Essential Carols: The Very Best of King's College Choir, Cambridge

Disc 1
1	Festgesang "Hark! The her
2	The first nowell
3	While shepherds watched t
4	I saw three ships
5	Ding Dong! Merrily on hig
6	King Jesus hath a garden
7	In dulci jubilo
8	Unto us is born a son
9	Adeste fideles
10	Away in a manger
11	O little town of Bethlehe
12	The holly and the ivy
13	God rest ye merry, gentle
14	See amid the winter's sno
15	Past three o'clock
16	Christmas Oratorio, BWV 2
17	Adam lay ybounden
18	Gabriel's message
Disc 2
1	Once in Royal David's Cit
2	On Christmas Night "Susse
3	Rocking Carol
4	Rejoice and be merry
5	Cherry Tree Carol
6	The Three Kings
7	As with gladness men of o
8	A great and mighty wonder
9	The infant king
10	Balulalow
11	Crown of Roses
12	Christ was born on Christ
13	Blessed be that Maid Mary
14	Lute-book lullaby
15	Myn lyking
16	Personent hodie, H 135 no
17	In the bleak mid-winter
18	Lully, lulla, thow littel
19	Shepherds in the field ab
20	Torches
21	Fantasia on Christmas Car
Essential Carols: The Very Best of King's College Choir, Cambridge
1.	Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (adapted by W. H. Cummings from Mendelssohn's Festgesang for the Gutenberg Festival) 3:42
	Composed by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston, Andrew Davis and Andrew Creswell Davis
2.	The First Nowell (English) 4:53
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston, Andrew Davis and Andrew Creswell Davis
3.	While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Tune: Winchester) 3:15
	Composed by Christopher Tye
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston, Andrew Davis and Andrew Creswell Davis
4.	I Saw Three Ships 2:11
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston, Andrew Davis and Andrew Creswell Davis
5.	Ding Dong! Merrily on High (French) 2:08
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
	Additional Notes: arranged by Wood
6.	King Jesus Hath A Garden (Dutch) 4:02
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
	Additional Notes: arranged by Wood
7.	In dulci jubilo (Pić Cantiones) 3:44
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
	Additional Notes: arranged by Pearsall
8.	Unto Us Is Born A Son (Puer nobis nascitur; Piae Cantiones, 1582) 1:58
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
	Additional Notes: arranged by Willcocks
9.	O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fidelis) 4:18
	Composed by John Francis Wade
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
10.	Away in a manger (Tune: Cradle Song) (New English Hymnal 22) 2:31
	Composed by William James Kirkpatrick
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
11.	O Little Town of Bethlehem 3:11
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
12.	The Holly and the Ivy (English) 3:30
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
13.	God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (English) 3:28
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
14.	See Amid the Winter's Snow 4:00
	Composed by John Goss
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
15.	Past Three O'clock, carol (English) 2:34
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
16.	Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Invitatory 1:37
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
17.	Adam Lay Y-Bounden, carol 1:26
	Composed by Boris Ord
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
18.	Gabriel's Message (Basque) 2:45
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
19.	Once in Royal David's City 5:35
	Composed by Henry John Gauntlett
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
20.	Sussex Carol ("On Christmas Night") 1:58
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
21.	Little Jesus Sweetly Sleep 1:43
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
22.	Rejoice and Be Merry 1:51
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
23.	The Cherry Tree Carol 1:52
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
24.	The Three Kings 2:46
	Composed by Peter Cornelius
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
25.	As With Gladness, Men of Old 3:24
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
26.	A Great And Mighty Wonder 3:14
	Composed by Michael Praetorius
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
27.	The infant King (Basque) 3:22
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
28.	Balulalow, for voice & piano 2:18
	Composed by Peter Warlock
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
29.	Legend (When Jesus Christ was but a child), song for voice & piano or orchestra (16 Children's Songs), Op. 54/5 2:18
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
30.	Christ was born on Christmas day (German) 2:24
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
31.	Blessed Be That Maid Marie (English) 2:38
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
32.	Swete Was the Song the Virgine Soong 2:04
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
33.	Myn Lyking 2:57
	Composed by Richard Runciman Terry
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
34.	Personent Hodie (On this day Earth shall ring) (Piae Cantiones) 2:38
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
35.	In the Bleak Midwinter 4:51
	Composed by Harold Darke
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
36.	Coventry Carol (2) Lully, Lulla Thou Little 2:15
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
37.	Shepherds, In the field abiding (Tune: French) 3:04
	Composed by Christmas Traditional
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
38.	Torches 1:33
	Composed by John Joubert
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis
39.	Fantasia on Christmas Carols for baritone, chorus & orchestra 11:38
	Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams
	Performed by David Willcocks, Hervey Alan, Choir of King's College, Cambridge, London Symphony Orchestra, Simon Preston and Andrew Creswell Davis

Barnes & Noble

Some albums are tailor-made for Christmas Eve listening, the cozy musical equivalent of a roaring fire, a mug of eggnog, and the bright lights on the tree. The morning of Christmas Day requires something else entirely, and that's when this set of Essential Carols from the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, will fit the bill, with the angelically pure voices of young British choristers blending to the strains of traditional carols both familiar and little-known. This is Christmas music sung the old-fashioned way, its simplicity and spiritual warmth not compromised by big operatic voices or pop personalities. Recorded under the direction of David Willcocks between 1959 and '65, these performances sound truly timeless today, and no matter how knowledgeable you are about Christmas music, you'll find some surprises among these 38 carols. Scott Paulin

All Music Guide

The two-disc Essential Carols: The Very Best of King's College Choir, Cambridge, finally puts much of the Choir's and conductor David Willcocks' recordings of traditional holiday music into one package. This music is what made the Choir famous, and, since the beginning of the compact disc era, has been available scattered over various compilations. For those who are serious about Christmas music, this album really is an essential. Although the recordings date from the early '60s, they still stand as a benchmark for later albums of similar music by other choirs. These are familiar English carols (plus a few adopted into the English tradition), music that would be used in services or other church-related events, sung a cappella or with organ accompaniment as they would be for those proceedings. The one exception is the final "Fantasia on Christmas Carols," by Ralph Vaughan Williams, performed with the London Symphony Orchestra. Because the Choir sings for services daily, there is a reverence for the meaning and spirit of the music that isn't always found in holiday music collections. There is also a warmth in and a care for its ensemble work that represents a high level of musicianship from men and boys who are not necessarily studying to become professional musicians. This isn't something anyone would learn from the liner notes. All that Decca chose to put in the booklet was a track listing, as it would for a regular compilation album, which is something of a slight to Willcocks, the Choir, and the music, but at least these recordings are widely accessible again. Patsy Morita