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'{{short description|Traditional Christmas service of Christian worship}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox recurring event |name = Nine Lessons and Carols |image = RLR 3928 (5261224609).jpg |image_size = |alt = church choir singing by candlelight |caption = A service of Nine Lessons in 2010 at [[St. George's School, Newport]], Rhode Island, US |status = |genre = Religious service/[[Anglican church music]] |date = <!-- {{start date|df=yes|YYYY|mm|dd}} "dates=" also works, but do not use both --> |begins = <!-- {{start date|df=yes|YYYY|mm|dd}} --> |ends = <!-- {{end date|df=yes|YYYY|mm|dd}} --> |frequency = <!-- Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-annually, Annually, Bi-annually, 2nd Tuesday of November, etc. --> |venue = Christian churches worldwide, notably [[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]] |location = |coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|type:event|display=inline,title}} --> |country = |years_active = <!-- {{age|YYYY|mm|dd}} Date of the first occurrence --> |first = {{start date|df=yes|1880|12|24}} |founder_name = [[Edward White Benson]] |prev = |next = |website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> |current = |footnotes = }} The Festival of '''Nine Lessons and Carols''' is a service of [[Christian worship]], traditionally celebrated on [[Christmas Eve]]. The story of the [[fall of man|fall of humanity]], the [[Old Testament messianic prophecies quoted in the New Testament|promise of the Messiah]], and the [[nativity of Jesus|birth of Jesus]] is told in nine short [[Bible]] readings or [[Lection|lessons]] from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of [[Christmas carol]]s, [[hymn]]s and [[choir]] [[anthem]]s. ==History== Im just a kid playin round sing popularity of hymnody encouraged church musicians to introduce carols into worship. An 1875 book of carols, ''Carols for Use in Church During Christmas and Epihany'' by Richard Chope and [[Sabine Baring-Gould]], was an influential publication. At around this time, the composer and organist [[John Stainer]] was compiling his collection, ''Christmas Carols New and Old'', and during Christmas 1878 Stainer introduced carols into the service of [[choral evensong]] at [[St Paul's Cathedral]] in London.<ref name="strong">{{cite book |last1=Strong |first1=Rowan |title=The Oxford History of Anglicanism, Volume III: Partisan Anglicanism and its Global Expansion 1829-c. 1914 |date=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780191084621 |page=399 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5an_DQAAQBAJ&lpg=PA399&dq=truro%20cathedral%20nine%20lessons%20and%20carols%201878&pg=PA399#v=onepage&q&f=false |accessdate=4 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Other cathedrals also began to adopt carols at [[Christmastide]]; that same year, the ''[[Royal Cornwall Gazette]]'' reported that the choir of Truro Cathedral would sing a service of carols at 10:00&nbsp;p.m. on Christmas Eve: {{Quote|The Choir of the Cathedral will sing a number of carols in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve, the service commencing at 10pm. We understand that this is at the wish of many of the leading parishioners and others. A like service has been instituted in other cathedral and large towns, and has been much appreciated. It is the intention of the choir to no longer continue the custom of singing carols at the residences of members of the congregation.|source=''[[Royal Cornwall Gazette]]'', 20 December 1878<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Christmas at the Cathedral |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000180/18781220/039/0004 |newspaper=Royal Cornwall Gazette |location=Falmouth |date=20 December 1878 |access-date=18 August 2015 }}</ref>}} Seven years later, Rev [[Edward White Benson]], at that time [[Bishop of Truro]] conducted the first formal service of "Nine Lessons and Carols" on [[Christmas Eve]] (24 December) 1880. Benson, concerned at the excessive consumption of alcohol in Cornish [[pub]]s during the [[festive season]], sought a means of attracting revellers out of the pubs and into church by offering a religious celebration of Christmas. The idea for a service consisting of Christmas music interspersed with Bible readings was proposed by the [[Succentor]] of the cathedral, Rev. [[Somerset Walpole|George Walpole]] (who later became [[Bishop of Edinburgh]]). The cathedral — a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Victorian gothic]] building — was still under construction, and services were being held in a temporary wooden structure which served as a [[Pro-Cathedral]]. The first Nine Lessons and Carols service took place there at 10:00&nbsp;p.m. on Christmas Eve and was attended by over 400 people.