King's College Cambridge 2010 #1 Once in Royal David's City
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- Опубліковано 23 гру 2010
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Once in Royal David's City.
Choir and congregation
The words by Mrs C F Alexander come from a set of 'Hymns for Little Children' (1824).
The tune 'Irby' was written as a Christmas carol by Henry John Gauntlett and published in 1849. Gauntlett became organist at the age of 10 in the church where his father was the vicar, but went on to work as a lawyer for 15 years before becoming a professional musician who wrote over 1,000 hymn tunes.
The descant is by Stephen Cleobury.
Utterly inspirational: An interview with the terminally ill music prodigy risking his life for one last carol concert
On one level, the exchange is typical of the kind you'd expect between a mother and her student son. Alex Stobbs - dressed in odd socks and refusing to use the hairbrush his mum has run to fetch - is rolling his eyes, implying there is some maternal exaggeration at play.
His mother, in turn, is trying to tell the story of the day she let herself into his university room, to be confronted by 'an almighty mess'.
Were they talking about the normal detritus of student life - mouldy clothes mountains, empty beer bottles, forgotten pizza boxes - it would be funny. But they are not. For what Suzanne Stobbs came across that day - with apologies here to the squeamish - was a bucket full of her son's blood.
'I knew what it meant, of course,' she says, putting a hand up to stop his protests. 'He'd been coughing up blood, and lots of it, too. It had happened in the night, when he was alone. What shocked even me was that he'd got up in the morning and gone off to choir rehearsal without a word to anyone.
'That is Alexander all over. I gave him grief. I said: "For goodness sake, Alexander, what is a phone for?" It happened again, the following night. That one was a blue light affair, with him being rushed to hospital in an ambulance.'
There is no need to ask how many times Suzanne Stobbs has made her own frantic way to a hospital in the early hours to be at her youngest child's side. She would have lost count many years ago.
Two decades have passed since a doctor sat her down and told her that her newborn baby had a congenital condition called cystic fibrosis. Some children born with CF, as it has long been abbreviated in this house, make it to adulthood; some do not.
The unpredictability of the condition - and Alex, 20, has a virulent form which is systematically destroying his lungs, bones and digestive system - makes it particularly cruel for parents. When Alex was nine, Suzanne was told to prepare for the worst. At 13, ditto.
That Alex is alive today is down to a daily drug-and-treatment regime that would surely have had his mother running from the room all those years ago.
'It's probably best that you learn it all gradually,' she admits, explaining about the 50 tablets a day, the daily physio sessions, the oxygen cylinders and the high-calorie food supplements that are administered intravenously while her son sleeps.
She says things like 'life has to go on' when talking about how you juggle a terminal illness of one child with the demands of three healthy children, as she has done. But she admits she still refuses to travel abroad, 'just in case'.
And yet what makes Alex's story so astonishing is that not only has he endured his illness with fortitude, but that he has overcome its immense hurdles to emerge as one of the greatest musical prodigies of his generation.
You may have heard about Alex Stobbs. Two years ago, a documentary was made about his extraordinary life.
A Boy Called Alex followed him as a student at Eton College, examining how someone with a life-threatening illness could defy all the odds to conduct the notoriously difficult Bach Magnificat.
www.dailymail.co.uk
It's a shame that this country has become less Christian. We should be proud of our Christian heritage. However we seem to always poke fun, belittle and hate the religion that has been a beacon of hope in our country so so long, whilst being afraid to criticise and speak out against others
Reading this comment in 2023. We should have listened earlier.
Happy Christmas ❤❤
Keep praying 🙏
Totally agree
In loving memory of Mrs D. Miller of St. John Bosco School For Boys in Hatfield, Manchester, Jamaica.
Whos watching in 2019? 🇬🇧
I am
me either
@@oregonion Great to here wish you a wonderful Christmas! Jake from UK 🇬🇧
Count me in. What a sublime carol! Pretty much my favorite - there could be no finer way to introduce the Nine Lessons and Carols. Amazing descant, too.
@@andyadler I wish you faith in your spirit this Christmas :D
I'm English-not a Christian- but this whole ceremony just shrieks peace and goodwill to all mankind-stop fighting and killing in the name of whatever religion please !
