Carols

[poliphilo]

According to the BBC- which was broadcasting a concert of the nations top ten carols from The Albert Hall- the nation's number one favourite is "O Holy Night". What! Where on earth did that come from? It wasn't anybody's favourite when I was a vicar. Ailz and my mother said they'd never even heard of it.

Michael Ball sang it . He turned it into musical theatre. Mostly it sounded like Lloyd Webber but with a twiddly bit in the middle that was pure Arthur Sullivan.

I don't hate it, but it's too syrupy for my taste.

My favourite carols (in no particular order)

The Coventry Carol
Adam Lay Ybounden
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (which really is Arthur Sullivan)
The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came (aka Most Highly Flavoured Lady)
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
I Saw Three Ships
The Holly and the Ivy

My least favourite carol- because it's interminable- is While Shepherds Watched.

Comments

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

I’m left wondering how few carols I actually know. ^_^; I suppose I’ve simply never been much of a religious sort (I tried making sense of the concept, and failed), so I’m left with just the remnants thereof, largely from my schooldays, which had a bit of a CofE slant to them.

I do admire the passions music can inspire, nonetheless. ^_^ Silent Night remains a particular favorite - quite a simple melody, simple lyrics, but helpful in putting one’s mind at ease.

O Holy Night I’m not sure I’ve ever heard. Is it a recent creation?