<ref>{{citation|author=Alex Webb|title=Choir that sings to the world|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1703517.stm|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=24 December 2001}}.</ref><ref name="guardian-truro">{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Christopher |title=How Truro created Christmas musical history |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/nov/29/truro-nine-lessons-carols-christmas-history |website=The Guardian |accessdate=9 May 2019 |date=29 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="trurocathedral-ninelessons">{{cite web |title=Nine Lessons and Carols |url=https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/history/nine-lessons-and-carols |website=www.trurocathedral.org.uk}}</ref> Benson's son, [[A. C. Benson]], later recalled: {{Quote|My father arranged from ancient sources a little services for Christmas Eve, nine carols and nine tiny lessons. They were read by various officers of the church, beginning with a chorister and ending, through different grades, with the bishop.|author=[[A. C. Benson]]|source=<ref name="bbc-faith-feature">{{cite news|title=Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/content/articles/2005/12/16/faith_nine_lessons_feature.shtml|publisher=[[bbc.co.uk]]|date=16 December 2005}}</ref>}} Bishop Benson was appointed [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] in 1883, and the Nine Lessons service began to gain in popularity across the [[Church of England]] and the wider [[Anglican Communion]]. The original liturgy has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world. Lessons and Carols most often occur in [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] churches. However, numerous Christian denominations have adopted this service, or a variation on this service, as part of their Christmas celebrations. In the UK, the service has become the standard format for school carol services. In 1916, a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols was held at [[Brown University]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island]]; the institution celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Lessons and Carols in 2016.<ref name="brown.edu">{{cite web |title=100th Annual Service of Lessons and Carols {{!}} Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life |url=https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/spiritual-life/chaplains/upcoming-events/100th-annual-service-lessons-and-carols |website=www.brown.edu |accessdate=4 October 2019}}</ref> Notably in 1918, Rev. [[Eric Milner-White]] the new [[Dean (education)|Dean]] of King's College, Cambridge, introduced the service to the college chapel, taking advantage of the established choral tradition of the [[Choir of King's College, Cambridge|King's College Chapel Choir]]. It proved highly successful, and began an annual tradition — albeit with some alterations to Benson's original format from 1919 onwards. The [[BBC]] began to broadcast the service on radio from 1928 and on television 1954, establishing ''Carols from King's'' as the most popular and widely recognised presentation of the service.<ref name="McGrath" /><ref name="guardian-truro" /> In the United States, the Lessons and Carols tradition spread to other US institutions. In 1928, organist and choirmaster Twining Lynes, introduced the service to [[Groton School]] in [[Groton, Massachusetts]] after being inspired by services in England.<ref name="groton">{{cite web |title=Spiritual Life at Groton |url=https://www.groton.org/student-life/spiritual-life |website=Groton School |accessdate=4 October 2019}}</ref> In December 2013 Truro Cathedral staged a reconstruction of Bishop Benson's original 1880 Nine Lessons with Carols Service which was attended by an audience of over 1,500 people.<ref name="trurocathedral-ninelessons" /> ==Service at King's College, Cambridge== [[File:Kings College Chapeljh.jpg|thumb|[[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]] (left), from where the popular Nine Lessons and Carols service is broadcast annually on Christmas Eve]] The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at [[King's College, Cambridge]], was held on [[Christmas Eve]] in 1918. During [[World War I]] the Dean, Eric Milner-White had served as [[army chaplain]] in the [[7th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|7th Infantry Division]], and he was concerned that the distress of the "Great War" had hardened attitudes against religion. Taking advantage of the established choral tradition of the [[Choir of King's College, Cambridge|King's College Chapel Choir]], he introduced Benson's carol service to King's as a means of attracting people back to Christian worship. The first Nine Lessons service in [[King's College Chapel, Cambridge|King's College Chapel]] was held on Christmas Eve, 1918, directed by [[Arthur Henry Mann]], who was the [[organist]] from 1876 to 1929.