Carols From King's: The Stories of Our Favourite Carols from King's College

by Alexandra Coghlan

The exquisite sound of a lone chorister singing Once in Royal David’s City amid the candlelit chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, marks the start of the Christmas festivities for millions of people round the globe. Broadcast at 3pm on Christmas Eve, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols provides a precious moment of tranquillity amongst the bustle of the festive season.Take a journey through the fascinating history of carols, from the very first - sung by the angels to the shepherds at Bethlehem - to anecdotes from contemporary King's choristers. Learn how carols have evolved from pagan songs to become one of our nation's most sacred treasures. Accompanied by lyrics and music and compiled in conjunction with Radio 4 and King’s College Chapel, Carols From King’s is the official companion for fans of Christmas and carols alike.

Genres: Christmas, Music, Nonfiction, History

224 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2016

Reviews

[George McCombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The annual broadcast of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, has become part of the Christmas pageantry that is dear to many people in the United Kingdom and beyond. Some will say Christmas begins when they hear the lone chorister angelically singing the first line of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. It often comes as a surprise to discover that this quintessentially Anglican service is a fairly modern creation, dating back to the early 20th Century. But how much do we actually know about the origins of many of the traditions that are part of our annual Christmas celebrations? In this delightful book, Alexandra Coghlan takes a look at the history of Christmas carols, festive musical traditions and the association they have found with the aforementioned Cambridge College.

This was an extremely pleasant book to read and contained the right balance of interesting history, fun trivia and Christmas cheer that made it a perfect accompaniment in days leading up to the 25th December. I personally found out a great deal, not least finally having an explanation for the meaning of the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ and the bizarre partridge in a pear tree, and why carol singers demand with such insistence on having figgy pudding after wishing us a Merry Christmas. The place such music has found in our church services, and especially in the magnificent chapel of King’s College, is explored taking into account the rather messy relationship England has historically had with the festive season. Interviews with people associated with the College chapel today give a personal testimony to the continuing importance of Christmas music both to those who listen to it and those who perform it.

Alexandra Coghlan has was written a jolly book that will help any reader to look with even greater fondness on our beloved Christmas carols and enter more fully into the spirit of Christmas.

[Derek Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice advent read of the history of the Christmas Carol told through the prism of King's College and it's place in the tradition of the modern day Christmas. King's Festival Of Nine Lessons and Carols is the starting point of Christmas for many people, a quiet moment of contemplation on Christmas Eve. This is story of the Carol taking us right back to Saturnalia and Yule, from lords of misrule to angelic choirboy, from the wassailers through the trenches of the First World War into the cloisters of King's.

Coghlan covers how the carols developed, how Christmas evolved and changed to become what it is today. Within this we get the parallel story of King's College in brief and especially through the influential directors of music.

[Jeff Howells · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Or it does after reading this book. It’s a short, accessible history of Christmas carols with particular reference to the Christmas Eve tradition ‘Nine Lessons & Carols’ from Kings College Cambridge. As I’ve got older it’s become a part of Christmas that typifies to me the spirit of the season and I do like to watch it. I’d recommend this book wholeheartedly as a way to kick off the countdown to Christmas.

[David Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an enjoyable short read on the history of Christmas carols, from mediaeval and Tudor traditions through the Victorian Christmas, the influence of the famous King’s College carol service, to modern day carols.

[John Coke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Undemanding. Passes the time.