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Essential Classics Mix: Christmas Carols

Christmas Music Christmas Chill

Two hours of your favourite choral carols to keep you company whatever you are doing over the festive season, whether you are wrapping presents, decorating the Christmas tree, or just relaxing by the fire.

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Music Played

  • Henry John Gauntlett

    Once In Royal David's City

    Choir: Royal Choral Society. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Conductor: Anthony Inglis.
    • A Classical Christmas.
    • RPO.
    • 117.

  • Trad.

    The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came (arr. E. Pettman for choir)

    Composer: Edgar Pettman. Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha.
    • Advent Live.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1201.

  • Trad.

    On Christmas Night, "Sussex Carol" (arr. D. Willcocks for choir)

    Composer: Sir David Willcocks. Choir: Armonico Consort. Conductor: Christopher Monks.
    • On Christmas Night.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 601.

  • Trad.

    O come all ye faithful

    Ensemble: Choir of New College Oxford. Conductor: Edward Higginbottom.
    • Regis.

  • Trad.

    Silent Night

    Choir: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Singers. Conductor: Graham Ross.

  • The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys

    God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

    Conductor: Gerre Hancock.

  • William James Kirkpatrick

    Away in a Manger

    Singer: Robert Stringer. Choir: Worcester Cathedral Choir. Performer: Raymond Johnston. Conductor: Donald Hunt.
    • Christmas Carols.
    • Naxos.
    • 7.

  • Trad.

    Sans Day Carol

    Orchestra: Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge. Choir: Clare College Singers. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • The original Carols from Clare.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 212.

  • Trad.

    O Little Town of Bethlehem (Arr. Vaughan Williams/Simcock)

    Choir: Westminster Cathedral Choir. Music Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams. Music Arranger: Iain Simcock. Lyricist: Phillips Brooks. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • Adeste fideles: Christmas Music from Westminster Cathedral.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

  • Elizabeth Poston

    Jesus Christ the apple tree

    Choir: Belfast Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Matthew Owens.
    • Resonus.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (with fanfare)

    Composer: John Rutter. Composer: Sir David Willcocks. Performer: John Birch. Performer: John Rutter. Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Choir: The Bach Choir. Director: David Hill. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • The Colours of Christmas.
    • Decca Records.
    • 023.

  • Gustav Holst

    In the bleak midwinter

    Ensemble: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Singers. Conductor: Owain Park.

  • Anonymous

    In Dulci Jubilo (Piae Cantiones)

    Music Arranger: Belinda Sykes. Ensemble: Joglaresa.
    • Sing We Yule.
    • Joglaresa.
    • 006.

  • Trad.

    The holly and the ivy

    Performer: Simon Bell. Performer: Frances Kelly. Music Arranger: Henry Walford Davies. Choir: Winchester Cathedral Choir. Director: Andrew Lumsden.
    • Christmas from Winchester: Winchester Cathedral Choir.
    • Regent.
    • 3.

  • Trad.

    I Saw Three Ships (arr. D. Willcocks for choir)

    Choir: Chapel Royal Choir. Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Conductor: Huw Tregelles Williams.
    • Adeste Fideles - Christmas Carols from Her Majesty's Chapel Royal.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1401.

  • Trad.

    Good King Wenceslas

    Choir: The Sixteen. Lyricist: John Mason Neale. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.

  • Lowell Mason

    Joy to the world

    Performer: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Performer: Martin Baker. Lyricist: Isaac Watts. Conductor: Martin Neary. Music Arranger: John Rutter.

  • Anon.

    Veni, veni, Emmanuel - Advent hymn [French missal]

    Choir: Gabrieli Consort. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.

  • Errollyn Wallen

    Peace on earth

    Performer: Dónal McCann. Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Singer: George Hill. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Errollyn Wallen: Peace on Earth.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
    • 1.

  • Anon.

    Gaudete

    Conductor: Owen Rees. Ensemble: Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford.
    • Carols from Queen's.
    • AVIE Records.
    • 11.

  • Trad.

    Ding dong! Merrily on high (arr Wood)

    Ensemble: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Singers. Conductor: Owain Park. Music Arranger: Charles Wood.

  • Trad.

    The First Nowell: The first Nowell

    Choir: Choir of York Minster. Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Conductor: Francis Jackson.
    • On Christmas Night.
    • Chandos.
    • 101.

  • Trad.

    While Shepherds Watched

    Ensemble: The King’s Singers.
    • Christmas With The Stars.
    • EMI TV.
    • 9.

  • Andrew Carter

    A maiden most gentle

    Performer: Richard Pearce. Ensemble: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Singers. Conductor: Owain Park.

  • Trad.

    We Three Kings

    Music Arranger: Kevin Mayhew. Choir: Chichester Cathedral Choir.
    • Christmas Traditions.
    • Classic Fox Records.
    • 15.

  • Mykola Leontovych

    Carol Of The Bells

    Choir: St Paul's Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Andrew Carwood.
    • Carols With St. Paul's Cathedral Choir.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 8.

  • Adolphe Adam

    O holy night (Minuit, chretiens)

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Choir: The Bach Choir. Music Arranger: John Rutter.
    • The Colours of Christmas.
    • DECCA.
    • 15.

  • Trad.

    Angels from the Realms of Glory

    Music Arranger: Philip Ledger. Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.

  • Trad.

    See Amid The Winter's Snow

    Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Choir: Choir of York Minster.
    • Cathedral Christmas.
    • Classic Fox Records.
    • 9.

  • Gustav Holst

    Masters in This Hall

    Performer: Robert Quinney. Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • The Complete Traditional Christmas Carols Collection.
    • CORO.
    • 25.

  • Edmund Sears

    It came upon the midnight clear

    Ensemble: St Mary's Cathedral Choir Glasgow. Conductor: Frikki Walker.
    • Midwinter.
    • OxRecs DIGITAL.
    • 16.

  • Trad.

    Wexford Carol

    Composer: Dale Warland. Performer: Eric Plutz. Choir: St. John's Cathedral Boys and Girls' Choir. Choir: St. John’s Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Donald Pearson.
    • Choral Music - Wade, J. / Rutter, J. / Grainger, P. / Head, M. / Leontovitch, M..
    • Delos.
    • 1501.

  • Michael Praetorius

    Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen (arr. J. Whitbourn as A Great and Mighty Wonder for chorus)

    Choir: Westminster Williamson Voices. Conductor: James Jordan. Music Arranger: James Whitbourn.
    • Whitbourn: Carolae – Music for Christmas.
    • Naxos.
    • 1201.

  • Trad.

    Past three a'clock

    Music Arranger: John Rutter. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • The original Carols from Clare.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 208.

  • Trad.

    Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection from The Sixteen.
    • Coro.
    • 15.

  • Trad.

    Quelle est cette odeur agreable? (Whence is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing?)

    Composer: Graham Barber. Performer: Darius Battiwalla. Choir: Huddersfield Choral Society. Conductor: Joseph Cullen.
    • The Carols Album.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 801.

  • Peter Warlock

    Bethlehem Down

    Choir: Westminster Cathedral Choir. Director: James O’Donnell. Lyricist: Bruce Blunt.
    • Adeste Fideles: Christmas music from Westminster Cathedral.
    • Hyperion.
    • 14.

  • Anon.

    How Far Is It to Bethlehem? (Arr. Rice)

    Conductor: Stephen Layton. Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Music Arranger: Robert Rice.
    • Yulefest! - Christmas Music & Carols from Trinity College Cambridge.
    • Hyperion.
    • 16.

  • Royal Scottish National Orchestra

    The Twelve Days of Christmas

    Choir: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus.