I do love the contrast in this arrangement, it has the full range of emotion, with some lovely painting of the scene.

This is glorious

Beautiful!

Nice juxtaposition of disconcerting storm chords transitioning to hopeful calming chords. It sounded to the ear like a welcome sunbeam emerging from an unwelcome downpour feels on a cheek. Thanks for sharing, Ben!

Lovely! Very inspiring!

Yet more proof that Christianity is totally metal.

Thank you. This was very insightful and informative

Makes me want to take German lessons.

My goodness, why've you gotta be such a good writer and maker of fine art appreciation pieces? Thanks Ben!

Can’t see any link can you put it somewhere else?

Thank you Ben! This is one of my favorite songs, in part because of how it's able to give voice to and soothe and give hope to the melancholy pieces of my heart. I hope that Austin can get some of that soothing this season too.

I did not find this inspirational or "comforting". Instead, I found it somehow false and shallow. I think it is dangerous nonsense to forgive the Nazis for any of the atrocities they committed. There are some events that should never be forgotten and some perpetrators who should never be forgiven. Why would the city of Coventry want to partner with a German city? It was those people in Kiel, in Germany, who supported Hitler and his thugs, thus giving the Nazis the power to exterminate millions of innocent and helpless persons in their concentration camps. Forgiving the ex-Nazis and partnering with them minimizes their collective responsibility for Hitler's atrocities. It also minimizes and trivializes the suffering of the victims. I think the narrator of this podcast is hopelessly naive about the presence of radical evil in the world and how we should deal with it as a community. I hope this person is not in charge of any government or any military organization, because "forgiveness" in today's world will lead to annihilation of the innocent. If you think your religion is so redemptive, try telling this to Vladimir Putin, who is doing his best these days to annihilate the Ukrainian people. He, too, claims to be a religious man! The nonsense that you are broadcasting is one of the reasons why people are increasingly turning away from churches and religion -- because established religion offers only palliatives and bromides, and advice that is shallow, sanctimonious, and self-serving.

Thanks again, Ben! Another great and important story! Merry Christmas to you, and Happy Hanukkah, too! 🎄🕎🎶🎶💥❤️

Ben, I cannot thank you enough for your work. I am a retired music teacher, with several excellent music history classes under my belt, but you continue to graciously instruct me! This podcast deserves millions of listeners, and I certainly hope it’s following grows far beyond where it now is. I do love both Félix and Fanny Mendelssohns’ music, but I’m most thankful to them for resurrecting the music of J S Bach. Wise, gifted musicians and composers who gave us so much and died way too young. Thank you, Ben. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Sunny Solstice! 🎄🕎🌞❤️🎶🎶🎶💥

I’m so thankful to have found your podcast, Ben! You have a new subscriber. 😉❤️🙏🏼 The link was provided by a fellow viewer of a Voces8 performance of the Coventry Carol (new music, ancient lyrics) on KZbin. This was a wonderful way to find out about a Christmas hymn I have sung many times! Thank you, and a very Merry Christmas!

Thank you for this wonderful podcast. Coventry Carol haunts me, now that I'm raising my baby son. I just put him to sleep and in the background I heard Coventry Carol playing, VOCES8 rendition. The arrangement can bring someone to tears. The lyrics are extremely sorrowful as the story. There's that knee-jerk feeling towards the injustice in that moment in history. Then relating it to the Coventry bombing and the congregation during Christmas Day was beautiful. It's important to remember the whole story, remembering that Jesus, also an son, died and joined those innocent infants, whilst urging forgiveness.

I got to hear this beautifully sung at BYU's Celebration of Christmas concert (twice) and was absolutely stunned. Had to look it up to hear it again and to learn more about it. Thanks for sharing this podcast and for the message of hope and light. Merry Christmas! 🎄