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Live from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge

Hymn: Once in Royal David's City (desc. Cleobury)
Bidding Prayer read by the Dean
Ding, Dong! merrily on high (arr. Williamson)
First lesson: Genesis 3, vv 8-19 read by a Chorister
Jesus Christ the apple tree (Poston)
Hear the voice of the Bard (Musgrave - first performance, commissioned by King's College)
Second lesson: Genesis 22 vv 15-18 read by a Choral Scholar
Love came down at Christmas (Morris, arr. Cleobury)
Joy to the world (Holford, arr. Keyte and Parrott)
Third lesson: Isaiah 9 vv 2, 6-7 read by a Member of the College Staff
Illuminare, Jerusalem (Weir)
Hymn: Unto us is born a Son (arr. Willcocks)
Fourth lesson: Isaiah 11 vv 1-3a, 4a, 6-9 read by a Representative of the City of Cambridge
The Lamb (Tavener)
A New Year Carol (Britten)
Fifth lesson: Luke 1 vv 26-35, 38 read by a representative of the sister College at Eton
Angelus ad Virginem (arr. Cleobury)
Hymn to the Virgin (Britten)
Sixth lesson: Luke 2 vv 1, 3-7 read by the Chaplain
Away in a manger (arr. Willcocks)
A Boy was born (Britten)
Seventh lesson: Luke 2 vv 8-16 read by the Director of Music
The Shepherd's Carol (Chilcott)
Hymn: While shepherds watched (desc. Cleobury)
Eighth lesson: Matthew 2 vv 1-12 read by the Vice-Provost
Susanni (Bennett)
I saw three ships (arr. Preston)
Ninth lesson: John 1 vv 1-14 read by the Provost
Hymn: O come, all ye faithful (arr. Willcocks)
Collect and Blessing
Hymn: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (desc. Cleobury)

Organ voluntaries:
In dulci jubilo (BWV 729) (Bach)
Dieu parmi nous (Messiaen) [broadcast on Radio 3 on Christmas Day only]

Director of Music: Stephen Cleobury
Organ Scholar: Douglas Tang
Producer: Simon Vivian

For many people around the world, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, live from the candlelit Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, marks the beginning of Christmas. It is based around nine Bible readings which tell the story of the loving purposes of God. They are interspersed with carols old and new, sung by the world-famous chapel choir who also lead the congregation in traditional Christmas hymns.