Festival of Lessons & Carols - 2017

DEC

3 7.30

PM

Futter Hall, Senior School Tonight our community celebrates Christ’s birth singing carols with a 100+ Choir & Orchestra. www.kings.edu.au/carols

Photo: Senior Choir at the 2016 Festival of Lessons & Carols

Welcome Christmastide is a season for rejoicing, for celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. In this annual service, we celebrate by way of singing carols and reading scripture. It is a service with a distinct and glorious history, which goes back a century to King’s College, Cambridge.

First held on Christmas Eve 1918, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was planned by Eric MilnerWhite, who, at the age of 34, had just been appointed Dean of King’s College after experience as an army chaplain. This experience had convinced him that the Church of England needed more imaginative worship. At the time, the choir included sixteen trebles, as laid down in King Henry VI’s statutes, and until 1927, the men’s voices were provided partly by Choral Scholars and partly by older Lay Clerks, and not, as now in current practice at Cambridge, by fourteen undergraduates.

Here at The King’s School, we rejoice in having close to 100 boys willing to sing in four-part harmony to continue the tradition, in a service of Seven Lessons and Carols.

As has been common practice since 1919, ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ is always the opening carol, with the first verse traditionally sung by a boy treble. At Cambridge, the selected boy treble would be given 30 minutes’ notice by the Master of the Choristers, but fortunately

here, we have at least given 6 days’ notice to the chosen boy, who opens the service.

Keeping with tradition, the backbone of the service, the lessons and the prayers, has remained virtually unchanged.

We also provide a range of choral selections which includes music by two British composers, John Rutter (1945– ) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), and three Americans – Katherine K Davis (1892-1980) and Harry Simeone (1910-2005) who wrote and recorded The Little Drummer Boy, and Pepper Choplin (1957- ).

As well, the descants and many of the carol harmonisations have been composed by the British choral master, Sir David Willcocks (1919–2015).

This year, our orchestra joins the choir, organ and piano, to enrich the musical experience.

I do hope that the music and biblical readings uplift you, as we celebrate together the Christmas story.

May God bless you and keep you this Christmas, and throughout the New Year.

B N Walmsley Director of Music

The Order of Service

Organ Preludes ORCHESTRA

Mr C Wagstaff

German Dance No. 3 (The Sleigh Ride) from Three German Dances K. 605 Conducted by Mr T Addison

W A Mozart

Please Stand

Once in Royal David’s City Soloist: Ethan Wong

SOLO

CHOIR

ALL

Music: H J Gauntlett Words: C F Alexander Descant Arr: D Willcocks

1. Once in Royal David’s city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child.

ALL

4. For he is our childhood’s pattern, Day by day like us he grew, He was little, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew; And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in out gladness.

2. He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor, and mean, and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

ALL

5. And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love, For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above; And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone.

3. And through all his wondrous childhood He would honour and obey, Love, and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms he lay; Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as he.

ALL

6. Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see him; But in heaven, Set at God’s right hand on high; When like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around.

Please be seated

The Bidding Prayer

Lesson 1

The Fall

Rev M Pickering Lucas Dowling

Please Stand

O Come, O Come Emmanuel Soloist (Verse 2): Timothy Li Soloist (Verse 4): Samuel Rider ALL

SOLO* ALL

Plainsong melody (15th cent.)

Harm: J H Arnold ALL

3. O come, O key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high and close the path to misery.

Rejoice! rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

SOLO*

4. O come, O branch of Jesse, free Your own from Satan’s tyranny; From depths of hell your people save And give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

2. O come, O come, great Lord of Might Who to the tribes, on Sinai’s height In ancient times did give the law In cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

ALL

ALL

5. O come, O dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by your advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

*Solo Only Verses 2 & 4. Congregation to join ALL REFRAINS. Please be seated

CHOIR

Who is this Babe of Bethlehem?

Lesson 2 Christ’s Birth and Kingdom are foretold by Isaiah Please stand

P Choplin Mr B Hilliard

Please stand

The First Nowell ALL

CHOIR*

ALL

CHOIR* ALL

1. The first Nowell the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel!

2. They looked up and saw a star, Shining in the east, beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel!

English Traditional Carol Arr: D Willcocks CHOIR*

ALL

CHOIR*

3. And by the light of that same star, Three wise men came from country far; To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel!

ALL

ALL

4. This star drew nigh to the north-west; O’er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel!

5. Then enter’d in those wise men three, Full rev’rently upon their knee, And offer’d there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel!

6. Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord, That hath made heav’n and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind hath bought: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel!

*Choir Only Verses 2 – 5. Congregation to join ALL REFRAINS. Please be seated

Lesson 3 Angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin, Mary

Angus Williams

CHOIR Shepherd’s Pipe Carol

J Rutter

Please stand

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

ALL

1. Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled: Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies, with th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem”.

Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new born King.

F Mendelssohn Words: C Wesley, T Whitefield, M Madan et al Descant & organ part by D Willcocks

ALL

2. Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, late in time behold Him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb: Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new born King.

ALL

3. Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in His wings; Mild He lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new born King.

Please be seated

Lesson 4

St Luke tells of Christ’s birth

Mrs L Dalleywater

Sussex Carol CHOIR

R Vaughan Williams

Please stand

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

English Traditional Carol Arr: D Willcocks

ALL

1. God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan’s pow’r When we were gone astray: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

ALL 3. The shepherds at those tidings

ALL

2. From God our Heav’nly Father A blessed angel came, And unto certain shepherds Brought tidings of the same, How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

ALL 4. But when to Bethlehem they came,

ALL

Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind, And went to Bethlehem straightaway This blessed babe to find; O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

Whereat this infant lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling, Unto the Lord did pray: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

5. Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace: This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

Please be seated

Lesson 5 The Shepherds go to the Manger Please stand

Mr K Bell

Please stand

Unto us is born a son From Piae Cantiones (1582) Arr: D Willcocks ALL

CHOIR

1. Unto us is born a son, King of choirs supernal: See on earth his life begun, Of lords the Lord eternal, of lords the Lord eternal.

