{"id":7501,"date":"2021-11-22T14:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T13:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=5463"},"modified":"2021-11-22T14:44:12","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T13:44:12","slug":"the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"The 25 greatest Christmas carols of all time"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By BBC Music Magazine\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 22 November 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Christmas carols<\/a>. Without them, Christmas wouldn\u2019t be Christmas. From angel-singing, bell-ringing ebullience to deep, spiritual contemplation, nothing can match the Christmas carol in terms of creating an atmosphere \u2013 whether echoing through a vast cathedral, or sung by children in a nativity play, their power to move can be simply overwhelming.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between a Christmas carol and a hymn?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
But what are the truly great Christmas carols of all time? We reveal the top Christmas carol songs, as voted for by 50 top choral experts from around the world. Do you agree with their choices or have we missed your favourite Christmas carol?<\/strong><\/p>\n
The best Christmas carols ever<\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
25. Silent Night<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u2018On Christmas Eve 1818 priest Joseph Mohr turned up on the doorstep of his friend Franz Xaver Gruber and asked him to write a Christmas carol\u2019 (read more about how the carol Silent Night was composed here\u2026<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>24.<\/strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/lamb\/"\"><strong> The Lamb<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Few composers writing in recent years have had as big an impact on the British choral scene as <a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/john-tavener"\"><strong>Sir John Tavener<\/strong><\/a> (1944-2013)\u2019<strong> (<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/lamb\/"\">read more\u2026<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Carols\" from=\"\" king=\"\" lamb=\"\" john=\"\" tavener=\"\" the=\"\" choir=\"\" of=\"\" college=\"\" cambridge=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/auMZu3u7bXA?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>23.<\/strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/three-kings\/"\"><strong> Three Kings<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018When Worcester Cathedral\u2019s organist Ivor Atkins came across Cornelius\u2019s 19th-century song \u2018Die K\u00f6nige\u2019 he knew he had struck gold\u2019 <strong>(<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/three-kings\/"\">read more\u2026<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""King's\" college=\"\" cambridge=\"\" the=\"\" three=\"\" kings=\"\" peter=\"\" cornelius=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/thu3vgz5y28?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/best-pieces-festive-classical-music\/"\"><strong>The best pieces of festive classical music<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>22.<\/strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/god-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen\/"\"><strong> God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen!<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Ebeneezer Scrooge took exception to this traditional English carol in Dickens\u2019s\u00a0<em>A Christmas Carol<\/em>, reacting so furiously to it that the carol singer on the other side of the door ran away \u2018in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost\u2019\u2019 <strong>(<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/god-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen\/"\">read more\u2026<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""King's\" college=\"\" cambridge=\"\" god=\"\" rest=\"\" you=\"\" merry=\"\" gentlemen=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CDcSyaW-tTI?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>21.<\/strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/sans-day-carol\/"\"><strong> The Sans Day Carol<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018This beautiful Cornish carol first came to light during the 19th century. A Mr WD Watson, so the story goes, heard it sung in St Day \u2013 Sen Day in Cornish \u2013 a village named after a Breton saint\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/sans-day-carol\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Sans\" day=\"\" carol=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HCcy-uyK6ls?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/hodie-christus-natus-est-sweelinck\/"\"><strong>20. Hodie Christus Natus est by composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Best known for his finely wrought keyboard works, early 17th-century Dutch composer Sweelinck also wrote some heavy-weight choral music, of which this joyful carol is one of his best examples\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/hodie-christus-natus-est-sweelinck\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Jan\" pieterszoon=\"\" sweelinck=\"\" hodie=\"\" christus=\"\" natus=\"\" est=\"\" collab=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R20cUpItMd8?