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Christmas Carols: festive favourites to keep you cool and calm

Ring in the festive season with this soothing mix of Christmas carols, from old classics to new recordings.

Ring in the festive season with this soothing mix of timeless Christmas carols. Featuring old favourites including Silent Night, Hark! the Herald, and O Come All Ye Faithful, and other classics from John Rutter and Bob Chilcott, as well as gorgeous newer recordings from Ola Gjeilo, Philip Stopford and Kerensa Briggs.

To listen to more festive tunes on most smart speakers just say β€ask Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sounds to play Christmas Music.β€

For more Mindful Mixes and calming classical music, listen to Radio 3 Unwind on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sounds or search "Mindful Mix".

Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3 Unwind, MM

Release date:

1 month left to listen

2 hours, 60 minutes

Music Played

  • Trad.

    God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

    • Christmas Carols - The Collection - (The Best of The Oxford Trinity Choir).
    • Burgess Entertainment Inc.
    • 6.
  • John Rutter

    Candlelight Carol

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Lyricist: John Rutter. Conductor: John Rutter. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia.
    • The John Rutter Christmas Album.
    • Collegium.
    • 10.
  • Philip Stopford

    Lully, Lulla, Lullay

    Conductor: David Bannister. Ensemble: The Choir of St John's College, Oxford.
    • Lully, Lulla, Lullay.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 1.
  • Kerensa Briggs

    A Tender Shoot

    Ensemble: The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Conductor: Anna Lapwood. Ensemble: Pembroke College Girls' Choir.
    • A Pembroke Christmas.
    • Signum Records.
    • 7.
  • Trad.

    O Little Town Of Bethlehem

    Composer: Phillips Brooks.
    • Carols with St Paul's Cathedral.
    • Decca.
    • 7.
  • Bob Chilcott

    The Shepherd's Carol

    Ensemble: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • In Winter's House.
    • Signum Records.
    • 1.
  • Trad.

    Once in Royal David's City

    Composer: Henry John Gauntlett. Composer: Arthur Henry Mann. Ensemble: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Traditional Christmas Carols & Songs - The Essential Collection.
    • Classical Expressions.
    • 16.
  • Trad.

    Gabriel's Message (Arr. David Willcocks)

    Composer: Sabine Baringβ€Gould. Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks.
    • Naxos Music UK Ltd.
  • Anon.

    The First Nowell (Arr. Ola Gjeilo)

    Choir: Royal Holloway Choir. Lyricist: Anon.. Music Arranger: Ola Gjeilo.
    • Winter Songs.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 3.
  • Trad.

    Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night)

    • Christmas at Trinity.
    • Naxos.
    • 20.
  • Trad.

    Good King Wenceslas

    Music Arranger: James Morgan. Conductor: James Morgan. Music Arranger: Juliette Pochin.
    • Carols Revisited - Christmas with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Singers.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 5.
  • John Rutter

    Shepherd's Pipe Carol

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Lyricist: John Rutter. Conductor: John Rutter. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia.
    • The John Rutter Christmas Album.
    • Collegium.
    • 11.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

    Lyricist: Charles Wesley. Lyricist: George Whitefield. Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks.
    • Nine Lessons & Carols.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
    • 10.
  • Bob Chilcott

    O Emmanuel

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Carol of the Bells.
    • CORO.
    • 27.
  • John Rutter

    All Bells in Paradise

    • Favourite Carols from King's.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
    • 23.
  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    The Evening Star

    Ensemble: The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Conductor: Anna Lapwood. Ensemble: Pembroke College Girls' Choir.
    • A Pembroke Christmas.
    • Signum Records.
    • 18.
  • Michael Praetorius

    Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

    Composer: Jan Sandström. Choir: Elora Festival Singers. Conductor: Noel Edison. Lyricist: Theodore Baker.
    • The Wonder of Christmas.
    • Naxos.
    • 17.
  • Trad.

    Away In A Manger

    • The Christmas Angels.
    • Red Cab Records.
    • 3.
  • Imogen Holst

    Nowell and Nowell

    Ensemble: The Choir of St John's College, Oxford. Conductor: David Bannister.
    • News of Great Joy: Christmas from St John's College, Oxford.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 2.
  • Gustav Holst

    In the Bleak Midwinter

    Choir: Worcester Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Donald Hunt.
    • Celestial Christmas 4: A Special Collection of Seasonal Choral Music.
    • Celestial Harmonies.
    • 5.
  • John Rutter

    Nativity Carol

    • What Sweeter Music: Songs and Carols for Christmas.
    • Signum Records.
    • 17.
  • Anon.

    Wintertide Arr. Ola Gjeilo

    Choir: Royal Holloway Choir. Lyricist: Charles Anthony Silvestri. Music Arranger: Ola Gjeilo.
    • Winter Songs.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 14.
  • Trad.

