.

4. O Fount of hope, how long, how long?
When will You come with comfort strong?
O come, O come, Your throne forego;
Console us in our vale of woe.

5. O Morning Star, O radiant Sun,
When will our hearts behold Your dawn?
O Sun, arise; without Your light
We grope in gloom and dark of night.

6. Sin's dreadful doom before us lies;
Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.
O come, lead us with mighty hand
From exile to our promised land.

7. There shall we all our praises bring
And sing to You, our Savior King;
There shall we laud You and adore
Forever and forevermore.

See also the German original: O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf

Text: O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf, by Friedrich Spee (1622), trans. Martin L. Seltz
Tune: Rheinfelsisches Gesangbuch (1666)

2007 Carols from King's (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)

Carols from King's 2007, the pre-recorded version as televised on BBC TWO.

Hymn - Once in royal David’s city
Welcome
Carol - In dulci jubilo (R.L. Pearsall)
Reading - Isaiah 9
Carol - A Child is born in Bethlehem (Samuel Scheidt)
Carol - Sussex Carol (arr. Philip Ledger)
Reading - A New Nativity (Alan Titchmarsh)
Carol - King Jesus hath a garden (arr. Stephen Cleobury)
Carol - Tomorrow shall by my dancing day (John Gardner)
Reading - Luke 2
Carol - A babe is born (William Mathias)
Hymn - While shepherds watched their flocks
Reading - The Burning Babe (Robert Southwell)
Carol - The infant king (arr. David Willcocks)
Carol - Past three o'clock (arr. Stephen Cleobury) 
Reading - Matthew 2 
Carol - Bethlehem down (Peter Warlock)
Carol - Ding! Dong! merrily on high (arr. Mack Willberg)
Reading - Christmas (John Betjeman)
Carol - Dormi Jesu (John Rutter) 
Hymn - God rest you merry gentlemen
Reading - John 1
Carol - God is with us (John Tavener)
Blessing
Hymn - Hark! the herald angels sing
Voluntary - Vom Himmel hoch BWV 606 (JS Bach)

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, directed by Stephen Cleobury
Organ Scholars: Peter Stevens & Thomas Kimber

See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:

• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2014 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2013 (live)
• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 1954 (live)

See also: King's College, Cambridge's Carols from King's from previous years:

• 60 Years of Carols from King's 2014 (BBC Documentary)
• Carols from King's 2013
• Carols from King's 2012
• Carols from King's 2011
• Carols from King's 2010
• Carols from King's 2003
• Carols from King's 2000
• Carols from King's 1996

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's recent CD release: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen (Germany)

1. Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen
bis an sein’ höchsten Bord,
trägt Gottes Sohn voll Gnaden,
des Vaters ewigs Wort.

2. Das Schiff geht still im Triebe,
es trägt ein teure Last;
das Segel ist die Liebe,
der Heilig Geist der Mast.

3. Der Anker haft’ auf Erden,
da ist das Schiff am Land.
Gott's Wort tut uns Fleisch werden,
der Sohn ist uns gesandt.

4. Zu Bethlehem geboren
im Stall ein Kindelein,
gibt sich für uns verloren;
gelobet muss es sein.

5. Und wer dies Kind mit Freuden
umfangen, küssen will,
muss vorher mit ihm leiden
groß Pein und Marter viel,

6. danach mit ihm auch sterben
und geistlich auferstehn,
Ewigs Leben zu erben,
wie an ihm ist geschehn.

Text: attributed to Johannes Tauler (14th century)
Tune: Andernacher Gesangbuch (1608)