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/article\/six-best-20th-century-british-choral-works"\"><strong>Six of the best 20th-century British choral works<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/no-small-wonder\/"\"><strong>19. No Small Wonder<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018After a soft organ introduction and an opening line sung in unison, the choral texture blossoms into four parts as the favourite Christmas carol\u2019s narrator marvels at the miracle of Christmas.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/no-small-wonder\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""No\" small=\"\" wonder=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1J0jvdVE0j8?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/little-road-bethlehem\/"\"><strong>18. The Little Road to Bethlehem<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018British composer Michael Head, who gave piano recitals in factories during the Blitz, hit the right note with this charming miniature for four-part choir, written around 1946.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/little-road-bethlehem\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""LOUISA\" stirland=\"\" the=\"\" little=\"\" road=\"\" to=\"\" bethlehem=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DkJ6leSY_CI?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<h2\/>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/hodie-christus-natus-est-poulenc\/"\"><strong>17. Hodie Christus Natus est by composer Poulenc<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018<a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/francis-poulenc"\"><strong>Poulenc<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s joyous\u00a0<em>Hodie Christus Natus Est<\/em>\u00a0brings the Frenchman\u2019s set of Four Christmas Motets to an ebulliently rowdy conclusion.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/hodie-christus-natus-est-poulenc\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Hodie\" christus=\"\" natus=\"\" est=\"\" francis=\"\" poulenc=\"\" chamber=\"\" singers=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KftF7I8iE6k?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/article\/six-bestkings-singers-recordings"\"><strong>Six of the best King\u2019s Singers recordings<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/there-flower\/"\"><strong>16. There is a flower<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Named \u2018the world\u2019s greatest living composer and conductor of choral music\u2019 by US television station NBC, there\u2019s no denying\u00a0<strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/john-rutter\/"\">Rutter<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s skill at seducing both choirs and audiences alike\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/there-flower\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""There\" is=\"\" a=\"\" flower=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M3KvVMPl3e0?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/o-magnum-mysterium-victoria\/"\"><strong>15. O Magnum Mysterium<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Did 16th-century Spaniard Tom\u00e1s Luis de Victoria study under the great Palestrina? While we can\u2019t be sure, the fluid counterpoint of his 1572 motet\u00a0<em>O Magnum Mysterium<\/em> is worthy of the Italian master himself.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/o-magnum-mysterium-victoria\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Victoria\" o=\"\" magnum=\"\" mysterium=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5dn7HgiT2QY?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/five-best-ancient-christmas-carols\/"\"><strong>Five of the best ancient Christmas carols<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/hark-herald-angels-sing-words\/"\"><strong>14. Hark the Herald Angels Sing<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018In 1739 Charles Wesley wrote a Christmas hymn that began \u2018Hark! how all the welkin rings, Glory to the King of Kings\u2019, the first incarnation of what is now\u00a0<em>Hark! The Herald Angels Sing<\/em>.\u2019<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/hark-herald-angels-sing-words\/"\"> <strong>(read more about the carol and lyrics here\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Hark!\" the=\"\" herald-angels=\"\" sing=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cSotvFWKvhc?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p style=\""text-align:\" center=\"\"><em><strong>Listen to our playlist of the<\/strong> <a href=\""https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/gb\/playlist\/greatest-christmas-carols\/pl.77ca039fc6404fc9b87f92a3d9a07ff3"\"><strong>Greatest Christmas carols of all time here<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/o-magnum-mysterium-poulenc\/"\"><strong>13. O Magnum Mysterium<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Of <a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/francis-poulenc"\"><strong>Poulenc<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s four Christmas motets, the first is the most solemn, the most haunting and has consistently proved the most popular since they were published in 1952.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/o-magnum-mysterium-poulenc\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Francis\" poulenc:=\"\" o=\"\" magnum=\"\" mysterium=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F-BpxHT_FX0?