<ref name="King's College Chapel: History">{{citation|title=Nine lessons and carols: History of the service|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/index.html|publisher=[[King's College Chapel, Cambridge|King's College Chapel]]|accessdate=9 March 2008}}.</ref> The King's College service was immensely successful, and the following year, Milner-White made some changes to Benson's original format, notably introducing the tradition of opening the service with a solo treble singing ""[[Once in Royal David's City]]". This was then followed by a [[Bidding Prayer]] penned by Milner-White himself, and re-ordering the lessons.<ref name="McGrath">{{cite book |last1=McGrath |first1=Alister E. |title=Christianity: An Introduction |date=2006 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9781405108997 |page=293 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=v26doW8jIyYC&lpg=PT234&dq=Edward%20White%20Benson%20nine%20lessons%20archbishop%20of%20canterbury&pg=PT234#v=onepage&q&f=false |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=In the Chapel: Carols |url=https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/archive-centre/online-resources/online-exhibitions/in-the-chapel-carols |website=King's College Cambridge |accessdate=4 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="guardian-truro" /> The choir had 16 [[boy soprano|trebles]] as specified in statutes laid down by [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]], and until 1927 the men's voices were provided by [[choral scholar]]s and [[lay clerk]]s. Today, 14 [[undergraduate]]s from the [[Choir of King's College, Cambridge]], sing the men's parts.<ref name="King's College Chapel: History"/> The popularity of the service was established when the service began to be broadcast by the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]] in 1928, and, except for 1930, has been broadcast every year since. During the 1930s the service reached a worldwide audience when the BBC began broadcasting the service on its [[BBC World Service|Overseas Service]]. Even throughout the [[Second World War]], despite the [[stained glass]] having been removed from the Chapel and the lack of heating, the broadcasts continued. For security reasons, the name "King's" was not mentioned during wartime broadcasts.<ref name="King's College Chapel: History"/> Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College was first televised by [[BBC Television]] in 1954, conducted by the Director of Music [[Boris Ord]], and has since become the most popular and widely recognised presentation of the service.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Humphreys |first1=Garry |title=The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge made world-famous by Boris Ord. |url=https://www.semibrevity.com/2012/05/the-choir-of-king%E2%80%99s-college-cambridge-and-the-man-who-made-it-famous-part-1/ |website=www.semibrevity.com |accessdate=2 October 2019 |date=20 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Coghlan |first1=Alexandra |title=Carols From King's |date=2016 |publisher=Random House |isbn=9781473530515 |page=168 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vvmpCwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA168&dq=boris%20ord%20nine%20lessons%201954%20televised&pg=PA168#v=onepage&q=boris%20ord%20nine%20lessons%201954%20televised&f=false |accessdate=2 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref> [[File:Peter Paul Rubens 009.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[The Adoration of the Magi]]'' (1634) by [[Peter Paul Rubens]], which hangs behind the [[Altar#In Western Christian churches|altar]] in [[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]].]] Since the Second World War, it has been estimated that each year there are millions of listeners worldwide who listen to the service live on the [[BBC World Service]]. Domestically, the service is broadcast live on [[BBC Radio 4]], and a recorded broadcast is made on Christmas Day on [[BBC Radio 3]].<ref name="King's College Chapel: History"/> In the US, a 1954 service was put into the [[National Recording Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite news | first=Natasha | last=Metzler | title=New National Recording Registry entries announced | date=9 June 2009 | publisher=Associated Press, San Fransciso Chronicle | url =http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/09/national/w124722D20.DTL&type=business | accessdate =17 March 2017 }}</ref> The broadcast has been heard live on public radio stations affiliated with [[American Public Media]] since 1979, and most stations broadcast a repeat on Christmas Day. Since 1963, the service has been periodically filmed for television broadcast in the UK.<ref>{{citation|title=History of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons/history.html|publisher=[[King's College, Cambridge]]|accessdate=25 December 2010}}.