Christmas hymns, psalms and spiritual songs…

[AgileGreenSeal]

Following the fun we had sharing our favourite hymns, psalms and spiritual songs
in the spirit of Ephesians 5:19-20 I thought we could do the same, but specifically Christmas ones this time.

any suggestions? 😊

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ …”
^^

My favourites are O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem and In the Bleak Midwinter.

Just found this, I’ve never seen this treatment of it before. Very moving 🥲

Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar is my absolute favourite.
Can't stand John Rutter!

@FuzzyPuffling Nah. I am from up north. Nowhere near Cranbrook. Cranbrook and sweet bells are sung every year, along with a load of other " unauthorised" carols but only in the pubs as they were banned in churches and have never gone back. It's a weird but lovely tradition.

So many good suggestions! I can see my Christmas playlist growing.

I love listening to:
Gaudete
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
In the Bleak Midwinter
Veni Veni Emmanuel

Leganelul Lui Iesus by Luiza Spiridon is also lovely. It’s a Romanian carol and this is a gorgeous version.

Here’s a song I always listen to at Christmas. So beautiful, so simple.

Love Love love 'Gaudete', especially the version by Libera.

I also loved little donkey and as a child, my dad used to have a cassette tape he had of me singing it that he'd recoded at home (dsis & i used to do little performances to mum & dad) - I also loved the chorus part 'Ring out those bells tonight, Bethlehem, Bethlehem! I always belted out that part even if i didn't know all the words of the other parts and also imagined the title twinkling stars in the night sky with donkey plodding on with Mary & Joseph. I try not to think of those days too much.

Other favourites include 'Away in a Manger'.
The Holly and the Ivy

I agree, very moving.

Lovely thread...I'm loving Spotifying your suggestions
Spine tingler - O come o come Emmanuel - I think of this being sung in English churches for hundreds of years, and feel connected to centuries of Christians
Beautiful, spiritual - 'Little Lamb who made thee' - Tavener reminds me of my Mum who loved this
I sang in a children's church choir for years - we moaned like anything about ' I sing of a maiden who is make less' Patrick Hadley - but it's utterly beautiful
The kids love 'Carol of the Bells' because it featured on Home Alone

Thanks for your lovely eloquent post. 💕

This is a lovely thread - place marking!

The Wexford Carol aka Good People All This Christmas Time. Away In A Manger reminds me of being very young. As does Mary's Boy Child by Harry Belafonte.

Once in Royal David's City- the solo at Carol from King's, is the true start of Christmas for me

Many of the ones already mentioned like All Come All Ye Faithful

Also lots of Cornish versions and carols. Like the St Day Carol.

The Wexford Carol
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Adeste Fideles
Comfort Comfort Ye My People
People Look East
Angels We Have Heard On High
Good Christian Friends Rejoice
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Night of Silence
Silent Night
Joy to the World
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen
Il est ne' le divin enfant
The Huron Carol

I once went to a Polish parish over the Christmas period and heard the carol Dzisiaj w Betlejem - beautiful. They had a great choir.

May I slip in a couple of Advent ones?
Awake Awake and Greet the New Morn
My Soul in Stillness Waits

I love the Coventry Carol. I'm not terribly keen on Once In Royal David's City but I agree it is the start of Christmas. That first line sung acapella is spine-tingling.

I really can't stand Graham Kendrick's hymns. They do nothing for me. I know I must be in the minority though as there are loads and they're often chosen.

Coventry Carol (mediaeval version preferably)
Gaudete
Once in Royal David's city ( my son's last treble solo before his voice broke...)
Patapan
Christe Redemptor Omnium by Monteverdi
O Magnum Mysterium by Tomas Luis de Victoria ( I've sung the Lauridsen version but not as good as this one on my opinion)

Bit of a traditionalist as you can see but I do love 'What child is this' by Thomas Hewitt Jones. Goosebumps time

Oh and the Sans Day Carol, preferably sung in Cornish!

O come all ye faithful, Joy to the world & O Holy night for carols. Plus In the bleak midwinter, Harold Darke version

Lully, lulla, lullay is stunning

For newer ones - Mary did you know, then Adore and Noel by Chris Tomlin

I didn’t think to Spotify - and thank you for the nudge. I will now create my Christmas list 😃

I was always told "Ilkley Moor" was originally "Grace, tis a charming sound"! Maybe it was both?

My favourite old one is "O Come, O Come Immanuel," favourite new one is, "Joy has dawned upon the earth."

I also am very fond of this Welsh one:

Well I think it’s time for GAUDETE!

The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy
Joy to the World
The North Wind
White Wine in the Sun - Tim Minchin
Orana Orana the Carol of the Birds
Oh Holy Night

Love to learn new Christmas carols.