I did this as a solo in my church two years in a row!! Very nerve-wracking!!
I'll never forget the Christmas I spent in England. Nor the Christmas Eve I spent at this service.
Richard Guglielmi I have to be brave enough to get on a plane and visit Cambridge someday!
Something I would love for sure...can only dream of it, but who knows .
You are blessed🍁☮
At 3pm GMT on Christmas Eve without fail, this is the opening carol from the chapel of Kings College Cambridge. It is broadcast live from Cambridge by the BBC on Radio 4, and is beamed around the Commonwealth.The opening words are always the same " And now from the Chapel of King Henry the 8th, Kings College Cambridge , a service of 9 lessons and carols." The boys of the choir are all capable of opening but the choirmaster only chooses the choirboy shortly before the broadcast and its considered a great honour. To hear it live on the radio is magical and signifies for me, the start of Christmas.
I've never seen a kid lose it either. From what I understand they are all very well prepared to sing it.
Very well said - this carol is the essence of Christmas for me, and it has become something of an institution for it to open carol services. I'm always very disappointed when I go to a carol service and it's not in the running order! Happy Christmas and New Year to you.
I live in the states and in my time zone this program starts at 9:00 am! My local public radio station broadcasts this program and I find this a great way to start my Christmas Eve. The boy’s choir always sounds so great and the service is always so moving.
I attended this service at Kings College in Oxford for Christmas in 1978 while I was stationed in England with the USAF for two years at an RAF base. Forty two years later, I remember this as if it was yesterday. Still brings shivers to me and an occasional tear to my eyes. Very special service. Very special memories. God Bless and Merry Christmas. 🎄🎄🙏🙏
John aka OldGuy, thanks for sharing your special memory, and thanks for your service! Merry Christmas!
Thank you for serving
Merry Christmas
Kings College is in Cambridge.
Wow the boy in the beginning has an absolutely INCREDIBLE voice!!!
+Hanna P I hope when I get to heaven that it sounds like that.
+Hanna P That is known as a treble, his voice..Aled Jones was an amazing treble..check him out.
Yup but he's never gunner get laid
+skylord44 __ Actually I believe they quit doing that several hundred years ago. Learned, surprise, surprise, that a new crop of voices come along every year.
What's crazy is the choir director chooses which kid will do the solo just minutes before the performance. Any of them can do it.
Whos watching this in 2020? So beautiful!
I am ........Rockport, Texas
Me too. Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
This is Christmas for me every year, always excited to see Kings college choir on tv Christmas, I play their song constantly days before Christmas, give me cold chills and makes me feel closer to heaven! thank you for posting!
shortcfarms me too. BTW my favorite carol is O Little Town of Bethlehem (tune: FOREST GREEN by Rafe Vaughan Williams.)
Sacred and most special in every sense. Sweet faces pouring forth the joy and fulfillment of the season with eyes that have seen and hearts that believe. Listening here is bliss sublime. Gifted voices visited by Christ and trained by wisdom. Watching their witness is a rare favor. Everyone wants to join in the celebration to sing one's heart out. Many thanks for this good gift.
There is as beautiful obituary for Sir Stephen Cleobury in the current year-end issue of The Economist . Everyone that loves this music should read it. He was an extraordinary man. I especially appreciate the final paragraph:
"At the same time, he made sure the choir did not lose its otherworldly sound. He treasured the thought that anyone who heard it might find peace and consolation there. For behind music, especially the music of Bach, lay something wondrous and beautiful that could be touched. Over the years he felt increasingly uncertain what to call it. But he found himself getting keener on the idea of the Holy Spirit, something around int he air and in the silences between the notes, as the choir sang."
Bittersweet for me. My dear father passed at christmas 30 years ago. Still makes me tearfull everytime I listen too it. The most beautiful Christmas carol I have ever heard.
I've been listening to the Carols for decades and as far as I am concerned this chorister is as note perfect as they come. All the more extraordinary as there is no starting note for him to find his pitch. At 0:45 notice his eyes slightly lower as he perfectly voices the "D." I reckon he knew he "nailed it," sublime!