</ref> Presently, each year a programme entitled ''Carols from King's'' is pre-recorded in early or mid-December then shown on Christmas Eve in the UK on [[BBC Two]] and [[BBC Four]]. The programme is weighted more heavily in favour of carols sung by the choir, with only seven readings in total, not all of which are from the Bible. ===Order of service=== The format of the first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols did not differ substantially from the one known at King's College, Cambridge today. The order of the lessons was revised in 1919, and since that time the service has always begun with the hymn "[[Once In Royal David's City|Once in Royal David's City]]".<ref name="King's College Chapel: History"/> Today the first verse is sung unaccompanied by a solo boy chorister. To avoid putting him under undue stress, the chorister is not told that he will be singing the solo until immediately before the service is to begin.<ref>{{citation|author=Peter Kingston|title=The world's greatest carol event|url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2231099,00.html|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] (EducationGuardian)|date=21 December 2007}}.</ref> The Nine Lessons, which are the same every year, are read by representatives of the college and of the [[Cambridge|City of Cambridge]] from the 1611 [[Authorized King James Version]] of the Bible. The singing is divided into "carols" which are sung by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, and "hymns" sung by the Choir and congregation. Some services have also included [[anthem]]s between the carols and hymns, such as a performance of "[[E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come]]" in 2004.<ref name=LC2004>{{cite web|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2004|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons/order-service-2004.html|website=King's College, Cambridge|publisher=University of Cambridge|accessdate=3 November 2014}}</ref> Since 1982 the current Director of Music, [[Stephen Cleobury]], has commissioned a new carol each year on behalf of the College for the Choir. The carols vary from year to year, although some music is repeated. The service ends with the hymn "[[Hark! The Herald Angels Sing]]". The following is from the service in 2008.<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2008">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2008|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/chapel/festival-nine-lessons-2008.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2008|accessdate=25 December 2008}}. For the songs sung in earlier years, see "[[List of carols performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College Chapel, Cambridge]]".</ref> *Organ Preludes :*[[Processional hymn|Processional Hymn]]: "[[Once in Royal David's City]]" &ndash; words by [[Cecil Frances Alexander]]; melody by [[Henry Gauntlett]]; harmonised by Henry Gauntlett and A. H. Mann; [[descant]] by [[Stephen Cleobury]]. *[[Bidding-prayer|Bidding Prayer]] :*Carol: "If Ye would Hear the Angels Sing" &ndash; words by D. Greenwell; music by P. Tranchell *'''First Lesson from [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 3: 8&ndash;19''' (read by a chorister) :*Carol: "Remember, O Thou Man" &ndash; words, 16th century; music by [[Thomas Ravenscroft]] :*Carol: "[[Adam lay ybounden]]" &ndash; words, 15th century; music by [[Boris Ord]] *'''Second Lesson from Genesis 22: 15&ndash;18''' (read by a choral scholar) :*Carol: "[[Angels from the Realms of Glory]]" &ndash; words by [[James Montgomery (poet)|James Montgomery]]; music, old French tune arranged by [[Philip Ledger|Philip S. Ledger]] :*Carol: "[[In Dulci Jubilo]]" &ndash; words, 14th-century German; music by [[Hieronymus Praetorius]] *'''Third Lesson from [[Isaiah]] 9: 2; 6&ndash;7''' (read by a representative of Cambridge churches) :*Carol: "Nowell Sing We Now All and Some" &ndash; words and music medieval, edited by John Stevens :*Hymn: "[[Unto Us is Born a Son]]" &ndash; words, 15th-century Latin, translated by G.R. Woodward; music from ''[[Piae Cantiones]]'' arranged by [[David Willcocks|David V. Willcocks]] [[File:William Blake - Songs of Innocence and Experience - The Lamb.jpg|thumb|200px|The fourth lesson employed [[John Tavener]]'s choral arrangement "[[The Lamb (Tavener)|The Lamb]]" of [[William Blake]]'s ''[[The Lamb (poem)|The Lamb]]'' from Blake's collection''' [[Songs of Innocence and of Experience]]''. This image represents copy C, object 8 of that original poem, currently held by the [[Library of Congress]]. The poem was published during 1794 and hand painted by Blake and his wife.