ANNUAL CHRISTMAS EVE CARILLON CONCERT December 24, 2023, 1:00 p.m. Richard Shadinger, Carillonist BELLS PROCLAIM CHRISTMAS I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Silver Bells Carol of the Bells Shepherds Dance and Angels Sing
John Calkin Jay Livingston/Ray Evans Russian Carol John Knox
THE CHRIST CHILD IS BORN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (The Huron Carol) What Child Is This? Away in a Manger In the Bleak Mid-Winter
Medieval Plainsong Canadian Carol English Carol Traditional Carol Gustav Holst/arr. Gisczak
CHRISTMAS HYMNS OF PRIASE Angels We Have Heard on High God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen Joy to the World
French Carol English Carol Arranged from Handel
POPULAR SONGS OF THE SEASON The Little Drummer Boy Kathryn K. Davis Jolly Old Saint Nicholas American Song Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Hugh Martin/Ralph Blake Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire Mel Torne/Robert Wells Jingle Bells Traditional American Song We Wish You a Merry Christmas English
The carillon is best heard up the hill away from the tower. The tradition of the Christmas Eve Carillon Concert goes back to 1929 at Ward Belmont and was resumed in 1986 by Belmont University. Belmont’s carillon is comprised of 43 bronze bells ranging in size from over 1200 pounds to 30 pounds. The carillonneur plays a keyboard with baton-type keys and pedals, controlling the dynamics of the bells much like on a piano. There are fewer than 200 carillons in America. Belmont University wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!