General:

Jonathan Edwards introduces an evening of candlelit carols from the stunning setting of Lichfield Cathedral. There's a chance to sing along with some old favourites, including O come all ye faithful, O little town of Bethlehem and Hark! the herald angels sing. Brigit Forsyth and Chris Walker tell the story of the first Christmas, OperaBabes sing their version of In the bleak midwinter and Angelis perform O Holy Night. All the music and readings were recorded at Lichfield Cathedral Address: The Close, Lichfield, Staffs, WS13 7LD Main Tel: 01543 306100 Canon Precentor: The Rev. Charles Taylor http://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/ The Songs of Praise conductor was Paul Leddington Wright and our music adviser was Robert Prizeman. Lichfield Cathedral Choir was conducted by Cathedral Organist and Master of the Choristers, Philip Scriven. Our organist was Cathedral Assistant Organist, Alex Mason. The Blessing of the Crib and prayers during 'Silent Night' were given by The Right Rev. Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield. The Prayer and Blessing were given by the Very Rev. Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield Cathedral.

Interviews:

There were no interviews in this programme.

Music:

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL Tune:Adeste Fideles Music:Possibly by John F. Wade (c1711-86) Words:Latin 18th cent. possibly John F. Wade (c1711-86) tr. Frederick Oakeley (1802-80)and others Arranged by:Paul Leddington Wright for this programme and not available commercially Performed by:The Cathedral Choir (conductor Philip Scriven) and Congregation of Lichfield Cathedral with organist Alex Mason, brass quintet Fine Arts Brass, Timps player Tony Ayres and conducted by Paul Leddington Wright LONG AGO, PROPHETS KNEW Tune: Personent hodie Music:Melody from Piae Cantiones 1582 Words: F. Pratt Green b. 1903 Arranged by: Darius Battiwalla for this programme and not available commercially Performed by: The Cathedral Choir (conductor Philip Scriven) and Congregation of Lichfield Cathedral with organist Alex Mason, brass quintet Fine Arts Brass, Timps player Tony Ayres and conducted by Paul Leddington Wright O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM Tune:Forest Green Music: English Traditional Melody Words:Phillips Brooks (1835-93) altd. Arranged by:Darius Battiwalla for this programme and not available commercially Performed by: The Cathedral Choir (conductor Philip Scriven) and Congregation of Lichfield Cathedral with organist Alex Mason, brass quintet Fine Arts Brass, Timps player Tony Ayres and conducted by Paul Leddington Wright SILENT NIGHT Tune:Stille Nacht Music:F. X. Gruber(1787-1863) Words:Joseph Mohr (1792-1848) tr. Stopford A. Brooke (1832-1916) altd Performed by:Lichfield Cathedral Choir, conducted by Philip Scriven Vocal arrangement : Paul Leddington Wright for this programme and not available commercially THE FIRST NOWELL Tune:The First Nowell Music:From W. Sandys' Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, 1833 Words:English Traditional Arranged by:Robert Ramskill for this programme and not available commercially Performed by:The Cathedral Choir (conductor Philip Scriven) and Congregation of Lichfield Cathedral with organist Alex Mason, brass quintet Fine Arts Brass, Timps player Tony Ayres and conducted by Paul Leddington Wright HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING Tune: Mendelssohn Music: F. Mendelssohn (1809-47) Words:Charles Wesley 91707-88) altd. Arranged by:Paul Leddington Wright for this programme and not available commercially Performed by:The Cathedral Choir (conductor Philip Scriven) and Congregation of Lichfield Cathedral with organist Alex Mason, brass quintet Fine Arts Brass, Timps player Tony Ayres and conducted by Paul Leddington Wright TOMORROW SHALL BE MY DANCING DAY Composer:John Gardner Publisher:OUP Performed by: Lichfield Cathedral Choir, conducted by Philip Scriven and accompanied by organist Alex Mason. IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER Tune:Cranham Music: Gustav Holst (1874-1934) Words:Christina Rossetti (1830-94) altd. Performed by:OperaBabes accompanied by violins Noel Vine and Merith Godwin-Greer, viola Louise Hawker, cello Jonathan Kitchen and piano Paul Harris Arranged by:Noel Vine for this programme and not available commercially O HOLY NIGHT Composer:Adolphe Adam Performed by:Anglelis (Available on Angelis' CD - details below) INCIDENTAL MUSIC Over Jonathan's opening piece to camera Track:Ding Dong Merrily on High CD:Carols for Brass CD no:CD QS 6035 Label:Academy Sound and Vision/Quicksilva Performed by:The Gaillard Brass Ensemble

Locations:

All music and readings filmed at Lichfield Cathedral

Other Information:

READINGS Isaiah 7: 13-14 Luke 2: 1-7, 8-12, Matthew 2: 1-5, 9-12 Read by actors Brigit Forsyth and Chris Walker Brigit's agent is Barbara Pemberton at Pemberton Associates. Tel: 0161 235 8440 www.pembertonassociates.com Chris' agent is Lucy Doyle at Creative Artists Management (CAM). Tel: 020 7292 0600 www.cam.co.uk OPERABABES Performed 'In the Bleak Midwinter'. OperaBabes are Rebecca Knight and Karen England. They were discovered by a talent scout whilst busking in 2001 in Covent Garden to support their singing lessons and were invited to perform at the FA and UEFA Cup Finals that same year. They have recently performed with Placido Domingo at Los Angeles Opera. Their recent second CD is called 'Renaissance'. They have just completed a UK tour but will be performing live again in the spring of 2007. www.operababes.com ANGELIS Performed 'O Holy Night'. Angelis are Sam Adams Nye, Natalie Grace Chua, Camilla Seale, Moray West, Amy Dow and Joe Martin. O Holy Night appears on their debut CD 'Angelis' (Syco Music/SonyBMG) which was released on the 6th November this year. www.angelis-music.com MUSICIANS Our musicians accompanying the congregation were:- Fine Arts Brass. Contact: Simon Lenton http://www.fineartsbrass.co.uk/ Timps:Tony Ayres Our musicians accompanying OperaBabes were:- Noel Vine Violin Merith Godwin-Greer Violin Louise Hawker Viola Jonathan Kitchen Cello Paul Harris Piano