Every Christmas Eve for decades, the world-renowned Choir of King's College Chapel, Cambridge has broadcast the Festival o Nine Lessons and Carols worldwide on BBC Radio (Carols from King's is also televised by the BBC every Christmas annually). It never fails to inspire and appeal by bringing together readings from the Christmas story with the singing of traditional carols in which all may join: classic Christmas arrangements for the choir and exciting newly-composed anthems that often become choral classics. For countless people the broadcast of Nine Lessons and Carols is a major part of the Christmas experience. 

Now the King's College Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury, has created this album of forty-six of the most enduring choral pieces from the Festivals. Thirteen are published here for the first time, ten were specially commissioned for King's and seven are carols for choir and congregation. Wide ranging in sources, this collection includes arrangements by King's directors of music David Wilcocks, Philip Ledger and Stephen Cleobury and leading contemporary composers such as Richard Rodney Bennett, Bob Chilcott, Jonathan Dove, John Joubert, Roxanna Panufnik, Arvo Part, John Rutter, Peter Sculthorpe, John Tavener, and Judith Weir.

Christmas at King's includes a preface by Stephen Cleobury and a useful appendix of readings with relevant repertoire from the collection for those choirs who want to present their own Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Songlist: Once In Royal David's City, A Great and Mighty Wonder, A Tender Shoot, A Virgin Most Pure, Adam Lay Ybounden, Alleluya, A New Work Is Come On Hand, Away In A Manger, Be Merry, Benedicamus Domino, The Birthday of Thy King, Bogoroditsye Dyevo, Christo Paremus Cantica, God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In, I Wonder As I Wander, I Sing Of A Maiden, Illuminare, Jerusalem, In Wintertime, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, The Infant King, It Came Upon The Midnight Clear, Jesus Christ The Apple Tree, The Lamb, Morning Song For The Christ Child, Myn Lyking, No Small Wonder, Love Came Down At Christmas, Noel nouvelet, Nowel, and more

Lullabies have been around for thousands of years and in almost all cultures and are probably some of the very first songs ever sung by humans. A lullaby is not surprising appreciated by many of us even as we age and they can be a pleasant addition to any concert. Here are a collection of interesting arrangements of lullabies from Europe.

Songlist: Suo-Gan, Celtic Lullaby, Hush Little Baby, Lullaby, Three Lullabies, Op. 49

Mellifluous Samoan lull words, like "manulele" (bird), and "suamalie," (sweet) are the basis for the hypnotic lullaby of repeated and recombined pentatonic patterns, titled 'Malolo.' Accessible to average choirs, this piece, with its subtle rhythmic interest and carefully crafted dynamic changes, is rewarding for more advanced choirs as well. The "macho march" setting of the Israeli pioneer song, 'Artsa Alina,' makes fine use of rapid alternation between unisons and vigorous chords. This one is a rouser! The Hebrew text is phonetically underlaid, with full Hebrew text and translation, with prononciation guide, included. Because 'K'wae-jina ching-ching nah-neh' builds on repeating short verses and refrains, this song of warning and complaint is accessible to western singers. Suggestions for performance alternatives give additional flexibility.The Korean text is underlaid phonetically, with full Korean text and translation, and guides to pronunciation, given as well. The haunting melody of 'Shenandoah' is variously placed against pedal points, with unison phrase closings, in the alto line, and at close imitation, to give the acoustic feeling of the singers' listening and longing for the sound of the beloved. Lush voicing and the subtle rhythmic texture of the choral accompaniment highlight the simple appeal of 'Suo Gan.' With full Welsh text and phonetic rendition underlaid in the score, and word-by-word and prose translations.

Songlist: Malolo (Lullaby on a Samoan text)., Artsa alinu (We have come up to the land), K'wae-jina ching-ching nah-neh, Shenandoah, Suo-Gan