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

[A580Hojas]

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

@bookworm14 I love The Little Road to Bethlehem. I was in a church choir as a teenager and we used to sing it as people were sitting down and getting ready for midnight Mass.

Some beautiful pieces of music on this thread.

I love listening to Once in Royal David’s City when it comes from carols from Kings every Christmas Eve. Will sit and relax with a wee baileys.

@AcrossthePond55 Have you seen her in the film Imitation of Life, dear me that's emotional.

Carol of the bells. My dd is singing this at school at the moment with her choir.

In the Bleak Midwinter, but it has to be the Darke setting.

Mahalia Jackson belting out Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Not really a carol, but worth a mention - the "Cat Carol", which I accidentally came across recently. Be warned, if you don't know it - it is very sad indeed.

In the Bleak Midwinter for me, but also love Tim Minchin's "white wine in the sun" for somethimg completely different

Marking place to come back and listen later. Great idea for a thread OP. I love In the Bleak Midwinter.

Search Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day but the David Wilcock arrangement Sunday at Kings.... Beautiful, Imagine swirling amongst snowfall in Christmas Eve.

Also try John Moray's version of Oh Come Emmanuel, very mournful.

O Holy Night, especially by Il Divo.

The Power Of Love by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and the new more haunting version.

O Holy Night

The Wexford
Carol

SymphonyofShadows

Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Mahalia Jackson

They all make me cry. Bloody love them except when Katherine the Screech Jenkins is massacring them.
(Shameless placemark so I can top up my Spotify Christmas playlist!)

Once in Royal David's City
In the Bleak Midwinter
Carol of the Bells (which also reminds me of one of my favourite West Wing episodes)
Gaudete - especially the Steeleye Span version. Maddy Prior's voice is a miracle of purity.

This one "I heard the bells on Christmas Day" by casting crowns.

They also do the most haunting arrangement of "O come, o come emmanuel", no words but violins and piano. Makes me shiver every time.

I was going to say Mary, did you know? like several PP. I also love Joni Mitchell's River. Not a Christmas song really but the Sinead O'Conner version of Scarlet Ribbons that was in one of the Royle family Christmas specials is heart-breakingly beautiful.

Traditional - Once in Royal David's City
Modern - White Wine in the Sun (Tim Minchin).

Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar (nb not we three kings)
And
Minuit Chretian (sung in French).

They are two school carol service favourites sung every year since anyone who went to my school can remember.

Oh God @Wanderings I just googled Cat Carol

My son's great great aunt wrote the words to In the bleak midwinter.

O Holy night - currently performing this with choir and can hardly get through it without choking up.
Also love The Shepherds Farewell - fabulous swells and harmonies in both - Christmas magic!

King Jesus hath a garden...

My brother did a solo (before his voice broke) for In The Bleak Midwinter at a school concert. He had a fab voice.

The only time I’ve seen my dad cry is the Christmas after my brother died from cancer a few years later, listening to this song on his sound system.

I think it’s a beautiful song, but makes me a teary wreck!