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.blakearchive.org/exist/blake/archive/object.xq?objectid=songsie.c.illbk.09&java=no| title = Songs of Innocence and of Experience, copy C, object 9 (Bentley 8, Erdman 8, Keynes 8) "The Lamb"| publisher = [[William Blake Archive]]| editors = Morris Eaves, Robert N. Essick, and Joseph Viscomi| accessdate = 26 September 2013}}</ref>]] *'''Fourth Lesson from Isaiah 11: 1&ndash;3a; 4a; 6&ndash;9''' (read by a representative of the City of Cambridge) :*Carol: "[[The Lamb (Tavener)|The Lamb]]" &ndash; words by [[William Blake]]; music by [[John Tavener]] :*Carol: "[[Es ist ein Ros entsprungen|Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming]]" &ndash; words, 15th-century German, translated by C. Winkworth; music by Philip S. Ledger *'''Fifth Lesson from the [[Gospel of Luke]] 1: 26&ndash;35; 38''' (read by a representative of King's College's [[Eton College|sister college at Eton]]) :*Carol: "[[I Sing of a Maiden]]" &ndash; words, 15th century; music by [[Lennox Berkeley]] :*Carol: "The Night when She First Gave Birth" ("Mary") &ndash; words by [[Bertolt Brecht]], translated by [[Michael Hamburger]]; music by [[Dominic Muldowney]] *'''Sixth Lesson from Luke 2: 1; 3&ndash;7''' (read by the Chaplain) :*Carol: "Sweet Baby, Sleep! What Ails My Dear?" ("Wither's Rocking Hymn)" &ndash; words by [[George Wither]]; music by [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]] :*Carol: "What Sweeter Music can We Bring" &ndash; words by [[Robert Herrick (poet)|Robert Herrick]]; music by [[John Rutter]] *'''Seventh Lesson from Luke 2: 8&ndash;16''' (read by the Director of Music) :*Carol: "[[Infant Holy, Infant Lowly]]" &ndash; words, Polish traditional, translated by Edith M.G. Reed; music arranged by Stephen Cleobury :*Hymn: "[[God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen|God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen]]" &ndash; English traditional; arranged by David V. Willcocks *'''Eighth Lesson from the [[Gospel of Matthew]] 2: 1&ndash;12''' (read by a [[Fellow#Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin|fellow]] of the College) :*Carol: "Illuminare Jerusalem" &ndash; words adapted from the Bannatyne manuscript in John and Winifred MacQueen, ''A Choice of Scottish Verse, 1470–1570'' (1972); music by [[Judith Weir]] :*Carol: "Glory, Alleluia to the Christ Child" &ndash; words, 17th century; music by A. Bullard *'''Ninth Lesson from the [[Gospel of John]] 1: 1&ndash;14''' (read by the [[Provost (education)|Provost]] of the College) :*Hymn: "[[Adeste Fideles|O Come, All Ye Faithful]]" ("Adeste Fideles") &ndash; words, 18th-century Latin, translated by [[Frederick Oakeley]]; melody by [[John Francis Wade]], arranged by Stephen Cleobury *[[Collect]] and Blessing :*Hymn: "[[Hark! The Herald Angels Sing]]" &ndash; words by [[Charles Wesley]] and [[George Whitefield]]; music by [[Felix Mendelssohn]]; descant by Stephen Cleobury *Organ Voluntaries: "[[In Dulci Jubilo]]" (BWV 729) by [[Johann Sebastian Bach]],『[[La nativité du seigneur|Dieu Parmi Nous]]』by [[Olivier Messiaen]] *Organ Postlude ===Commissioned carols and organ postludes=== <!--Please arrange in chronological order. Thanks.--> {| class="wikitable" style="max-width: 1000px;" |- !width=60px|Year !width=|Titles !width=|Authors |- valign=top |align=center|1983 |In Wintertime{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(When Thou wast born in wintertime) |Words: [[Betty Askwith]]<br />Music: [[Lennox Berkeley]] |- valign=top |align=center|1984 |One Star, at Last{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(Fix on one star) |Words: [[George Mackay Brown]]<br />Music: [[Peter Maxwell Davies]] |- valign=top |align=center|1985 |Illuminare Jerusalem<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2001">{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2001|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2001/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=2001|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209052818/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2001/|archivedate=9 December 2007}}.</ref> |Words: adapted from the Bannatyne manuscript in {{citation|author=John MacQueen|author2=Winifred MacQueen|title=A Choice of Scottish Verse, 1470&ndash;1570|location=London|publisher=[[Faber and Faber]]|year=1972|isbn=0-571-09532-1}}.<br />Music: [[Judith Weir]] |- valign=top |align=center|1986 |Nowel, Nowel, Holly Dark{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} |Words: [[Walter de la Mare]]<br />Music: [[Richard Rodney Bennett]] |- valign=top |align=center|1987 |What Sweeter Music Can We Bring<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2005">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2005|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2005/NineLessonsCarols2005.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2005|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211001315/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2005/NineLessonsCarols2005.pdf|archivedate=11 December 2006}}.