News has come through that Sir Stephen Cleobury - the conductor - has passed on. My very best to his friends and family. Thank you hugely Sir for providing us with the wonderful Music every Christmas Eve, and indeed throughout the year.
I can't believe it. What a legacy he has left.
rest in peace to sir stephen cleobury
¡Amén!
Such a beautiful hymn. I learned this hymn in Scotland back in the late 1940's and it brings back many happy memories for me. Merry Christmas to all.
Ann Bishop curious is this sort of an UK hymn. reason i asked, i never herd of it till i starteing re-reading some Susan Cooper books set in England and Wales, and one of the characters and his famiy go caroling and they mention this song so i checked it out
jennifur sun I love the UK hymns, especially O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green is the best tune ever).
FAITH in UK! 🇬🇧
Concur.
Merry Christmas from Edinburgh Scotland
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. Today (December 28, Christmas 1), I played this as the Hymn of the Day. It is #269 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
mkl62 you play the organ! Congratulations! I used to play the piano but switched to organ in 1988. It is much more resonant and mellifluous.
The treble soloist has a round voice and faultless pitch , and the choir is wonderful. Well done!
Yes, he is quite remarkable.
Get this - the Choir Master picks who sings that solo just minutes before the performance. Any of them can sing it with just as much perfection. THis is THE most disciplined choir in the world.
Is he not soprano?,a little too rounded for my ear,the vowels seem to get lost somewhat.
@@banzospod perfect pitch matters, distortion of vowels are common
Has to be my favourite Christmas hymn as it describes so well why we celebrate Christmas, because God gave his only child Jesus Christ to us. God bless everyone at this Christmas time.
I shall always have a place in my soul for this carol. I'm not a Christian and I walked away from Christmas many years ago. But when I was in my secondary school orchestra we always played OIRDS as our opener for the Christmas concert. No guarantee of Christmas future for me but lots of happy memories of Christmas past. And it is a very beautiful, stirring melody as well.
Merry Christmas.
Christmas has come to mean many things I detest. But this hymn always makes me remember that Love and Goodness are rare and wonderful gifts.
br
tyreburster even when I went through my atheist phase I still loved traditional hymns and carols. Especially O Little Town of Bethlehem set to the tune FOREST GREEN.
Oh friend, come back, come back! More carols for you, and cookies too.
Understand too well the many reasons to walk away. But the One reason to return was placed in that little manger so long ago. Don't let the face of the church distract you from the Face of that little One. Ditto to the reply from Julianne Wiley.
I was Lead Soprano of my High School Choir and was lucky enough to open our annual Carol Service in Southwark Cathedral in London with this. It was one of the proudest moments of my life!!
SUCH A LOVELY MEMORY.
👏🏻🌟🎼🙂
My FAITH is as strong as ever in 2019! Jake from UK
🇬🇧
I get so emotional every time I hear this! 😢
One of the most stirring carols ever written.Since childhood I have always loved this carol.
The choir from King's performs it beautifully.
Those ready to abandon their religion should be given pause when considering what beauty the religious impulse has engendered. There must be something to it all if it can cause a mind, a heart, and a voice to do this.
this is sooo good. i swear kings college are the best choir out there.....they really capture the element of peace and tranquility in the hymns they sing. absolutely love it!!!
mchudi91 they ARE the best.
mchudi91 yes, they are definitely the best choir ever! Maybe someday I will be brave enough to get on an airplane and visit Cambridge. I don't like to fly because my ears pop badly.
Around Xmas time 1963 I attended a newly built school in the Suburb of Mickleover Derby. The headmaster Mr Warren was a musical genius and he assembled an award winning choir. At Xmas time the choir walked into a newly built church singing this carol, the memory of that night and the beautiful music still lives with me nearly sixty years on.
May the spirit of Christmas rest In our minds, as we reflect on Christ's awesome love, and sacrifice.
Grace of Christ be with us always.
listening in September
TheKobetube I listen to KCC carols all year, they're too beautiful to just listen to for one month. Especially O Little Town of Bethlehem set to the Forest Green tune, which IS THE BEST.
Beautiful absolutely glorious, thank you. The wonder of the Nativity put into such beautiful, appealing words.
My daughter was born this year. 10 years old now. Merry Christmas!
