Sky TV “Nine Lessons & Carols”: St Albans Cathedral 1989 (Barry Rose)

Sky TV first appeared on British television screens in early 1989 and this was their one-and-only foray into religious broadcasting. The programme featured the choir of St Albans Cathedral and members of St Albans Bach Choir, directed by Barry Rose, with Andrew Parnell (organ), and was recorded “live” a few days before its eventual broadcast on 24 December 1989.
Barry Rose writes: “The cathedral choir sang from various parts of the East end of the building, including the Quire and the North Transept, while some members of the St Albans Bach Choir sang from the Presbytery, where they were joined by Simon Gaunt, the bass soloist in ‘Three Kings from Persian lands afar.’ One interesting feature is that Ben Collingwood, now the current producer of BBC Choral Evensong, can be seen as a junior chorister on the conductor’s left, 3rd from his end, while singing tenor on the same side is Ian Wicks, currently Headmaster of Durham Cathedral School.”
1. Silent night (Franz Gruber, arr Barry Rose)
2. O come, all ye faithful (“Adeste fidelis”)
3. Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (John Gardner)
4. This is the truth sent from above (arr Ralph Vaughan Williams)
5. Adam lay ybounden (arr Boris Ord)
6. Come, thou redeemer of the earth (arr Andrew Lumsden)
7. God rest ye merry gentlemen (arr John Stainer)
8. A spotless rose (Herbert Howells)
9. In dulci jubilo (arr Robert Pearsall)
10. O little town of Bethlehem (“Forest Green”)
11. I saw a fair maiden (Peter Warlock)
12. Away in a manger (arr Barry Rose)
13. See, amid the winter’s snow (arr David Willcocks)
14. While shepherds watched (“Winchester Old”)
15. Three kings from Persian lands afar (Peter Cornelius)
16. Personent hodie (arr Gustav Holst)
17. No small wonder (Paul Edwards)
18. Of the Father’s heart begotten (arr David Willcocks)
19. The infant king (arr David Willcocks)
20. The Sussex Carol (arr Philip Ledger)
21. Hark, the herald angels sing (Felix Mendelssohn)

[@JayR-uy8gl]

I'm a countertenor formerly with the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys. We did a week's residency at St.Alban's in 1995. Barry Rose attended our evensong. I had a solo, and afterward he was talking with our director Charles Olegar(rip). He asked who the boy was on the solo, he couldn't see any lips moving. I told him, it was me. He paid me quite the compliment. One of the best weeks I spent as a Choir member. The town was as nice as the Cathedral. Enjoyed seeing this.

[@thesaucegroup1877]

Do you still sing countertenor now a days?

[@crw3736]

I cannot help but note with reverence an important part of the St. Albans history and legacy, the great Peter Hurford, Organist and Master of the Music at St. Albans from 1958 until 1978.

[@user-pd9uy1um7g]

Beautiful

[@TheAthertonian]

I used to live in St Albans and know the Abbey very well. This brought back many happy memories of a simpler life.

[@OrthodoxChristianTeaching]

May the Lord reward you

[@joaneng9073]

This is as inspiring and beautiful as it was 32 years ago! Truly this is what Christmas is about! Thank you for beauty!

[@juttaagatha7640]

This is magnificent! I love the Evensong Services of the Anglican Church with all the choristers singing so beautifully. We haven't got anything like this in Germany. And in 2002 I visited St. Alban's! I love England with its lovely countryside and most impressing coastline!❤️And you've got the most wonderful cathedrals over there!

[@missasinenomine]

Kreutzkirchenchor Dresden isn't bad. Esp the old recordings under Rudolf Mauersberger. Herrlich! Regensburger Domspatzen auch nicht schlecht.

[@juttaagatha7640]

@@missasinenomine You're right, of course, Regensburger Domspatzen and Kreuzkirchenchor aren't bad either. I think it's due to the special atmosphere of the English Cathedrals that I find it so overwhelming!

[@shanti9040]

wonderful, thank You All so much.....

[@andyfield7397]

I would have been living there then as a student

[@GuyChapman]

Blimey! I was there! I knew Andrew Parnell quite well (he was my music teacher at St. Albans School). Good to see David Ireson in full voice, too!

[@josephfranceski1041]

Grateful for this video with tears in my eyes.

[@brianmckay1236]

Thank you for this gem. I have watched it in its entirety this evening and it is so, so good. Barry Rose really was the best!

[@gabrielpoint-hudon2009]

Vraiment extraordinaire très beau vidéo

[@maureengraham5487]

Merry Christmas

[@classicalguitareterna]

Thank you! Beautiful! Uplifting! Many blessings!

[@davidcrook4166]

Now I see what you meant when you said you had something extra special in store! This is great! I love the way that King's College does this service, but it's so good to see how another choral institution does it. Yes, not many people would have seen this first time round because satellite TV had only just taken off. I'm rather busy at the moment, so can't see it all right now...but a Like no contest!

[@davidcrook4166]

Found time to listen to a little more interesting to have the lesson from Micah quoted in Matthew 2, of course

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

Yes...this is the special treat! What I love about it is the fact is a live service with TV cameras which move around and get some unusual angles. I think its really well filmed. As you say.. many will not have seen this little gem.

[@davidcrook4166]

Just finished watching it thank you SO MUCH for uploading this St Albans is right up there with Kings, Guildford and all my other all-time favourites!

[@litoboy5]

great

[@jackmorrison7379]

The introduction narration said the choir boys were drawn from local schools. Unlike Kings College which has its own private school. So, all these years later is St. Albans cathedral in atheist England still able to find families receptive to their sons singing in church?

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

Apparently! www.stalbanscathedral.org/cathedral-choir

[@missasinenomine]

"After this I looked & there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, (-------)". Rev 7/9. Don't worry. There are far more Christians than you think. Just wait & see!

[@ArchivesofSound]

Interesting for us old-Guildfordians who were involved in Barry's first cathedral job to see him in his final one. Conducting style hasn't changed - but then, as we know, the beat is irrrelevant!

[@geoffjelly4959]

ArchivesofSound I have nystagmus and would likely pass out trying to interpret his style!

[@davidcrook4166]

I removed my Like whilst having a real "bad hair day" so sorry but I have now restored it! I also reinstate my comments below!!

[@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic]

Splendid!!

[@davidcrook4166]

@@ArchiveofRecordedChurchMusic I was so unhappy that day that I removed all my Likes and unsubscribed from every channel and nearly gave up on KZbin altogether but now I am back....and AORCM is one channel that had to come back!

[@kentallyn2880]

The results speak for themselves...beautiful is not enough. Inspiring is too trite to describe. But really, the director appears to be medically afflicted with a seizure disorder perhaps. Seems a bit dramatic and extremely difficult to follow. Oh well, I can simply close my eyes and drink in this splendid Christmas cheer.🎄