</ref> |Words: [[Robert Herrick (poet)|Robert Herrick]]<br />Music: [[John Rutter]] |- valign=top |align=center|1988 |The Birthday of thy King{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(Awake, glad heart, get up, and sing!) |Words: After [[Henry Vaughan]]<br />Music: [[Peter Sculthorpe]] |- valign=top |align=center|1989 |Carol of St. Steven{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} |Words: Adapted from ''W. Sandys' Christmas Carols''<br />Music: [[Alexander Goehr]] |- valign=top |align=center|1990 |Богородице Дево, радуйся<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2007">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2007|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/assets/7/7c/Nine_Lessons_and_Carols_2007.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2007|accessdate=24 December 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607220420/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/assets/7/7c/Nine_Lessons_and_Carols_2007.pdf|archivedate=7 June 2011}}.</ref><br />(Rejoice, O Virgin Mary) |Words: the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Liturgy]] (in [[Russian language|Russian]])<br />Music: [[Arvo Pärt]] |- valign=top |align=center|1991 |A Gathering{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} |Words: [[Lancelot Andrewes]]<br />Music: [[John Casken]] |- valign=top |align=center|1992 |Swetë Jesu{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} |Words: Anonymous, 13th Century<br />Music: [[Nicholas Maw]] |- valign=top |align=center|1993 |Christo Paremus Cantica{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} |Words: Anonymous, 15th Century<br />Music: [[Diana Burrell]] |- valign=top |align=center|1994 |The Angels{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(Should you hear them singing among stars) |Words: [[John V. Taylor]]<br />Music: [[Jonathan Harvey (composer)|Jonathan Harvey]] |- valign=top |align=center|1995 |Seinte Marie Moder Milde{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} |Words: From a 13th-century manuscript in the Library of [[Trinity College, Cambridge]]<br />Music: [[James MacMillan (composer)|James MacMillan]] |- valign=top |align=center|1996 |Pilgrim Jesus{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(Iesus! Christus! In the manger of my body) |Words: [[Kevin Crossley-Holland]]<br />Music: [[Stephen Paulus]] |- valign=top |align=center|1997 |The Fayrfax Carol<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 1997|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1997/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=1997|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928142402/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1997/|archivedate=28 September 2006}}.</ref> |Words: [[Tudor period|Early Tudor]], anonymous<br />Music: [[Thomas Adès]] |- valign=top |align=center|1998 |Winter Solstice Carol<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 1998|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1998/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=1998|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813171723/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1998/|archivedate=13 August 2007}}.</ref> |English words and music: [[Giles Swayne]]<br />[[Latin]] words: [[Magnificat]] [[antiphon]] for Christmas Day |- valign=top |align=center|1999 |On Christmas Day to My Heart<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 1999|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1999/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=1999|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216001631/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1999/|archivedate=16 December 2007}}.</ref> |Words: [[Clement Paman]]<br />Music: [[Richard Rodney Bennett]] |- valign=top |align=center|2000 |[[The Three Kings (Dove)|The Three Kings]]<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2000|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2000/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=2000|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808233206/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2000/|archivedate=8 August 2007}}.</ref> |Words: ''The Three Kings'' (1916) by [[Dorothy L. Sayers]]<br />Music: [[Jonathan Dove]] |- valign=top |align=center|2001 |Spring in Winter<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2001"/> |Words: C. Smart, from ''Hymn &c: The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ''<br />Music: [[John Woolrich]] |- valign=top |align=center|2002 |The Angel Gabriel Descended to a Virgin<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2002|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2002/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=2002|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117232733/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2002/|archivedate=17 November 2007}}.