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/best-recordings-schuberts-winterreise\/"\"><strong>The best recordings of Schubert\u2019s <em>Winterreise<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>12. <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/sussex-carol-lyrics\/"\">Sussex Carol<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018From the cheery opening \u2018On Christmas Night\u2019 to the final triumphant \u2018Amen!\u2019, this carol is one of celebration.\u2019 <strong>(<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/sussex-carol-lyrics\/"\">read more about the \u2018Sussex Carol\u2019 and find its lyrics here \u2026<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""King's\" college=\"\" cambridge=\"\" sussex=\"\" carol=\"\" arr.=\"\" david=\"\" willcocks=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3mYXto0x4K0?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/royal-davids-city-words\/"\"><strong>11. Once in Royal David\u2019s City<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Every year, one King\u2019s College, Cambridge chorister is chosen to open the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols with the exposed solo verse of\u00a0<em>Once in Royal<\/em>\u00a0in front of a packed chapel\u2026 and several million radio listeners.\u2019 <strong>(<\/strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/royal-davids-city-words\/"\"><strong>read more about the Christmas carol and the lyrics here\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""King's\" college=\"\" cambridge=\"\" once=\"\" in=\"\" royal=\"\" david=\"\" city=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NMGMV-fujUY?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/what-sweeter-music-rutter\/"\"><strong>10. What Sweeter Music<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018American readers might have first heard this exquisite miniature masterpiece in a Volvo advertisement, yet it was originally written for the choir of King\u2019s College, Cambridge for their 1987 service of Nine Lessons and Carols.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/what-sweeter-music-rutter\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""VocalEssence\" what=\"\" sweeter=\"\" music=\"\" by=\"\" john=\"\" rutter=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fLkxe6q6UyE?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/article\/five-best-modern-christmas-carols"\"><strong>Five of the best modern Christmas carols<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>9. <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/of-the-fathers-heart-begotten\/"\">Of the Father\u2019s Heart Begotten<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Few carols have words that can be traced back as early as this. \u2018<strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/when-was-the-first-christmas-carol\/"\">Corde\u00a0natus\u00a0ex\u00a0parentis\u2019 was written by Roman poet Aurelius Prudentius Clemens<\/a><\/strong>, who lived in northern Spain from, roughly, 350 to 400 AD.\u2019 <strong>(<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/of-the-fathers-heart-begotten\/"\">read more\u2026<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Of\" the=\"\" father=\"\" heart=\"\" begotten=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-NL2YAz-Y_Q?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/o-come-all-ye-faithful\/"\"><strong>8. O Come all ye Faithful<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018The one Christmas carol without which a Christmas service wouldn\u2019t seem complete. What is it that makes it such a perennial favourite?\u2019 <strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/o-come-all-ye-faithful\/"\">(read more\u2026)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""#17\" o=\"\" come=\"\" all=\"\" ye=\"\" faithful=\"\" arr.=\"\" david=\"\" willcocks=\"\" king=\"\" college=\"\" cambridge=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/T5rMQ6P12WY?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/six-best-pieces-classical-music-easter\/"\"><strong>Six of the best pieces of classical music for Easter<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/there-no-rose\/"\"><strong>7. There is no Rose<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Of the countless settings of this medieval text, in which a rose represents the Virgin Mary, it\u2019s those by <a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/benjamin-britten"\"><strong>Benjamin Britten<\/strong><\/a> and John Joubert that have become modern classics.\u2019 <a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/article\/there-no-rose"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Benjamin\" britten=\"\" is=\"\" no=\"\" rose=\"\" a=\"\" ceremony=\"\" of=\"\" carols=\"\" op.=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uBYpju2YQeo?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/tomorrow-shall-be-my-dancing-day-gardner\/"\"><strong>6. Tomorrow shall be my dancing day<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Though thought to find its roots in the world of medieval mystery plays, this Cornish carol was first published in 1833, when it appeared in William Sandys\u2019s volume\u00a0<em>Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern<\/em>.