Peter Cornelius

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  The Three Kings
  Peter Cornelius's The Three Kings, in which a solo tells the journey of the Magi, above the chorale Von Himmel hoch ('How brightly shines the morning star'), is one of the most popular Christmas pieces. It was originally composed as a solo song, and the version with which we are now familiar was made by Elgar's friend and collaborator, the organist Ivor Atkins. This recording was made at a recent Come & Sing outreach project, and baritone soloist Edward Price is accompanied by more than 400 voices.

  More like this: Felix Mendelssohn - Von Himmel Hoch
  Peter Cornelius was one of many 19th-century composers who became infatuated by J.S. Bach, a revival that was largely inspired by Felix Mendelssohn. For his own setting of the chorale Von Himmel hoch Mendelssohn looked to Bach for inspiration. His fugal choral work culminates in Bach's version of the chorale tune.

• More Carols

  • David Briggs - Adam lay y-bounden
  • Carl Rütti - O patre unigenitas
  • Hermione Roff - The Virgin's Song
  • Andrew Simpson - I saw three ships
  • arr Malcolm Archer - Angels from the realms of glory
  • Sir Richard Rodney Bennett - The Holly and the Ivy
  • Sir John Tavener - Cradle Song
  • arr Sir David Willcocks - I saw three ships
  • arr Bob Chilcott - Sussex Carol
  • Richard Lloyd - St Joseph's Carol
  • Francis Pott - Balulalow
  • Alexander Campkin - Sleep, holy babe
  • Bernard Hughes - I am Christmas
  • Kristina Arakleyan - New Year!