Christmas starts with this carol, I live opposite a church and it blends so well together. Happy Christmas everyone
Wonderful carol sung by one of the top choirs on the planet.No choir can perform this carol better than King's.
William Ripley not only "one of" the top choirs; THE top choir, in the most beautiful chapel.
This is lovely music for an elegant procession.
When the young soloist finishes his virtuoso and the full choir sings, it simply stuns me how beautiful the song is.
Hearing the soloist on this carol always gives me goosepimples. It is just so moving, it really gets into your psyche.
bless you for uploading these recordings!
Thank you, my pleasure
That is why I am proud to be British.
MGstaR17 you are lucky.
A perfect processional for Christmas Eve.We have sung this carol at Midnight Mass for many years.
I,m from sarawak ,malaysia,very beautiful hymn.
Goosebumps and tears at the beauty of the sound
Beautiful...my favorite hymn ever
Merry Christmas from America
This is the best!! The beautiful carols draw us closer to God. Thank you very much for posting it.
The young mans voice brings tears to an old mans eyes.
I haven't heard this carol in so long; it was one of my favourites from childhood, and I live in the States now, where it doesn't appear to be well known. I really loved hearing this :)
Jojoseahorse And I prefer English carols myself. FYI: the FOREST GREEN tune is my favorite.
Jojoseahorse my church switches between this and o come all ye faithful for the Christmas procession
I'm 35 and was born here, this is the first time I've ever encountered it.
Merry Christmas everyone. God Bless
oh wow love the descant at the end that really adds gorgeous elements to it.
Watched the latest service on Christmas eve, it must be the most christmassy thing ever, the simplicity of the combination of traditional carols interspersed with the nativity story from its start to its conclusion and read by different people from the college is a real winner.Well done whoever brought it to the screen,if you are christian, or of another faith or have none at all watch this , its excellent.
Baz theblue I listen to it on radio every year.
Another great Carol sung superbly by who other than King`s College Cambridge. great stuff.
I really wonder if atheists, even the most hard-core atheist, I wonder if they would EVER ADMIT to listening to this music and dismiss it as NOT being beautifully created music by hands of man. - MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016 to all.
I grew up C of E, am now an atheist, and have no difficulty acknowledging this as beautifully created music by the hands of man. Many of our greatest cultural works and achievements were created by people for the greater glory of God. The fact that God does not exist in no way diminishes the beauty that they have created.
Stephen Connacher I agree. I went through an atheist phase( years ago) but still loved hymns.
Wonder no longer, my curious friend.
I am a formerly-fundamentalist-Christian atheist. (What is 'hard-core'?)
Of COURSE I listen, and of course it is "beautifully created music by hands of man." As you say.
Glad I could clear that up for you.
Now, here's what I really wonder:
Why did you clearly presume that non-theism renders a person musically tasteless?
Why would you even ask such a question?
"The fact that God does not exist"... Wow, you seem to know more than Hawkins, Einstein & everyone else as none of them have ever claimed that it is a "fact" that God does not exist. Either way, whilst Christianity breeds music like this atheism breeds music like Marilyn Manson. End of debate.
@Chrispin Odinga May you get off your ivory tower. There is no god, there only what you think you are. You have the right , yea, the obligation to create. This is why your brain evolved as it has. This music and the machine that plays behind it are all creations of men who worship a myth, a fairy tale, superstition
Simply incredible! The voices are so rich and pure!
magnificent...!
Calling this my favourite in truth explains nothing. I tremble with joy when I hear this song. I usually only hear it once a year, but this recording brought me back to its melodious power.
Max Holdsworth I tremble with joy at this service too especially O Little Town of Bethlehem to the tune FOREST GREEN.
Preparing to hear this once again in three days' time.
Nine days' time! I expect this year (2020) will be somewhat subdued.
Three years on and just ten days away.
The soloist has the most beautiful voice I've ever heard sing a Christmas Carol.
I've always watch this video every Christmas season cos of his voice
Stunningly beautiful and majestic. I feel the same awe when listening to the amazing duet Andrey Nemzer & Charlene Canty singing CANTICUM FRATRIS SOLIS. Such humility and inspiration!
