Categories: uncategorized
Date: 18 December 2011 22:23:52
The Festival of Lessons and Carols always starts Christmas off for me, even though these days we have alternative readings, from Luke and Titus (no more 'In the beginning was the word', etc.). The chancel had only plain candles and I didn't spot any flammable incidents with the greenery around the nave candles this year.
There was hardly any room for the choir to stand at the back of the church for the solo first verse of 'Once in Royal David's City', as over 500 people were packed into the pews and additional chairs brought in for the occasion.
As well as a selection of traditional congregational carols, the choir sang 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' (arr. Willcocks), 'A Maiden most Gentle' (arr. Carter), 'Nativity Carol (Rutter), 'Silent Night' (arr. Sweeney) and 'Shepherd's Pipe Carol' (Rutter). We ended with the Rutter arrangement of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', which is hammed up as much as possible, and drew delighted applause from the congregation (something choirs very rarely experience in a church service). Applause was once again freely given at the end of the voluntary ('Von Himmel Hoch,' Garth Edmundson), by our guest organist for the evening.
All Ruttered out, we then proceeded to demolish some delicious chocolate tray bakes provided by one of our altos, who well understands that we need serious sustenance after special occasions.