</ref> |Words: 15th&ndash;17th century<br />Music: [[Robin Holloway]] |- valign=top |align=center|2003 |The Gleam<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2003|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2003/|publisher=[[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]]|year=2003|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225122620/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2003/|archivedate=25 December 2007}}.</ref><br />(Not yet shepherds the gilded kings) |Words: [[Stephen Plaice]]<br />Music: [[Harrison Birtwistle]] |- valign=top |align=center|2004 |God would be born in thee<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2004">{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2004|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2004/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=2004|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117224654/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2004/|archivedate=17 January 2008}}.</ref><ref>In addition, a carol entitled ''Starry Night O'er Bethlehem'' with words by Anne Willcocks and music by [[David Willcocks]] was also specially written for the service.</ref><br />(Lo, in the Silent Night a Child in God is Born) |Words: [[Angelus Silesius]]<br />Music: [[Judith Bingham]] |- valign=top |rowspan=2 align=center|2005 |'''Carol''': [[Away in a Manger]]<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2005"/> |Words: 19th century<br />Music: [[John Tavener]] |- valign=top |'''Organ postlude''': Improvisation on "[[Adeste Fideles]]"<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2005"/> |[[Francis Pott (composer)|Francis Pott]] |- valign=top |rowspan=2 align=center|2006 |'''Carol''': Misere' Nobis<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2006">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2006|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2006/NineLessonsCarols2006.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2006|accessdate=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204013517/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2006/NineLessonsCarols2006.pdf|archivedate=4 February 2007}}.</ref><br />(Jesu of a Maiden Thou wast Born) |Words: a version of a medieval English carol<br />Music: [[Mark-Anthony Turnage]] |- valign=top |'''Organ postlude''': Recessional on "[[In the Bleak Midwinter]]"<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2006"/> |[[Lionel Steuart Fothringham]] |- valign=top |rowspan=2 align=center|2007 |'''Carol''': Noël (Now comes the dawn)<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2007"/><br />(Stardust and vaporous light) |Words: [[Richard Watson Gilder]]<br />Music: [[Brett Dean]] |- valign=top |'''Organ postlude''': Sortie on "[[In Dulci Jubilo]]"<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2007"/> |[[David Briggs (musician)|David Briggs]] |- valign=top |align=center|2008 |Mary<br /> (The Night when She First Gave Birth)<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2008"/> |Words: [[Bertolt Brecht]], translated by [[Michael Hamburger]]<br />Music: [[Dominic Muldowney]] |- valign=top |align=center|2009 |The Christ Child<ref name="OUP Choral News Oct 2009">{{citation|title=OUP Choral News E-mail October 2009|date=9 October 2009}}.</ref> |Words: [[GK Chesterton]]<br />Music: [[Gabriel Jackson (composer)|Gabriel Jackson]]<ref>{{citation|title=Oxford Music Now|url=http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/music/OMN33.pdf|format=PDF|date=Spring 2009|issue=33|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|page=5|accessdate=16 May 2009}}.</ref> |- valign=top |align=center|2010 |Christmas Carol (Offerings they brought of gold) |Words: Einojuhani Rautavaara, translated by Hanni-Mari & Christopher Latham<br />Music: [[Einojuhani Rautavaara]]<ref>{{citation|title=Boosey & Hawkes - Performance Calendar|url=http://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/calendar/perf_results.asp|accessdate=24 October 2010}}.</ref> |- valign=top |align=center|2011 |Christmas hath a darkness |Words: [[Christina Rossetti]]<br />Music: [[Tansy Davies]]<ref>{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, Order of Service, 2011|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/services/festival-nine-lessons-2011.pdf|accessdate=25 December 2011}}.</ref> |- valign=top |align=center|2012 |Ring Out, Wild Bells |Words: [[Alfred, Lord Tennyson]]<br />Music: [[Carl Vine]]<ref>{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, Order of Service, 2012|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/services/festival-nine-lessons-2012.pdf|accessdate=27 December 2012}}.</ref> |- valign=top |align=center|2013 |Hear the voice of the Bard |Words: [[William Blake]]<br />Music: [[Thea Musgrave]]<ref>{{citation|title=Commissioned carol sets Blake poem to music|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2013/blake-carol.html|accessdate=5 December 2013}}.