As far as carols are concerned, few things evoke Christmas like an Anglican choir... and at the forefront of the Anglican choir tradition is the Choir of King's College, which for 87 years has broadcasted its signature event -- A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols -- every Christmas Eve at 3pm GMT. Although a thoroughly British institution, Christmas celebrations all over the world have made use of this warm and imaginative Christmas accompaniment, which signifies the start of holiday celebrations. In light of the chapel's anniversary, YourClassical honors King's College Chapel's 500th year with a chance to win several pieces of chapel memorabilia.
Among YourClassical's offers are a new DVD of Carols from King's (the new edition based on Thursday's performance), the 2014 CD Favourite Carols from King’s, and a copy of the commemorative book, King’s College Chapel 1515-2015: Art, Music and Religion in Cambridge. In honor of King's College Chapel's 500th year, YourClassical urges all enthusiasts to enter by midnight, Sunday Dec. 27th for a chance to win.
Although A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols has its origins in the 19th Century, having first been performed at the Truro cathedral in Cornwall, King’s College Chapel is perhaps the best recognized setting for its widely broadcast and much anticipated Christmas Eve event. As a British landmark, King’s College Chapel itself is perhaps one of the best-known emblems of the Anglican church -- its now 500-year-old structure having been the setting of numerous TV shows and films. More impressive still, its late Gothic architecture and narrow abbey has shaped a unique choir tradition that is singularly a British innovation.
Sir Andrew Davis, a former King’s College organ scholar, noted: "Although the Chapel’s acoustics -- extremely resonant but with a softness that makes it extraordinary -- also influences the choir’s sound, that halo effect, the King’s sound is quintessentially English, with a purity in the way the boys in particular sing, which could become hooty but never does. The voices are always supremely well blended."
Painstakingly trained in achieving a favorable balance and uniformed inflection, the talents and selectivity of the boys are beyond reproach. In response to 2015's A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, the Telegraph noted that a choir boy is given only 10 second's notice before chosen to begin the event with their own solo. This is done so as to avoid "jealously and unnecessary nerves" among the 9-13 year-olds, but requires all participants to be intimately, and equally, familiar with the material. The 30-piece ensemble has taken part in this event every Christmas Eve since it was initiated in 1918 immediately after WWI by Eric Milner-White, and it has been broadcast annually since 1928 (with the exception of 1930).
With 2015's performance a success amid King's College Chapel's 500th year anniversary, YourClassical honors King's College Chapel by staging a raffle for three pieces of memorabilia pertaining to the chapel’s storied history and musical association. Ten winners will receive a copy of the DVD Carols from King's, ten winners will receive a copy of the CD Favourite Carols from King’s, and two winners will receive a copy of the commemorative book King’s College Chapel 1515-2015: Art, Music and Religion in Cambridge. Either item in this must-have Christmas collection is within reach upon a simple online entrance form. Submissions are accepted until midnight, Sunday Dec. 27th.
Celebrate King's College Chapel's 500th year in your own way and enjoy the audio of Christmas Eve's performance of A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols below to hear what it’s all about. Also enjoy a Merry Christmas from Classicalite.
