This takes me back 45 years or so - it was a perennial favourite at my school, so we performed it each year at the school's carol service at Chelmsford Cathedral - beautiful carol and this version is probably one of the best I've heard
That baritone soloist is amazing, truly awesome. But don't forget the rest of the choir too; those guys do an awesome job. It's this kind of music that inspires the best in all of us!
+Dominic Ryland-Jones 100% agreed. To much vibrato is awfull. It sounds so much more natural, when it is sung with a gentle, little bit of vibrato. This version is in my opinion the best out of the King's College performances, which you can find on youtube. The soloist has such a beautiful voice and tone! I've listen all, but I always return to this one.
The star shines out with a steadfast ray; The kings to Bethlehem make their way, And there in worship they bend the knee, As Mary's child in her lap they see; Their royal gifts they show to the King; Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
I have a wonderful version of this on Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum's latest cd, The Three Kings. In my opinion the freshest Christmas cd for many a long year.
Finally did it yesterday morning and it went fine. I more-or-less sang it the same way as this chap as he was such a superb "model". The only difference was in the pronounciation of Bethlehem, where I keep the same sound for all 3 e's rather than singing Bethleehem. Our music director was so pleased that she's going to include it in the next 9-lessons-and-carols service next December. So my place is secure for the next 11 months haha.
Our music director decided we're going to do this as the anthem for next Sunday's Epiphany service, and I'm to be the one to do the Cornelius (solo) part. It's only today that I tried it out and it'll be a bit of a challenge. However, with the help of this excellent clip I hope to pull it off.
Three kings from Persian lands afar To Jordan follow the pointing star: And this the quest of the travellers three, Where the new-born King of the Jews may be. Full royal gifts they bear for the King; Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
@glendempsey : I totally agree with the idea that keys with many flats sound gentler on our ears because it floats above the natural tones (C,D,E,F etc...).
Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem The kings are travelling, travel with them! The star of mercy, the star of grace, Shall lead thy heart to its resting-place. Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring; Offer thy heart to the infant King.
I'm looking for a specific christmas carol (hymn) it describes the three kings giving their gifts to Jesus and contains the lines "I give my gift of gold" and "you will die, for you, my lord, I cry..." It has a very dramatic mood. This is a carol my mother used to sing with her choir group at a local church. It's the only place I've heard it, and it appears almost impossible to locate online. It is NOT "We three kings of orient are"
The subtlety of this carol is that the choir are singing a whole different set of lyrics to the soloist, e.g. the start "How brightly shines the morning star! With grace and truth from heaven afar. Our Jesse tree now bloweth" etc
OK on my side. However, our choirmaster decided to hold it over to next week as he wasn't quite satisfied the rest of the choir had got their heads sufficiently around the Nicolai (choral) part. We're going to give it another half hour practice this Friday and do it next Sunday. And I was all psyched up too huhu! We did a one of our repertoire numbers, the Wood/Oxley Mater Ora Filium, instead this week.
I wonder what is up with the lone voice we hear from the choir towards the end starting around 1:50.. Almost like the wrong mic being on and then suddenly switched off at 2:13.
King's are excellent - but don't forget some of the other choirs who are truly fantastic - Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic) Choir are brilliant, as are St Paul's, and St John's College, Cambridge.
Living in Cambridge one hears this often sung and invariably without conspicuous vibrato, as performed sensitively here. But in any case, operatic-style vibrato is an anaethema to all church choral music of any vintage in my experience.
I'm doing this as a solo for my school carol concert, but the rest of the choir don't seem to understand what they're supposed to do & keep drowning me out...at least I get a microphone on the night!