    The Saviour's Love

    Music Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams.
    • Albion Records.
  • Trad.

    The Holly and The Ivy

    Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: Simon Preston. Lyricist: Trad.. Music Arranger: Henry Walford Davies.
    • Choir of Westminster Abbey - Christmas Carols.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 6.
  • Joanna Marsh

    In Winter's House

    Ensemble: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • In Winter's House.
    • Signum Records.
    • 2.
  • William Chatterton Dix

    What Child is This Arr. Becky McGlade

    Composer: Becky McGlade.
    • Oxford University Press Music.
  • Trad.

    I Saw Three Ships (Arr. Simon Preston)

    Music Arranger: Simon Preston.
    • Favourite Carols from King's.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
    • 17.
  • Lucy Walker

    My Heart, O God

    Ensemble: The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Conductor: Anna Lapwood. Ensemble: Pembroke College Girls' Choir.
    • A Pembroke Christmas.
    • Signum Records.
    • 9.
  • Adolphe Adam

    O Holy Night Arr. John Rutter

    Composer: Luca Genta. Music Arranger: John Rutter.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
  • Edmund Sears

    It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

    Composer: Richard Storrs Willis.
    • Oxford University Press Music.
  • John Tavener

    The Lamb

    • Allegri Miserere.
    • Signum Records.
    • 3.
  • Anon.

    Ding Dong! Merrily on High

    Conductor: John Rutter. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Lyricist: Anon.. Orchestra: Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge. Music Arranger: John Rutter.
    • Carols From Cambridge: The Very Best Sacred Christmas Carols.
    • Decca (UMO).
    • 25.
  • Bob Chilcott

    The Sleeping Child

    Ensemble: VOCES8. Lyricist: Charles Bennett.
    • A Choral Christmas.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 3.
  • Trad.

    The Huron Carol

    • CBC.
  • Trad.

    O Come, All Ye Faithful

    Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks.
    • A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols: The Centenary Service.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
    • 29.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Messiah: Part 1, For unto us a child is born

    Composer: Charles Jennens.
    • Handel: Messiah.
    • Coro.
    • 12.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    Peace on Earth

    • Errollyn Wallen: Peace on Earth.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
    • 1.
  • Bob Geldof

    Do They Know It's Christmas

    Composer: Midge Ure. Music Arranger: James Morgan. Conductor: James Morgan. Music Arranger: Juliette Pochin.
    • Carols Revisited - Christmas with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Singers.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.
  • John Henry Hopkins, Jr.

    We Three Kings of Orient Are

    • The Christmas Box Set.
    • Future Noise Music Ltd..
    • 24.
  • Taylor Scott Davis

    Magnificat: II. Shall I Rejoice

    Ensemble: VOCES8. Conductor: Barnaby Smith. Lyricist: Terry York. Orchestra: VOCES8 Foundation Orchestra. Choir: VOCES8 Foundation Choir.
    • A Choral Christmas.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 6.
  • Joanna Forbes

    A Present for the Future

    • Oxford University Press Music.
  • Trad.

    O, Christmas Tree

    • 100 Christmas Carols & Festive Xmas Hymns - the Very Best Traditional Carols & H.
    • 4:Squared Entertainment.
    • 24.
  • Trad.

    This is the Truth Sent From Above

    Conductor: Edward Higginbottom.
    • Traditional & Modern Carols.
    • Regis Records.
    • 16.
  • Trad.

    While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

    Lyricist: Nahum Tate. Music Arranger: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Favourite Carols from King's.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
    • 18.
  • Franz Xaver Gruber

    Silent Night (Arr. J. Rutter)

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Lyricist: Josef Mohr. Conductor: John Rutter. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Music Arranger: John Rutter.
    • The John Rutter Christmas Album.
    • Collegium.
    • 23.
  • James Burton

    Balulalow

    • Signum Records Ltd.
  • Ulrika Emanuelsson

    Veni, Emmanuel

    Choir: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.
  • Trad.

    Wassail Song

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Carol of the Bells.
    • CORO.
    • 14.
  • Trad.

    Angels From The Realms Of Glory

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection from The Sixteen.
    • Coro.
    • 6.
  • Conrad Kocher

    As with Gladness Men of Old

    Composer: Sir David Willcocks.
    • The Complete Traditional Christmas Carols Collection.
    • CORO.
    • 40.
  • Herbert Howells

    A Spotless Rose

    Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Philip Ledger.
    • Xmas from King's - Christmas Classics.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 18.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Joy to the World

    Composer: Trad.. Ensemble: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Traditional Christmas Carols & Songs - The Essential Collection.
    • Classical Expressions.
    • 11.

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