What is Britain's favourite Carol?
This was the burning topic we were discussing on this morning's show, in my opinion it would have to be Carol Vorderman, however before I get put on the naughty step by the editor for being silly, I better explain that I meant Britain's favourite Christmas carol.
In a close-run poll carried out by BBC Music Magazine, the carol that hit the number one spot and was voted ahead of well-known favourites including Once in Royal David's City, Ding Dong Merrily on High and Silent Night was....
In the Bleak Midwinter
A bit of a surprise in my opinion, I'd rather hear a burst of 'O Come All Ye Faithful' while I munch on a mince pie. But I'm not arguing with the 51 directors of music who voted.
To accompany the results of the poll, we were lucky enough to be joined in the studio by Cantabile - a London Quartet. They've given over 2,000 live performances and this morning they huddled around a microphone in the Breakfast studio and sung 28 different carols for us, in 2 and a half minutes. Yes, 28 carols in 2 and a half minutes.
Have a listen to the performance below and see how many carols you recognise.
And if you were wondering what other songs made the top 10, have a look below.
1. In the Bleak Midwinter
2. In Dulci Jubilo
3. A Spotless Rose
4. Bethlehem Down
5. Lully, Lulla
6. Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day
7. There is No Rose
8. O Come All Ye Faithful
9. Of the Father's Heart Begotten
10. What Sweeter Music
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I like the brass instrument above but am puzzled. No one is playing fair. Tuba La Belles. Behave someone is told but if they do - they are made unwell. If the stop behaving - ditto. If the do NOT behave - ditto.
My Favourite Carol is Vorderman but she doesn't add up - at the moment - to me at least and I was mesmerised by the Andrew Marr grilling of the Home Secretary and thought - say what?
And Paddy O'Connell quite rightly treading most carefully on the eggshells in the questioning of a horrific childhood on BH just now.
And in another case - every day they seemingly call for standard issue hobnail boots.
Silent Knight?
Deep and Crisp and Even. Look out, good king.
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Subject: Magpie vow wheeze bib
Anagram: Behave Zombie Pew Wig
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When the top (voted by musicians/conductors/etc ?) Christmas carol was announced on 27th November, the commentator appeared to be surprised a) at the choice, and b) because "In The Bleak Mid-Winter" was, relatively, little known. The indication given was that this splendid carol (words by Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894, sung to "Cranham", by Gustav Holst, 1874-1934) had only been discovered recently; probably by a current, top, British conductor.
This wonderful carol does, in fact, feature in many hymn books, including the one in use, in the early 1950's at Christ's Hospital School (Horsham, Sussex), a compilation begun in 1937 and published in 1949, after revision by Dr R Vaughan Williams, OM. It was one of the favourites of W C M Cochrane, choir & music Master at CH and, hence, featured in the School Carol Services and on the recordings of those carols by the school choir.
I hope that the famous conductor, Sir Colin Davis, voted for "In The Bleak Mid-Winter" in the recent poll. If so, he may have gone back to favourites from his school days.
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Apparently they chose the setting by Harold Darke not that by Gustav Holst.
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