• Anthem The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, singing Peter Cornelius' anthem, "The Three Kings" Three Kings from Persian lands afar To Jordan follow the pointing star: And this the quest of the travellers three, Where the new-born King of the Jews may be. Full royal gifts they bear for the King; Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering. How brightly shines the morning star! With grace and truth from heaven afar Our Jesse tree now bloweth. The star shines out with a steadfast ray; The kings to Bethlehem make their way, And there in worship they bend the knee, As Mary’s child in her lap they see; Their royal gifts they show to the King; Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering. Of Jacob’s stem and David’s line, For thee, my Bridegroom, King divine, My soul with love o’erfloweth. Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem The Kings are travelling, travel with them! The star of mercy, the star of grace, Shall lead thy heart to its resting place. Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring; Offer thy heart to the infant King. Thy word, Jesu, Inly feeds us, Rightly leads us, Life bestowing. Praise, O praise such love o’erflowing. Words: Peter Cornelius, trans. H N Bate; Music: Peter Cornelius, arr. Ivor Atkins
@Eurofrank1 unfortunately for some, there is no freedom of speech here on youtube. those who dare would be vilified. but christmas is just around the corner so let's just be cheerful! :)
@hayleynewstead I would personally find a girl's voice too piercing for want of a better word. I just prefer the baritone voice at this pitch to a girl or boy voice an octave up
This takes me back 45 years or so - it was a perennial favourite at my school, so we performed it each year at the school's carol service at Chelmsford Cathedral - beautiful carol and this version is probably one of the best I've heard
I love Rupert's voice, it is so pure from the heart.
Magnificent. Transports me to heaven like a homesick angel.
This takes me back 45 years or so - it was a perennial favourite at my school, so we performed it each year at the school's carol service at Chelmsford Cathedral - beautiful carol and this version is probably one of the best I've heard
Absolutely gorgeous...Rupert Reid is superb and the King's College Choir is, as usual, beyond compare.
Thanks.
i cannot stop hitting the replay button. This is the most amazing hymn sung by a terrific soloist!
That soloist is amazing.
That baritone soloist is amazing, truly awesome. But don't forget the rest of the choir too; those guys do an awesome job. It's this kind of music that inspires the best in all of us!
This is a gorgeous carol and I always enjoy hearing it from King's; this performance seems especially magical...magnificent soloist.
Thanks.
Possibly my favourite piece of Christmas music ever. Sung incredibly beautifully :)
One of my favourite carols - and a beautiful solo!
WOW! I love the smoothness with which the guy goes through the song...magnificent!
That was Brilliant!!!!
Finally!! A version without too much vibrato!! Thank you!!
+Dominic Ryland-Jones 100% agreed. To much vibrato is awfull. It sounds so much more natural, when it is sung with a gentle, little bit of vibrato.
This version is in my opinion the best out of the King's College performances, which you can find on youtube. The soloist has such a beautiful voice and tone! I've listen all, but I always return to this one.
i visit this one every year!
Great carol - and great voice.
I've loved this for years but was unable to find it. Wonderful to hear it again. Many thanks!
Stephen Cleobury...choral director unparalleled in our time...
this is such a beautiful carol, every year we sing it at our school, sadly not as well as this!
One of my favourite carols. Perfectly displayed here.
It seems as if this wonderful christmas song sadly is more often sung in England. Thank you for sharing this brilliant version!
an amazing voice - I love this version and watch every Christmas - thank you!
Beautiful.
my favorite carol of all time. First sang it at school. So moving.
I sang it at school too - it was a perennial favourite
Beautiful song. It's very effective having the choir singing/humming what is basically the notes of the organ accompaniment in the background.
Thank you so much, I love this.
The star shines out with a steadfast ray;
The kings to Bethlehem make their way,
And there in worship they bend the knee,
As Mary's child in her lap they see;
Their royal gifts they show to the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
The best carol ever - love it !
beautiful. sang this song in my christmas play about 30 years ago.
I have a wonderful version of this on Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum's latest cd, The Three Kings. In my opinion the freshest Christmas cd for many a long year.
Quite possibly the best chapel choir anywhere in the world..they does britain proud! when they have an off day they still sound amazing
Wonderful atmosphere...
Finally did it yesterday morning and it went fine. I more-or-less sang it the same way as this chap as he was such a superb "model". The only difference was in the pronounciation of Bethlehem, where I keep the same sound for all 3 e's rather than singing Bethleehem. Our music director was so pleased that she's going to include it in the next 9-lessons-and-carols service next December. So my place is secure for the next 11 months haha.
Lead singer sang beautifully!
Our music director decided we're going to do this as the anthem for next Sunday's Epiphany service, and I'm to be the one to do the Cornelius (solo) part. It's only today that I tried it out and it'll be a bit of a challenge. However, with the help of this excellent clip I hope to pull it off.