CHOIR 3. This did Herod sore affray,

2. Christ, from heav’n descending low, Comes on earth a stranger; Ox and ass their owner know Be-cradled in a manger, be-cradled in a manger.

CHOIR 4. Of his love and mercy mild

ALL

And grievously bewilder, So he gave the word to slay, And slew the little childer, and slew the little childer.

This the Christmas story: And O that Mary’s gentle Child Might lead us up to glory, might lead us up to glory!

5. O and A and A and O, Cum cantibus in choro, Let our merry organ go, Benedicamus Domino, benedicamus Domino.

Please be seated

Lesson 6 The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus

CHOIR

The Little Drummer Boy

Blaize Cavalera Sivis H Simeone, K Davis, H Onorati Arr: H Simeone

Please stand

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Arr: David Willcocks

ALL

1. O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him Born the King of Angels; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

ALL 3. See how the shepherds,

ALL

2. God of God, Light of Light, Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, Begotten, not created: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

ALL 4. Lo! star-led chieftains,

Summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear; We too will thither Bend our joyful footsteps: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Magi, Christ adoring, Offer him incense, gold and myrrh; We to the Christ Child Bring our hearts’ oblations: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

ALL

5. Child, for us sinners Poor and in the manger, Fain we embrace thee, with awe and love; Who would not love thee, Loving us so dearly?

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

ALL 6. Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Glory to God In the highest: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Please remain standing

Lesson 7 St John Unfolds the Great Mystery of the Incarnation

Mr A George

Please be seated

CHOIR

Ding dong! Merrily on high

16th-century French melody Arr: C Wood

Prayers and Blessing

Rev M Pickering

Please Stand

Joy to the World!

ALL

L Mason Based on G F Handel Arr: J Rutter Words: I Watts

1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let ev’ry heart prepare him room, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

ALL

Organ Recessional

ALL 2. Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns:

Let men, their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love, And wonders of his love, And wonders, wonders of his love.

Mr C Wagstaff

Senior Choir Cyrus Anderson Giles Anderson Ty Arnott Aryan Bahinipati Wilbur Blaxland Bryce Bollington Jones Ryan Bond Jake Bullen-Zorin Blaize Cavalera Sivis Cameron Chisholm Logan Compagnon Joshua Coppolelli Keaghan Davey-Webb Shanith de Mel Sadiv De Silva Kevin Dong Johnny Doumit Vansh Dua James Dugdale Ronan Duraisamy Zane Gale

Ashish George Zachary Grenfell Keegan Groenewald Kavin Gunashanhar Ravindu Gunasinghe Joshua Han Mack Holz James Hong Zack Houston Thivakar Jeyaseelan Joshua Kamaragoda Revan Kamaragoda Matthew Kearney Zain Khan Andrew Kim Nicholas Kim Jason Lee Michael Lee Vincent Lee Timothy Li Anthony Lu

Max Ma Ben MacLeod Martin Madrid Joseph Maroon-Yacoub Billy McKittrick Matthew Mei Alessio Meroi Zayaan Mody Max Morgan Rex Murrell Arnav Narula Alex Negro Samuel Rider Hugh Robinson Jamie Robinson Christopher Rothwell Tom Rowntree Jeremy Selamet Ishaan Senathi Sunstone Shi Karman Singh

Aryan Singla Alexander Siu Andrew Siu Kavin Sivanathan Maaran Srithar Mitchell Thomas Kenneth Tong Justin Wang Steven Wang Lawrence Wei Ethan Wong Jonathan Wong Patrick Xie Andrew Xue Michael Yang Nathan Yap Leo Zhang William Zhang

Orchestra Violin 1 Ben Addison Michael Goh Oscar Han† James Kirkpatrick Isaac Kong Alexander Lin Violin 2 Matthew Chamoun Jackson Chong John Kim James Mead† Alex Qian Eddison Ren Viola Connor Bond Cameron Chisholm

Edward Hsu Harris Yang† Cello Christopher Goh† Kalen James Marcus Lim Marcus Malouf Ryan Turner Brandon Yoo Double Bass Mr S Adler Flute Ms R Grounds Mr YS Lee

Oboe Ms C Benz Ms A Stewart-Klein Clarinet Mr I Fedotov Ms M Keogh Bassoon Ms J Lau Mr N Zengoski Trumpet Mr A Aarons William Konstandinidis French Horn Mr J Morabito Ms P Y Xu

Tuba Mr J P Banks Organ Mr C Wagstaff Piano Dr J Eskenazi Percussion Mr L Thatcher Joshua Wehbe †

Section Leader

Acknowledgements Conductor Mr B Walmsley Co-Choral Director Mrs K Walmsley Production Management Mr J Walmsley Chaplain Rev M Pickering

Choir Staff Miss J Kojevnikov Mr M Powys Guest Choristers Mrs S Hart Miss A Hart Sound & Lighting Mr J Walmsley Video Recording Mr M Kelly

Programme Design Mr J Walmsley Special Thanks Mr T Addison Ms G Kovacs Mr A Malouf Mr D Osborne Ms M Petrovic Mr J Taylor Friends of Music

The Headmaster and Staff of The King’s School wish you a very Happy and Holy Christmas

All Carols in this programme are printed with permission under CCL Number 236122.

Copyright © 2017 The King’s School. All Rights Resered.