Your favourite Christmas carols
4 Dec 2024
Curious to know what would top the charts in the holiday genre for Aotearoa's choral singers, we turned to our Facebook page to ask for our followers' favourite festive pieces.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was quite a range in their responses — so instead of emerging with an outright winner, we've decided to list some of the highlights below. Between the classic favourites and the lesser-known gems that got a shout-out from our followers, you might find something to add to your holiday playlist or to include in your choir's repertoire!
Choirs across Aotearoa have a huge range of holiday concerts planned, so if you're eager to hear some carols live, head to our Concerts & Events page to check out what's going on near you.
And now, for the holiday playlist...
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly — Traditional, arr. Willcocks
This was nominated as a long-time favourite by David Squire. Here's a recording by the Trinity Church Choir, New York.
In dulci jubilo — Traditional, arr. Pearsall
Morag Atchison gave a shout-out to this number, whose Latin title translates to "in sweet rejoicing". Press play for a crisp rendition by UK chamber ensemble, Tenebrae.
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree — Elizabeth Poston
The text of this carol comes from an 18th century poem which first gained popularity as a sung hymn in the Northeastern United States. As Blake Scanlen, who nominated it, says, Poston's setting is "simple but beautiful".
In the Bleak Midwinter — Gustav Holst
Rosemary Tarbotton nominated this favourite of hers, which she called "delicious". We couldn't agree more, despite the fact that it doesn't quite suit us seasonally here in the southern hemisphere!
Bethlehem Down — Peter Warlock
Added to the list by Tim Jackson this carol's modal nature and occasionally chromatic melody bring something a bit moodier to the festive season. (The story goes that Warlock and poet Bruce Blunt were short of money heading into Christmas in 1927, so they composed this to earn enough to buy alcohol, or, in Blunt's words, an "immortal carouse"...)
Here's a radiant recording by Voces8:
O Little Town of Bethlehem — St. Louis version
This one's the "nostalgic" pick of our Chief Executive, Christine Argyle, which seemed to resonate with quite a few others. Here's a piano version with score, ready for a four-part sing-along:
All I Want for Christmas Is You — Mariah Carey
Not a choral pick, sure, but we couldn't just skip over this nomination by Emma Summers (which seemed enthusiastically received by a few others)!
...and plenty of other nominations!
We were delighted to have a young Kiwi composer thrown into the mix: members of Auckland upper-voice ensemble Luminata Voices were enthusiastic about Kitty Milner's arrangement of Pō Mārie, which the choir presented at their Christmas engagements.
Other shout-outs from our followers included The Workers' Carol, a "moving and Dickensian" number nominated by Juliet Dreaver; The Little Road to Bethlehem, a serene pick from Eveline Harvey with a blissful descant; and the tried and true Once in Royal David's City and O Holy Night, nominated by Adrienne Leuchars.
Meri Kirihimete | Merry Christmas and happy holidays from NZCF! Be sure to follow us on Facebook to join the conversation, and subscribe to eBreve, our free monthly newsletter, to stay in the choral loop.