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Noel: Christmas at King's | 
 enlarge | Creators: Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Cornelius, Harold Darke, Henry John Gauntlett, John Goss, John Joubert, Conrad Kocher, Felix Mendelssohn, Lewis Redner, Cambridge King's College Choir
Label: Decca
Category: Music
List Price: $17.98
Buy New: $9.30
You Save: $8.68 (48%)
New (28) Used (16) from $5.09
Rating:  7 reviews
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 444848
UPC: 028944484823
EAN: 0028944484823
Release Date: October 17, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Sir David Willcocks, Mendelssohn, Felix | | • | The First Nowell | | • | While Shepherds Watched | | • | I Saww Three Ships | | • | Ding, Dong! Merrily on High | | • | King Jesus Hath a Garden | | • | In Dulci Jubilo - Sir David Willcocks, Bach, Johann Sebast | | • | Unto Us Is Born a Son | | • | O Come All Ye Faithful - Sir David Willcocks, Oakeley, Frederick | | • | Away in a Manger - Sir David Willcocks, Kirkpatrick, Willia | | • | O Little Town of Bethlehem - Sir David Willcocks, Brooks, Phillip | | • | The Holly and the Ivy | | • | God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen | | • | See Amid the Winter's Snow | | • | Pass Three O'Clock |
Disc 2
| • | Once in Royal David's City - Sir David Willcocks, Gauntlett, Henry Jo | | • | The Sussex Carol - Sir David Willcocks, Williams, Vaughan | | • | Rocking | | • | Rejoice and Be Merry | | • | Joseph Was an Old Man | | • | The Three Kings - Sir David Willcocks, Cornelius, Peter | | • | As With Gladness Men of Old - Sir David Willcocks, Kocher | | • | A Great and Mighty Wonder | | • | The Infant King | | • | Balulalow - Sir David Willcocks, Warlock, Peter | | • | The Crown of Roses - Sir David Willcocks, Tchaikovsky | | • | Christ Was Born on Christmas Day | | • | Blessed Be That Maid Mary | | • | Lute-Book Lullaby | | • | Myn Lyking - Sir David Willcocks, Terry | | • | Personent Hodie | | • | In the Bleak Mid-Winter - Sir David Willcocks, Darke, Harold | | • | Coventry Carol | | • | Shepherds, in the Field Abiding | | • | Torches - Sir David Willcocks, Joubert, John | | • | Fantasia on Christmas Carols - Sir David Willcocks, Williams, Vaughan |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Excellent compilation of traditional carols September 7, 2008
M. Peever (North Carolina)
Noel---Christmas at King's has become the de facto standard of carols at our house. It really is an excellent collection of Christmas carols. In fact, the only real blemish on this album is that there is discernible noise in some tracks: I had to examine the CD when I first heard them, and realized the recordings on these discs are more than forty years old: they were recorded from 1959 to 1965.
But venerable recording technology and associated sound artifacts aside, this album is a collection of superb renditions of classic Christmas carols.
One strength is the size of the collection: 36 carols on two discs. And as others have pointed out, these carols are an English selection: there are several on these discs I hadn't previously heard in America. Some we have over here too: "Hark! the herald angels sing" or "Ding, dong! merrily on high"; but the vast majority are songs I've only heard on English recordings, like "See amid the winter's snow" and "Joseph was an old man".
And of course, this is King's College Choir: the strength of the actual performance goes without saying. The choir of King's College is renowned for their carols, and with good reason. There are other excellent performers and recordings in this genre, but King's College Choir has maintained their status as the standard for many years.
The two discs contain a wide variety of classical carols, including an amazing rendition of "Hark! the herald angels sing" (with stunning descant in the last verse); "See amid the winter's snow" with precise and beautiful harmonies; a rousing recording of "Rejoice and be merry"; "Unto us is born a son"; a solid performance of "In the bleak midwinter"; and a stirring "Personent hodie".
Noel is a Christmas album: it's compiled from several Anglican services. Like much (by no means all) holiday music I have, it's overtly Christan. If you're looking for something more neutral, there are several excellent holiday music collections; but this one is overtly devout. And frankly, even if you're not looking of the devout persuasion, this album is worth a listen just for the excellent choral music.
Noel---Christmas at King's is one of my "top shelf" Christmas albums. I find myself listening to it throughout the year, enraptured anew by the beauty of the voices on it.
 Heavenly Christmas...... December 11, 2007
Jay C (sacramento)
Ever wonder what it's like to be in church on Christmas day?
This recording is Possibly the best Choral recording of it's kind. The sound is exquisite with the extraordinary acoustics of their chapel. I especially enjoy both the organ and the choir together. If you have a quality subwoofer you will especially enjoy this recording due to the lows the organ hits.
The Choir owes its existence to King Henry VI, who envisaged the daily singing of services in his magnificent chapel. 14 choral scholars and two organ scholars, who study a variety of subjects in the College.I have heard several Choral recordings but this one stands out as one of the best. If you are looking for a very traditional choral arrangements for Christmas look no further.
Christmas Carols at there best October 18, 2005
NY Hobbit (OH)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It does not get any better. This 2 cd set is outstanding.
As one reviewer notes the second disk has many carols not heard by most people in the USA. I heard them growing up, but most are hard to find on an album.
Christmas is not Christmas without King's College Choir singing carols.
A great collection... :)
 Nice Christmas CD January 10, 2004
R. E. Belfrey (Atlanta, GA United States)
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
In my haste for looking for some traditional and exuberant Christmas music, and in my blinding affinity for all things "King's", I purchased this cd. It is a nice compelation, although I, and I daresay many Americans, am not very familiar at all with most of the hymns/carols on the 2nd cd. Morever, I found most of the music lacking in pomp and circumstance. Of course, now, I understand that is not what this cd set is for. If you want big sound and more familiar tunes, try something else.
The Best Christmas CD Ever December 18, 1999
L. Crow (United States)
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
If you are seeking a CD of traditional Christmas music to help you 1) focus on the true meaning of the holiday and 2)draw near to God, this is it. The choral arrangements are alternately beautiful and powerful, delicate and majestic. There is a rich heritage of European carols which 99% of Americans know nothing of. Broaden your horizons with this disc. You won't regret it.
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