The great thing about Christmas is that you know lots of good things will happen. You know that pretty lights will start popping up all over the place. You know you'll get a holiday from school. You're probably ready to eat a special meal and to see family and friends. All these things are part of what we call a tradition. Christmas is a big tradition - it celebrates the birth of Jesus. People who want to celebrate this do it in different ways. But whatever happens, there is always music!
Can you imagine Christmas without music? Part of the fun is hearing things that are only played at Christmas and at no other time of year - carols that make you think of the end of term, or the holidays, or bobble hats; songs that make you think of food, or snow, or stockings. Here are some of the most popular carols, as well as some other surprises... Merry Christmas!
Tracks and credits:
1. Gauntlett: Once in Royal David's City
Featuring: Stringer, Robert; Worcester Cathedral Choir; Johnston, Raymond; Hunt, Donald - Composer: Gauntlett, Henry John (1805-1876) - Lyricist: Alexander, Cecil Frances - Conductor: Hunt, Donald - Choir: Worcester Cathedral Choir - Artist: Stringer, Robert; Johnston, Raymond - Performer: Hunt, Donald; Worcester Cathedral Choir; Stringer, Robert; Johnston, Raymond
2. Hopkins Jr.: We Three Kings of Orient Are (arr. A. Pitts for vocal ensemble)
Featuring: Forbes, Joanna; Oswald, Kathryn; Eteson, Richard; Tonus Peregrinus; Chalmers, Nicholas; Pitts, Antony - Composer: Hopkins Jr., John Henry (1820-1891) - Lyricist: Hopkins Jr., John Henry - Arranger: Pitts, Antony - Conductor: Pitts, Antony - Choir: Tonus Peregrinus - Artist: Forbes, Joanna; Oswald, Kathryn; Eteson, Richard; Chalmers, Nicholas - Performer: Pitts, Antony; Tonus Peregrinus; Forbes, Joanna; Oswald, Kathryn; Eteson, Richard
3. Sans Day Carol (arr. J. Rutter for choir)
Featuring: Tewkesbury Abbey Choir; Sackett, Andrew - Composer: Traditional - Lyricist: Traditional - Arranger: Rutter, John - Conductor: Sackett, Andrew - Choir: Tewkesbury Abbey Choir - Performer: Sackett, Andrew; Tewkesbury Abbey Choir
4. Bernard: Winter Wonderland (arr. for orchestra)
Featuring: Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra; Hayman, Richard - Composer: Bernard, Felix (1897-1944) - Arranger: Anonymous - Conductor: Hayman, Richard - Performer: Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra; Hayman, Richard
5. The Holly and the Ivy (arr. H.W. Davies for choir)
Featuring: Tewkesbury Abbey Choir; Sackett, Andrew - Composer: Traditional - Lyricist: Traditional - Arranger: Davies, Henry Walford - Conductor: Sackett, Andrew - Choir: Tewkesbury Abbey Choir - Performer: Sackett, Andrew; Tewkesbury Abbey Choir
6. Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Chorus: For unto us a Child is born (1751 Version)
Featuring: Oxford New College Choir; Academy of Ancient Music; Higginbottom, Edward - Composer: Handel, George Frideric - Lyricist: Bible - New Testament - Conductor: Higginbottom, Edward - Choir: Oxford New College Choir - Performer: Academy of Ancient Music; Higginbottom, Edward; Oxford New College Choir
7. Corelli: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8, 'Christmas Concerto': II. Allegro
Featuring: Capella Istropolitana; Krček, Jaroslav - Composer: Corelli, Arcangelo (1653-1713) - Conductor: Krček, Jaroslav - Performer: Capella Istropolitana; Krček, Jaroslav
8. King Jesus hath a Garden
Featuring: Elora Singers, The; Edison, Noel - Composer: Traditional - Lyricist: Traditional - Conductor: Edison, Noel - Choir: Elora Singers, The - Performer: Edison, Noel; Elora Singers, The
9. Good King Wenceslas (arr. R. Jacques for choir)
Featuring: Tewkesbury Abbey Choir; Sackett, Andrew - Composer: Traditional - Lyricist: Neale, John Mason - Arranger: Jacques, Reginald - Conductor: Sackett, Andrew - Choir: Tewkesbury Abbey Choir - Performer: Sackett, Andrew; Tewkesbury Abbey Choir
10. Pierpont: Jingle Bells (arr. P.
