1954: A Festival of Lessons and Carols Carols from King's

ORGAN MUSIC PLAYS

The crucifer and choristers enter the antechapel,

the nave in King's College Chapel, here in Cambridge.

A college founded by Henry VI, who ordained

that in the family of King's,

there should always be 16 boys

to sing as choristers with the grown men.

When, in a few moments' time,

one of these choiristers reads the first lesson,

you will see surmounting the lectern

a small bronze figure of the king who laid

the first stone of this chapel just over 500 years ago.

The crucifer and choristers joined now by the choral scholars,

full undergraduate members of the college

and members too of one of the great choirs of the world.

And now follow the Chaplain, the two denes, clerical and lay,

who are responsible for the conduct of the services,

and the Vice-Provost.

And finally, preceded by a chapel clerk bearing the mace,

comes the head of the college - the Provost.

MUSIC: Once In Royal David's City

-UNACCOMPANIED:

-# Once in royal David's city

# Stood a lowly cattle shed

# Where a mother laid her baby

# In a manger for His bed

# Mary was that mother mild

# Jesus Christ her little child

UNACCOMPANIED, HARMONY: # He came down to earth from heaven

# Who is God and Lord of all

# And His shelter was a stable

# And His cradle was a stall

# With the poor and mean and lowly

# Lived on earth our Saviour holy

ORGAN AND CONGREGATION JOIN IN: # And our eyes at last shall see him

# Through His own redeeming love

# For that child so dear and gentle

# Is our Lord in heaven above

# And he leads His children on

# To the place where He is gone

# Not in that poor lowly stable

# With the oxen standing by

# We shall see Him but in heaven

# Set at God's right hand on high

# Where like stars His children crowned

# All in white shall wait around. #

Beloved in Christ, let us prepare ourselves

to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem

and to see the child lying in a manger.

Let us read and mark the story of God's loving purposes

and of the glorious redemption brought us by this holy child

and let us make this chapel,

dedicated to his pure and lowly mother,

glad with our songs of praise.

But first, let us pray for peace and goodwill over all the Earth.

For unity and brotherhood at home and in Her Majesty's dominions.

And because this would rejoice His heart of love,

let us remember before God the cold, the hungry and the oppressed.

The sick and those that mourn.

The lonely and the unloved.

The aged and the little children

All those who know not the Lord Jesus

or who love him not.

And those who rejoice with us

but upon another shore and in a greater light.

The Almighty God bless us with His grace,

Christ give us the joys of everlasting life

and unto the fellowship of the citizens above,

may the King of Angels bring us all.

CONGREGATION: Amen.

MUSIC: Christmas Oratorio, Part II, No. 11-12 by JS Bach

-SOLO:

-# And there were shepherds in the same country

# Abiding in the field

# Keeping watch over their flocks by night

# And, lo, an angel of the Lord stood by them

# And the glory of the Lord shone round about them

# And they were sore afraid

# And the angel said to them

-SOLO:

-# Be not afraid, behold

# I bring you good tidings of great joy

# Which shall be to all the people

# For today is born to you

# In the city of David, a Saviour

# Which is Christ the Lord

UNISON: # Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light

# And usher in the morning

# Ye shepherds, shrink not with affright

# But hear the angel's warning

# This child, now weak in infancy

# Our confidence and joy shall be

# The power of Satan breaking

# Our peace eternal making. #

God announces in the Garden of Eden

that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head.

And they heard the voice of the Lord God

walking in the garden in the cool of the day.

And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God

amongst the trees of the garden.

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, "Where art thou?"

And he said, "I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid

"because I was naked and I hid myself."

And He said, "Who told thee that thou wast naked?

"Hast thou eaten of the tree,

"whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?"

And the man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me,

"she gave me of the tree, and I did eat."

And the Lord God said unto the woman, "What is this that thou hast done?"

And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."

And the Lord God said unto the serpent,

"Because thou hast done this,

"thou art cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field.

"Upon thy belly shalt thou go,

"and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,

"and between thy seed and her seed.

"It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Thanks be to God.

MUSIC: Up! Good Christen Folk And Listen

UNISON: # Ding-dong, ding-dong Ding-a-dong-ding

# Ding-dong, ding-dong Ding-a-dong-ding

# Up! Good Christen folk and listen

# How the merry church bells ring

# And from steeple bid good people

# Come adore the newborn King

# Tell the story, how from glory

# God came down at Christmastide

# Bringing gladness, chasing sadness

# Show'ring blessings far and wide

# Born of mother, blest o'er other

# Ex Maria Virgine

# In a stable, 'tis no fable

# Christus natus hodie

# Ding-dong-ding Ding-a-dong-a-ding

# Ding-dong, ding-dong Ding-a-dong-ding. #

MUSIC: In Dulci Jubilo

UNACCOMPANIED, HARMONY: # In dulci jubilo

# Let us our homage shew

# Our heart's joy reclineth

# In praesepio

# And like a bright star shineth

# Matris in gremio

# Alpha es et O

# Alpha es et O

# O Patris caritas

# O Patris caritas

# O Nati lenitas

# O Nati lenitas

# Per nostra crimina

# Per nostra crimina

# Per nostra crimina

# Coelorum gaudia

FULL, HARMONY: # O that we were there

# O that we were there

# O that we were there

-# O Jesu parvule

-# O Jesu parvule

# O puer optime

# Ubi sunt gaudia

# Nova cantica

# Nova cantica

# In Regis curia

# O that we were there

# O that we were there

# O that we were there

-# There are angels singing

-There are angels singing

-# There the bells are ringing

-There the bells are ringing

# There the bells are ringing

# In Regis curia

# O

# That we were there

# O that we were there. #

The angel Gabriel saluteth the blessed Virgin Mary.

