Which is the most haunting/beautiful Christmas carol or song?

[A580Hojas]

I like the melodic slightly melancholy ones. Something in a minor key maybe?

Hmmm I may be able to persuade DH that is a good Christmas present!

In the Bleak Mid Winter

There's a very beautiful arrangement of Away In A Manger by Reginald Jacques which is so lovely that it makes me want to cry. DS1's choir sang it in the chapel of Jesus College one Christmas a few years ago and I sobbed like a baby, which is most unlike me

Should have put a link to a video (not DS) m.youtube.com/watch?v=XRl_gG2A3Bk

flamingnoravera Did you go to school in South Cheshire? Both of those carols bring back lovely memories....sung every year.

Jesus Christ the apple tree.

Gives me goosepimples like a pimply goose.

Gaudete sadly now just makes me think of Alan Partridge

@Bubblysqueak - could the word be Magnificat? That is the liturgical word for what Mary said when the angel told her she was to bear Jesus, and is part of the story of Christmas - specifically advent.

I love Oh Holy Night but on the whole carols have been overdone for me by too many years of interminable carol concerts and lengthy church services. Although a good descant can bring a tear to even my jaded eye.

But I love secular Christmas songs like Fairytale of New York, Last Christmas and All I Want for Christmas is You. And Bruce Springsteen singing Santa Claus is coming to Town is just joyful.

Iwannabelovedbyyou I'm another one who loves the Charterhouse Carol (although I can never reach the top notes). We used to sing it at school.

@Bubblysqueak - this is an Amazon link - track 13 is the Bach Magnificat that came to my mind first. I hope this is helpful.

We have an annual Chilcott/Rutter argument in this house at the beginning of December.

I love A Christmas Lullaby, and the Carol of the Children.

The previous musical director of the choir I was in wanted to do a Christmas concert one year with no Rutter whatsoever. He wanted to call it “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Rutter!”

Not haunting as such but heart wrenching. And a classic Aussie Christmas song. Paul Kelly's 'How to make gravy'

m.youtube.com/watch?v=fh79619xxk8

My favourites in the ‘hauntingly beautiful ‘ category are Shepherd‘s farewell and Angel Gabriel from heaven came.

She and Him, have yourself a merry Christmas. Her voice is amazing and the whole Christmas album is delightful (I love Zooey Deschenel)

In the Bleak Mid Winter (although they probably didnt have snow in Bethlehem !)
The Little Drummer Boy
See amid the winter's Snow

'Solstice Bells' (not a christian carol but its an evocative song and the theme of the song have been around before Christianity)

My modern fave is 'Stop the Cavalry' pity it can be played year in year out and its still relevant.

Nowisthemonthofmaying I came on to say Bethlehem Down. Followed by In the bleak mid winter (Darke)

For congregational carols, It came upon a midnight clear and O little town of Bethlehem.

I LOVE this thread. I'm listening to Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium
just now. Having sung it many times myself somehow moves me even more. It's as if I'm 'in' the music. I can't perform any longer and this makes me very sad. Maybe I'll get back to things one day.

I also love A Spotless Rose and Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. And - bit left field this- but Rachmaninov's Bogoroditse Devo is exquisite when it 'opens' up. And the harmonies!

Oh and the Darke version of In the Bleak... gorgeous. So many happy memories of singing this next to my mum who would be singing the solo verse. Stunning.

So many of my favourites have been mentioned already. So I will throw in Scots Nativity by Alan Bullard

m.youtube.com/watch?v=vdy7C2QYUgw

Altos get a fair crack of the whip in this one ;-)

I have sung the Rachmaninov Bogoroditse Devo - it was an amazing piece to perform - getting to let loose your inner dramatic Russian! And sitting in front of the basses, revelling in their singing!

Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar (sung by King's College chapel choir, with soloist, always makes the hair on the back of my neck prickle. It's haunting.
Usually on R4 Christmas morning on the Carole from Kings programme.

Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar
Changing my vote to this!