Writes Samuel Hill, Music Administrator
The annual Festival of Lessons and Carols is always a wonderful way to conclude the Autumn term; bringing together the school’s choirs and Taylors’ Brass, it is an opportunity to celebrate Christmas at school and to hear young musicians make music together. The service was led by the School Chaplain, the Reverend James Fields, and the choirs were conducted by the Assistant Director of Music, Mr Ian Crawford. The organ was played by Dominic D. (U6ths) and by the Head of Academic Music, Mr Daniel Tonks. The service included seven scripture readings, telling the Christmas story from the Fall to the Incarnation. The readings were read by Elliot M. (4ths), Yuvraj B. (U6ths), Jai E. (U6ths), Mrs Virgina Everson, Mrs Ellie Lemoine, Cdre Andrew Cree, and the Head Master.
The service began with a soloist, Henry I. (3rds), singing the opening verse of Once In Royal David’s City from the back of the Great Hall, after which the Chamber Choir processed to their places as the choirs and congregation sang.
The chaplain then led the congregation in a prayer before the choirs sang John Joubert’s Torches. After the first lesson, the Chamber Choir sang Howard Skempton’s Adam lay ybounden. This was followed by the second lesson, which was succeeded by the traditional carol Up! good Christen folk and then the congregational carol Unto us is born a Son.
Next came the third lesson, which preceded Silent Night and then led into Sarah Quartel’s On this Silent Night. The fourth lesson was followed by Darke’s In the bleak mid-winter, sung by the Choral Society, immediately followed by the Chamber Choir singing Mr Crawford’s A Christmas Prayer. Next came the fifth lesson, which introduced Chilcott’s arrangement of O Little Town. The choir and congregation then sang While shepherds watched their flocks by night before the sixth lesson.
The next carol, Judith Weir’s My Guardian Angel, involved both choir and congregation. This was followed by Rutter’s arrangement of the traditional Sans Day carol. The seventh lesson came before the singing of Hark! the herald-angels sing, after which the chaplain led a reflection. The final carol of the service was O come, all ye faithful. The voluntary, played by Dominic D., was Buxtehude’s Prelude, Fugue, and Chaconne in C major.