And in the sixth month,

the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto

a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph,

of the house of David.

And the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her and said,

"Hail thou that art highly favoured.

"The Lord is with thee.

"Blessed art thou among women."

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying.

And cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her,

"Fear not, Mary.

"For thou hast found favour with God.

"And behold thou shalt conceive in thou womb and bring forth a son.

"And shalt call his name Jesus.

"He shall be great.

"And shall be called the son of the highest.

"And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.

"And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever.

"And of his kingdom there shall be no end."

And Mary said,

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

"Be it unto me according to thy word."

And the angel departed from her.

Thanks be to God.

MUSIC: Hail! Blessed Virgin Mary

UNISON: # Hail! Blessed Virgin Mary

# For so when He did meet thee

# Spake mighty Gabriel

# And thus we greet thee

# Come weal, come woe

# Our hymn shall never vary

# Hail! Blessed Virgin Mary

# Hail! Blessed Virgin Mary

# Ave, ave Maria

# To gladden priest and people

# The angelus shall ring

# From every steeple

# To sound his virgin birth

# Alleluia

# Ave, ave Maria

# Ave, ave Maria

# Archangels chant Hosanna

# And, Holy, Holy, Holy

# Before the infant born of thee

# Thou lowly

# Aye-maiden child of Joachim and Anna

# Archangels chant Hosanna

# Archangels chant Hosanna. #

St Matthew telleth of Christ's holy birth.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.

When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph.

Before they came together,

she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph, her husband,

being a just man

and not willing to make her a public example,

was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things,

behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying,

"Joseph, thou son of David,

"fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife.

"For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

"And she shall bring forth a son.

"And thou shall call his name Jesus.

"For he shall save his people from their sins."

Now, all this was done.

But it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet.

Saying, "Behold a virgin shall be with child.

"And shall bring forth a son.

"And they shall call his name Emmanuelle."

Which being interpreted is, 'God with us.'

Thanks be to God.

MUSIC: A Virgin Most Pure

-UNACCOMPANIED:

-# A virgin most pure as the prophets do tell

-HARMONY:

-# Hath brought forth a baby as it hath befell

-# To be our Redeemer

-Redeemer

TREBLES, ALTOS AND TENORS: # From death, hell and sin

# Which Adam's transgression had wrapped us in

FULL, ACCOMPANIED: # Aye, and therefore be you merry

# Rejoice and be you merry

# Set sorrows aside

# Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide

-UNACCOMPANIED:

-# In Bethlehem Jewry a city there was

-HARMONY:

-# Where Joseph and Mary together did pass

-# And there to be taxed

-To be taxed

# With many one more

# For Caesar commanded the same should be so

FULL, WITH ORGAN: # Aye, and therefore be you merry

# Rejoice and be you merry

# Set sorrows aside

# Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide

-UNACCOMPANIED:

-# But when they had entered

# They entered

FULL: # The city so fair

WITH ORGAN: # The number of people so mighty was there

UNACCOMPANIED: # That Joseph and Mary

TREBLES AND ALTOS: # Whose substance was small

FULL: # Could find in the inn there no lodging at all

# Aye, and therefore be you merry

# Rejoice and be you merry

# Set sorrows aside

# Christ Jesus our Saviour

# Was born on this tide

TENORS AND BASSES, UNISON: # Then were they constrained

# In a stable to lie

WITH ORGAN: # Where horses and asses they used for to lie

-UNACCOMPANIED:

-# Their lodging so simple they took it no scorn

ALTOS: # Took it no scorn

FULL: # But against the next morning our Saviour was born

WITH ORGAN: # Aye, and therefore be you merry

# Be merry

WITH DESCANT: # Rejoice and be you merry

# Set sorrows aside

# Christ Jesus our Saviour

# Was born on this tide. #

The shepherds go unto the manger.

And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them

and the glory of the Lord shone roundabout them.

And they were sore afraid and the angel said unto them,

"Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy

"which shall be to all people.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,

"which is Christ the Lord."

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph

and the babe lying in a manger.

Thanks be to God.

