The Carol Connection 2
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Christmas carols across the centuries
A familiar and lively tune first appears in a book of French dances written in the 1500s. Four centuries later, it was turned into a Christmas carol.
In the next hour, the story behind this and other songs of Christmas—including one that began as a celebration of spring flowers, and the original—and very different—“Silent Night.”
FEATURED RECORDINGS
CD Title |
Group/Artist |
Catalog # |
UPC |
The Carol Album [for Branle L’Officiel, Silent Night, Veni Veni Emanuel] |
Taverner Consort, Choir & Players; Andrew Parrott |
EMI Classics CDC 7498092 |
077774980920 |
Carols from Trinity [for Ding Dong Merrily on High] |
Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, Robert Marlow |
Conifer 75605 51754 2 |
756055175421 |
Woods, Women And Wine [for Tempus adest Floridum] |
Joculatores Upsalienses. |
BIS-CD-120 |
7318590001202 |
From Heaven Above [for Good King Wenceslas] |
Deller Consort |
RCA Victrola VICS-1376 |
[From LP, no USC] |
Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas [for In Dulci Jubilo] |
Chanticleer |
Chanticleer Records 8803 |
899653002055 |
Songs of Angels [for Good Christian Men Rejoice, Deck the Halls] |
Robert Shaw Chamber Singers |
Telarc CD-80377 |
089408037726 |
Rejoice! – A String Quartet Christmas [track 1 for ‘Joy to the World’ instrumental & break music, and track 13 for ‘Wenceslas’ promo] |
Arturo Delmoni, Alexander Romanul, Katherine Murcock, Nathaniel Rosen |
John Marks Records 12 |
717794709629 |
Handel: Messiah [for Glory to God & Comfort Ye] |
Dunedin Consort & Players, John Butt |
Linn Records CKD 285 |
691062028523 |
Nativity : Christmas Music From Georgian England [for Joy to the World] |
Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra, Peter Holman |
Hyperion CDA67443 |
034571174433 |
The Colors of Christmas [for Joy to the World] |
Bach Choir, Royal Phil-harmonic Orchestra; John Rutter |
Decca 001609202 |
602527822129 |
Christmastide [for Adeste Fidelis] |
Jessye Norman |
EMI Classics 49819 |
077774981927 |
Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale [for God Rest You Merry Gentlemen] |
Robert Shaw Chorale |
RCA DMC2-1217 |
[none] |
The Chalice Well: English Traditional Music [for Doves Figary] |
Idlewild |
Idlewild Recordings 19891 |
634479042966 |
While Shepherds Watched [for Wesley Rondo] |
Timothy Roberts, Parley of Instruments |
Hyperion CDA67443 |
034571174433 |
Vaughan Williams: Christmas Music [for The First Nowell] |
City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox |
Chandos CHAN 10385 |
095115138526 |
Puer Natus in Bethlehem [for Corde Natus] |
Elmer Iseler Singers |
CBC Records 1165 |
059582116524 |
Traditional Christmas Carols Vol II [for Of the Father’s Heart Begotten] |
The Sixteen |
Coro COR16085 |
828021608520 |
A Christmas Festival [for Nos Galan] |
Elin Manahan Thomas, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; John Rutter |
Collegium Records COLCD 133 |
040888013327 |
O Come, All Ye Faithful |
New York Choral Artists, Joseph Flummerfelt |
EMI Classics CDC 7499082 |
077774990820 |