The Carol Connection 2
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or
Flash plugin.
Christmas carols across the centuries
We know it as “Good King Wenceslas,” but the carol, written in the mid-1800s, has a tune borrowed from a medieval salute to spring flowers!
In this hour, we'll explore the stories behind this and many other well-known Christmas songs including “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World” and “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen.”
FEATURED RECORDINGS
| Title |
Group/Artist |
Catalog # |
UPC |
| The Carol Album [for Branle L’Officiel, Silent Night, Veni Veni Emanuel] |
Taverner Consort, Choir & Players; Andrew Parrott |
EMI Classics CDC 7498092 |
077774980920 |
| Carols from Trinity [for Ding Dong Merrily on High] |
Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, Robert Marlow |
Conifer 75605 51754 2 |
756055175421 |
| Woods, Women And Wine [for Tempus adest Floridum] |
Joculatores Upsalienses. |
BIS-CD-120 |
7318590001202 |
| From Heaven Above [for Good King Wenceslas] |
Deller Consort |
RCA Victrola VICS-1376 |
[From LP, no USC] |
| Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas [for In Dulci Jubilo] |
Chanticleer |
Chanticleer Records 8803 |
899653002055 |
| Songs of Angels [for Good Christian Men Rejoice, Deck the Halls] |
Robert Shaw Chamber Singers |
Telarc CD-80377 |
089408037726 |
| Rejoice! – A String Quartet Christmas [track 1 for ‘Joy to the World’ instrumental & break music, and track 13 for ‘Wenceslas’ promo] |
Arturo Delmoni, Alexander Romanul, Katherine Murcock, Nathaniel Rosen |
John Marks Records 12 |
717794709629 |
| Handel: Messiah [for Glory to God & Comfort Ye] |
Dunedin Consort & Players, John Butt |
Linn Records CKD 285 |
691062028523 |
| Nativity : Christmas Music From Georgian England [for Joy to the World] |
Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra, Peter Holman |
Hyperion CDA67443 |
034571174433 |
| The Colors of Christmas [for Joy to the World] |
Bach Choir, Royal Phil-harmonic Orchestra; John Rutter |
Decca 001609202 |
602527822129 |
| Christmastide [for Adeste Fidelis] |
Jessye Norman |
EMI Classics 49819 |
077774981927 |
| Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale [for God Rest You Merry Gentlemen] |
Robert Shaw Chorale |
RCA DMC2-1217 |
[none] |
| The Chalice Well: English Traditional Music [for Doves Figary] |
Idlewild |
Idlewild Recordings 19891 |
634479042966 |
| While Shepherds Watched [for Wesley Rondo] |
Timothy Roberts, Parley of Instruments |
Hyperion CDA67443 |
034571174433 |
| Vaughan Williams: Christmas Music [for The First Nowell] |
City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox |
Chandos CHAN 10385 |
095115138526 |
| Puer Natus in Bethlehem [for Corde Natus] |
Elmer Iseler Singers |
CBC Records 1165 |
059582116524 |
| Traditional Christmas Carols Vol II [for Of the Father’s Heart Begotten] |
The Sixteen |
Coro COR16085 |
828021608520 |
| A Christmas Festival [for Nos Galan] |
Elin Manahan Thomas, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; John Rutter |
Collegium Records COLCD 133 |
040888013327 |
| O Come, All Ye Faithful |
New York Choral Artists, Joseph Flummerfelt |
EMI Classics CDC 7499082 |
077774990820 |