Three kings from Persian lands afar
To Jordan follow the pointing star:
And this the quest of the travellers three,
Where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
@glendempsey : I totally agree with the idea that keys with many flats sound gentler on our ears because it floats above the natural tones (C,D,E,F etc...).
Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
The kings are travelling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
Shall lead thy heart to its resting-place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
Offer thy heart to the infant King.
I'm looking for a specific christmas carol (hymn) it describes the three kings giving their gifts to Jesus and contains the lines "I give my gift of gold" and "you will die, for you, my lord, I cry..." It has a very dramatic mood.
This is a carol my mother used to sing with her choir group at a local church. It's the only place I've heard it, and it appears almost impossible to locate online.
It is NOT "We three kings of orient are"
The subtlety of this carol is that the choir are singing a whole different set of lyrics to the soloist, e.g. the start
"How brightly shines the morning star!
With grace and truth from heaven afar.
Our Jesse tree now bloweth"
etc
this is the best version but keeps getting buried by youtube
I think he's wonderful, too, but still second to Stephen Varcoe: ua-cam.com/video/eaZM3eoL1BQ/v-deo.html
I'm moving to Cambridge...
I, too, sang this at school.
OK on my side. However, our choirmaster decided to hold it over to next week as he wasn't quite satisfied the rest of the choir had got their heads sufficiently around the Nicolai (choral) part. We're going to give it another half hour practice this Friday and do it next Sunday. And I was all psyched up too huhu! We did a one of our repertoire numbers, the Wood/Oxley Mater Ora Filium, instead this week.
lumisatmi....a mobile phone went off during that time and the edited it out ....your very perseptive.....
Awesome
back again :)!
Isn't the guy at 1:50 a treble?
Anyway, I think this is one of the most magical pieces of music ever written, and in such a magical setting too.
I wonder what is up with the lone voice we hear from the choir towards the end starting around 1:50.. Almost like the wrong mic being on and then suddenly switched off at 2:13.
Where is this performance? Incredible voice
King's are excellent - but don't forget some of the other choirs who are truly fantastic - Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic) Choir are brilliant, as are St Paul's, and St John's College, Cambridge.
Living in Cambridge one hears this often sung and invariably without conspicuous vibrato, as performed sensitively here. But in any case, operatic-style vibrato is an anaethema to all church choral music of any vintage in my experience.
wounderous , evoces the mystery of the incarnate Savior
I'm doing this as a solo for my school carol concert, but the rest of the choir don't seem to understand what they're supposed to do & keep drowning me out...at least I get a microphone on the night!
We are singing this piece in my university's Camerata Choir, so beautiful! Which cathedral was this taped in?
• Anthem
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, singing Peter Cornelius' anthem, "The Three Kings"
Three Kings from Persian lands afar
To Jordan follow the pointing star:
And this the quest of the travellers three,
Where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
How brightly shines the morning star!
With grace and truth from heaven afar
Our Jesse tree now bloweth.
The star shines out with a steadfast ray;
The kings to Bethlehem make their way,
And there in worship they bend the knee,
As Mary’s child in her lap they see;
Their royal gifts they show to the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
Of Jacob’s stem and David’s line,
For thee, my Bridegroom, King divine,
My soul with love o’erfloweth.
Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
The Kings are travelling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
Shall lead thy heart to its resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
Offer thy heart to the infant King.
Thy word, Jesu, Inly feeds us,
Rightly leads us, Life bestowing.
Praise, O praise such love o’erflowing.
Words: Peter Cornelius, trans. H N Bate; Music: Peter Cornelius, arr. Ivor Atkins
Who was the soloist?
thats why u need a basso cantante
Wonderful, I would have prefered it ½ tone higher -- but nevertheless, a lovely experience, thanks.
*Gasp* Noooo, so much better with men''s voices!
@Eurofrank1 unfortunately for some, there is no freedom of speech here on youtube. those who dare would be vilified. but christmas is just around the corner so let's just be cheerful! :)
@hayleynewstead I would personally find a girl's voice too piercing for want of a better word. I just prefer the baritone voice at this pitch to a girl or boy voice an octave up
this is much lovlier with a girls choir, nevermind!
This takes me back 45 years or so - it was a perennial favourite at my school, so we performed it each year at the school's carol service at Chelmsford Cathedral - beautiful carol and this version is probably one of the best I've heard