\u2019 <strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/tomorrow-shall-be-my-dancing-day-gardner\/"\">(read more\u2026)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\""text-align:\" center=\"\"><iframe loading=\""lazy"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rwrB4-nFxhg?list=RDrwrB4-nFxhg"\" width=\""625"\" height=\""350"\" frameborder=\""0"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/lully-lulla\/"\"><strong>5. Lully, Lulla<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018The Coventry Carol, which dates back to the 16th century, is about as dark as Christmas carols get, with its doomladen words depicting a mother\u2019s fears for the fate of her child as she lulls him to sleeps.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/lully-lulla\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Lully\" lulla=\"\" lullay=\"\" philip=\"\" stopford=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C6o0amydcLU?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/article\/best-classical-music-winter"\"><strong>The best classical music for winter<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/bethlehem-down\/"\">4. Bethlehem Down<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018The outward beauty of Warlock\u2019s\u00a0<em>Bethlehem Down<\/em>, combined with a very English sort of introverted melancholy, complements the\u00a0sombre\u00a0yet reverent mood of many a traditional candle-lit carol service.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/bethlehem-down\/"\"><strong>(read more about the Christmas carol here\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""King's\" college=\"\" cambridge=\"\" bethlehem=\"\" down=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-z3Tz5AIsa0?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/spotless-rose\/"\"><strong>3. A Spotless Rose<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Howells said this carol came to him as he was watching trains shunting on the Bristol-Gloucester line from his cottage window.\u2019 <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/spotless-rose\/"\"><strong>(read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""King's\" college=\"\" cambridge=\"\" a=\"\" spotless=\"\" rose=\"\" herbert=\"\" howells=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wfAlAz-zFlU?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/feature\/world-music\/six-best%E2%80%A6-unknown-carols"\"><strong>Six of the best unknown carols<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/dulci-jubilo\/"\"><strong>2. In Dulci Jubilo<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Its ancient German tune has become familiar in many guises, such as the famous Bach Christmas organ chorale prelude, the hymn \u2018Good Christian Men Rejoice\u2019 or even Mike Oldfield\u2019s 1975 chart hit.\u2019<a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/dulci-jubilo\/"\"><strong> (read more\u2026)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""In\" dulci=\"\" jubilo=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iXze_TLUTqM?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><strong><a href=\""http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/article\/what-carol"\">What is a carol?<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/bleak-midwinter\/"\">1. In the Bleak Midwinter<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u2018Does any other carol get to the very heart of Christmas as understatedly but effectively as\u00a0<em>In The Bleak Midwinter<\/em>? Christina Rossetti\u2019s poem of 1872 is nigh-on perfect as a carol text\u2019 <strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/bleak-midwinter\/"\">(read more about the Christmas carol here\u2026)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\""lazy"\" title=\""In\" the=\"\" bleak=\"\" midwinter=\"\" width=\""960"\" height=\""540"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GPpy3XSk6c0?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>What do you think of the expert\u2019s choices of the 25 greatest carols of all time? Did they miss out your favourite? Comment below and tell us what you would have had on the list.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Discover the lyrics to, and the story behind, your<strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/tag\/christmas-carol-lyrics\/"\"> favourite Christmas carols<\/a> <\/strong>here<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By BBC Music Magazine Published: Monday, 22 November 2021 at 12:00 am Christmas carols. Without them, Christmas wouldn\u2019t be Christmas. From angel-singing, bell-ringing ebullience to deep, spiritual contemplation, nothing can match the Christmas carol in terms of creating an atmosphere \u2013 whether echoing through a vast cathedral, or sung by children in a nativity play, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":7502,"template":"","categories":[1,17],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/the-25-greatest-christmas-carols-of-all-time-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By BBC Music Magazine Published: Monday, 22 November 2021 at 12:00 am Christmas carols. Without them, Christmas wouldn\u2019t be Christmas. From angel-singing, bell-ringing ebullience to deep, spiritual contemplation, nothing can match the Christmas carol in terms of creating an atmosphere \u2013 whether echoing through a vast cathedral, or sung by children in a nativity play,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/7501"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}