</ref> |- valign=top |align=center|2014 |De Virgine Maria |Words: 12th-century Latin, translated by [[Ronald Knox]]<br />Music: [[Carl Rütti]] |- valign=top |align=center|2015 |The Flight |Words: [[George Szirtes]]<br />Music: [[Richard Causton (composer)|Richard Causton]]<ref>{{citation|title=Richard Causton composes 2015 commissioned carol|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2015/causton-carol.html|accessdate=29 November 2015}}.</ref> |- valign=top |align=center|2016 |This Endernight |Words: Anonymous c1400<br />Music: [[Michael Berkeley]]<ref>{{citation|title=Michael Berkeley composes Christmas commissioned carol|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2016/michael-berkeley-composes-christmas-commissioned-carol.html|accessdate=19 November 2016}}.</ref> |- valign=top |align=center|2017 |Carol Eliseus |Words: Welsh<br />Music: [[Huw Watkins]]<ref>{{citation|title=New Christmas Eve carol announced|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/huw-watkins-commissioned-carol.htm|accessdate=9 December 2017}}.</ref> |- |align=center|2018 |O Mercy Divine |Words: [[Charles Wesley]]<ref>http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/chapel/9lc_order_of_service_2018.pdf|accessdate=15 December 2018</ref><br />Music: [[Judith Weir]]<ref>http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2018/king%E2%80%99s-announces-christmas-eve-carol-composer</ref> |- |} ===Attendance at the service in person=== The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held on Christmas Eve at King's College Chapel is open to the general public. The service is very popular, and some people start queuing the night before as demand for seats always exceeds the number available.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hallows |first1=Neil |title=Queuing for King's |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6202751.stm |website=BBC News |accessdate=5 October 2019 |date=22 December 2006}}</ref> ==Service at Groton School== [[File:St. John's Chapel, Groton School, Groton MA.jpg|thumb|St. John's Chapel of [[Groton School]], where the school's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is held]] The Choir of [[Groton School]], of [[Groton, Massachusetts]], USA, has been presenting a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols since 1928, ten years after the service was introduced at King's.<ref name="groton"/> Groton holds the distinction of having the oldest tenured Lessons and Carols service in the United States.{{cn|date=October 2019}} The school's first organist and choirmaster, Twining Lynes, is believed to have heard the service at King's, and shortly thereafter began the tradition with his choir at Groton.<ref name="groton"/> Since its inception, only seven organists have presided over the Groton service. Beginning in 2014, the choir has been conducted by Dan Moriarty. The choir performs the service three times to an overall crowd of over 2,000 people. The first service is open to the residents of Groton, MA and the surrounding towns, the second service is for parents and alumni, and the last service is done for the students and faculty and is broadcast live on Groton's website. The service at Groton consists of an orchestra prelude, and then nine lessons read by students, faculty, and members of the community. Interspersed throughout the lessons are a number of hymns and songs sung by the Choir.{{cn|date=October 2019}} ==Service at Saint Thomas Church, Hanover== The oldest service in an American parish church is at Saint Thomas in [[Hanover, New Hampshire]], where the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has been presented annually since 1935. [[Diane Meredith Belcher]] has been the Music Director (Organist & Choirmaster) at Saint Thomas since 2014; the children's choir is directed by Sarah Slater.{{cn|date=October 2019}} ==See also== {{Portal|Christianity}} *[[Anglican church music]] *[[List of carols at the Nine Lessons and Carols, King's College Chapel]] *[[100 Years of Nine Lessons and Carols]] ==Notes== {{Reflist|2}} ==Further reading== *{{citation|last=Cleobury|first=Stephen|authorlink=Stephen Cleobury|title=Nine Lessons and Carols at King's: 70 Years On|journal=[[The Musical Times]]|volume=129|issue=1750|date=December 1988|pages=687 & 689|doi=10.2307/966672|publisher=The Musical Times, Vol. 129, No. 1750|jstor=966672}}. *{{citation|last=Barnett|first=Laura|title=My week: Stephen Cleobury|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/12/09/bmweek109.xml|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] (Weekend)|date=9 December 2006}}. ==External links== {{Commons category|Nine Lessons and Carols}} *[http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons.html King's College Chapel's webpage about the service] *[http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/services/nine-lessons-2009.pdf Detailed order of service for 2009] {{Christmas}} {{Anglican church music}} [[Category:Anglican liturgy]] [[Category:Christmas carols]] [[Category:Christmas in England]] [[Category:Nativity of Jesus in worship and liturgy]]'