One of my favourite carols, thanks for posting.
literally crying
Just beautiful every year I listen to this song , the soloist voice is just so breath taken #2020.
fifty three people DISLIKE this video??? That's sooo unfair. KCC is the world's best choir.
My new favourite Christmas Carol :)
delightful, thank you
What a celestial, ethereal and even mystical performance, the best musical performance of this species ever!
A truly majestic performance. Bravo.
That young man has a voice like an organ pipe ! Incredibly beautiful !
Whether "Irby" is serves as the Introit for Nine Lessons and Carols or liturgy this makes Christmas a daily reality as it was intended.
Beautiful.
the descants are heavenly, well done to this amazing choir
Beautiful! Thank you for posting!
The tone of the choristers voices makes this extra rich.
That was an unusually fine solo treble at the beginning. I am always amazed that the soloist does not seize up from stage fright, but they always handle it well.
Chris Halkides so am I. I made mistakes recently in a recording for my friends (not for UA-cam) of me playing my favorite instrument (ORGAN). Yes nerves are perfectly understandable no matter what.
@spiritdei What I love about the tradition of the opening treble solo is that they don't tell the boy he's the soloist until right before he is to sing. There is something fine and solid in that, in service to the congregation -- any of them could do it, and theoretically it could be any one of them, therefore any of them will rise to the call if it comes.
manthasagittarius1 I agree. That's a very interesting way to have the solo. So the boy won't be nervous for days in advance. I'm not a singer, I am an enthusiastic amateur organist, but I still can relate to what you said.
@liberavieve Glad you enjoyed them and I am happy to get them up nice and early! Happy Christmas to you.
God bless you all Blighty...with love always from Canada🍁
🩸
i'm going to listen to this
I used to stay with non christian believe me when play that song they get annoyed very much its so touching good work.
Yes, if you love a very formal church service. So much different what the Protestant Churches of Istanbul/Turkey did. They took their celebration into the streets. That was most INCREDIBLE
christoph Koebel I prefer formal, Episcopal services. I am an Anglophile.
Toit double, toit simple on oublie pas !
RIP les frères
Beautiful hymn
I love it...it's brilliant one! Bless you all... and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2015 people all over the World... Love you all......xx
Gives me chills every time.
I had to sing this solo at school, aged eight my parents didn't show up!
I'm sorry for you. But perhaps you got over it.
Dear Catfeeesh, that is a terrible mistake from your parents. Be aware you sang for the Holy God himself.
Greetings from a headmaster in the Netherlands.
Stunning descant. Cleobury really making the best of his choir. Well done all.
I remember this as song we sung at St. John's School during the Xmas season.
You said it brother. MERRY Christmas
Glorious as this music is....what awaits the believer in the second coming is music unimaginable sung by cherubims and the angelic host. It 's been said that the Angelic Choir Sings J.S. Bach but I believe the Lord Himself listens to Mozart.
Tommy Greenbough how do we know he listens to classical? For all we know, he may prefer heavy metal :p
Tommy Greenbough not Mozart. Handel. he was the best and so was Ralph Vaughan Williams
Merveilleux !
Good job on getting them up so early this year! I never would have thought... This is my favorite, and I agree with liberavieve, he nailed it this year.... Thanks again, and Merry Christmas...
I like this song
I shall be early to get my place in the Queue as I am every year,Rain Hail,Snow or Wind.
I have just left the service...Wonderful as ever..The first without Stephen Cleobury..RIP.Off to the pub now for a few pint of good English Beer...Happy Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all
@jp00w5941 I'm no Christian either, but can't imagine life without 'Once In Royal David's City' and 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.'
robzrob you forgot O Little Town of Bethlehem (tune: FOREST GREEN by Rafe Vaughan Williams)
merry christmas to everyone all the best for 2021
Merry Christmas Jaysa
Perfect, as usual. What a way to start the concert :D
I wish I were grew up in England. :)
i live in England and i got the place to sing it solo in a church
O, I am so sorry to hear that. I always wanted to visit it, e.g. London, Manchester, Liverpool, etc. :( One of my Mum's English friend told us that he liket to old England better.
Richie Rich sad but true
you are lucky you are not there too many mushies
MGstaR17 me too
best christmas song ever
nice solo