MUSIC: While Shepherds Watched

UNISON: # While shepherds watched their flocks by night

# All seated on the ground

# The angel of the Lord came down

# And glory shone around

HARMONY: # Fear not, said he for mighty dread

# Had seized their troubled minds

# Glad tidings of great joy I bring

# To you and all mankind

# To you in David's town this day

# Is born of David's line

# A Saviour who is Christ the Lord

# And this shall be the sign

# The heavenly babe

# You there shall find

# To human view displayed

# And meanly wrapped

# In swathing bands

# And in a manger laid

# Thus spake the seraph

# And forthwith

# Appeared a shining throng

# Of angels praising God

# Who thus addressed their joyful song

UNISON WITH DESCANT: # All glory be to God on high

# And to the earth be peace

# Goodwill hence forth

# From heaven to men

# Begin and never cease. #

The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.

Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea

in the days of Herod the king

behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,

"Where is He that is born King of the Jews?

"For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled,

and all Jerusalem with him.

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said,

"Go and search diligently for the young child

"and when ye have found him bring me word again

"that I may come and worship him also."

When they had heard the king, they departed

and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them,

till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house,

they saw the young child with Mary, His mother,

and fell down, and worshipped him

and when they had opened their treasures,

they presented unto Him gifts -

gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Thanks be to God.

MUSIC: Three Kings From Persian Lands Afar

# Three kings from Persian lands afar

# How brightly shines the morning star

-# To Jordan follow the pointing star

-How brightly shines the morning star

# And this the quest of the travellers three

# With grace and truth from heav'n afar

# Where the newborn King of the Jews may be

# With grace and truth from heav'n afar

# Full royal gifts they bear for the King

# Our Jesse tree now bloweth

# Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering

# Our Jesse tree now bloweth

# The star shines out with a steadfast ray

# Of Jacob's stem and David's line

# The kings to Bethlehem make their way

# Of Jacob's stem and David's line

# And there in worship they bend the knee

# For Thee, my Bridegroom King divine

# As Mary's child in her lap they see

# For Thee, my Bridegroom King divine

# Their royal gifts they show to the King

# My soul with love o'erfloweth

# Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering

# My soul with love o'erfloweth

-# Thy word

-Thou child of man

-# Thy word

-Lo, to Bethlehem

-# Jesu

-The kings are travelling

-# Jesu

-Travel with them

-# Inly feeds us

-The star of mercy, the star of grace

# Rightly leads us

# Shall lead thy heart to its resting place

# Life bestowing

# Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring

-# Praise, O praise

-Offer thy heart to the infant King

-# Such love o'erflowing

-Offer thy heart! #

MUSIC: Sing Lullaby

UNISON: # Sing lullaby

# Lullaby baby, now reclining

# Sing lullaby!

# Hush, do not wake the Infant King

# Angels are watching stars are shining

# Over the place where He is lying

# Sing lullaby

# Sing lullaby

# Lullaby baby, now a-sleeping

# Sing lullaby

# Hush, do not wake the Infant King

# Soon comes the cross the nails, the piercing

# Then in the grave at last reposing

# Sing lullaby

# Sing lullaby

# Lullaby is the babe awaking

# Sing lullaby

# Hush, do not stir the Infant King

# Dreaming of Easter gladsome morning

# Conquering death its bondage breaking

# Sing lullaby. #

St John unfoldeth the great mystery of the incarnation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by Him

and without Him was not anything made that was made.

In Him was life and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness

and the darkness comprehended it not.

He was that true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us -

and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father -

full of grace and truth.

Thanks be to God.

-HE CHANTS:

-# The Lord be with you

ALL CHANT: # And with my spirit

# Let us pray

# Almighty God

# Who hast given us thy only-begotten Son

# To take our nature upon him

# And as at this time to be born of a pure virgin

# Grant that we, being regenerate

# And made thy children by adoption and grace

# May daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit

# Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ

# Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever

# One God, world without end

ALL CHANT: # Amen

# May He who by his incarnation

# Gathered into one things earthly and heavenly

# Grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill

# And the blessing of God Almighty

# The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost be amongst you

# And remain with you always

ALL CHANT: # Amen. #

MUSIC: O Come All Ye Faithful

ALL: # O come all ye faithful

# Joyful and triumphant

# O come ye

# O come ye to Bethlehem

# Come and behold Him

# Born the King of angels

# O come, let us adore Him!

CHOIR, EXCEPT BASSES: # O come, let us adore Him!

ALL: # O come, let us adore Him

# Christ the Lord!

# God of God

# Light of light

# Lo! He abhors not the virgin's womb

# Very God

# Begotten, not created

# O come, let us adore Him!

# O come, let us adore Him!

ALL: # O come, let us adore Him

# Christ the Lord!

UNISON: # See how the shepherds summoned to his cradle

# Leaving their flocks draw nigh with lowly fear

# We too will thither hend our joyful footsteps

# O come, let us adore Him

CHOIR, EXCEPT BASSES: # O come, let us adore Him

ALL: # O come, let us adore Him

# Christ the Lord!

UNISON: # Sing, choirs of angels

# Sing in exultation

# Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above

# Glory to God in the highest

# O come, let us adore Him

# O come, let us adore Him

# O come, let us adore Him

# Christ the Lord! #