BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship

[wes williams]

I've been a huge fan of the Yorkshire Carols around Sheffield since I first discovered them around 50 years ago, and they always evoke Christmas to me. Radio 4 broadcast a 'Sunday Worship' programme this morning featuring some of the more religious carols. I think I heard quite a few free reeds in it. Dave Elliott may be able to comment further. My daughters commented that their favourite carol - Kris Kringle - which we used to sing together at Xmas dinner wasn't featured, but that's understandable given the nature of the programme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00261t6

Edited December 15, 2024 by wes williams

[wes williams]

And in case you wondered what the Kris Kringle carol was, here's a 1973 recording. I think the soloist was probably Charlie Fretwell.

 

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by wes williams

[gcoover]

Thanks so much for posting this, Wes!

 

What a great production by the BBC. I love the woman's comment about carols being "fuel for the dark days".

 

Many years ago when I was hitting all the new and used record shops in London, Gordon Potts at the Virgin Megastore insisted on seeing what I had purchased so far. Out of the several dozen LPs in my bag he singled one out as "THE best album ever recorded" - it was "A People's Carol" (1974) on the old Leader label, with songs from pubs in Dungworth, Ecclesfield, Oughtibridge, and Ingbirchworth, and with several pages of informative liner notes by Ian Russell. Nice to hear Ian interviewed in this new BBC documentary.

 

I had the pleasure of driving through many of those villages last September, so of course had to loudly play my digitized version of "A People's Carol".

 

John Kirkpatrick is now doing something similar in Shropshire with his Castle Carols project and his new "Chariots" book.

 

How wonderful to know it is such a thriving tradition - it's hard to beat the combination of a pint and a carol and a pub full of enthusiastic singers!

 

Gary 

 

Edited December 16, 2024 by gcoover

[wes williams]

The BBC was responsible for introducing me to the carols, as it broadcast a programme on them in the early 70s (before the LP was released) which featured the Worral and Ecclesfield singers. I've been accumulating recordings and various LPs/CDs ever since.

 

When I moved to Somerset at the other end of the country I also found that there were local carols around there too! See here and recordings here from Odcombe, Somerset and other villages throughout the West country. Perhaps there are many villages throughout England with their own local carols still to be discovered as John K's project shows.

[d.elliott]

As an x- member of the Worrall male Voice Choir, and the organiser/ editor of the Blue Book I am more than familiar with our local carols, living in Oughtibridge! I missed the Radio 4  programme broadcast because I was playing baritone concertina for the bass lines for a local carol sing in the Oughtibridge Parish Church. Thanks Wes for the link and the opportunity to hear dear old Charlie again. We sang in the same section.

[Robin Madge]

Anne and I are regulars at the George at Upper Denby for the carols there, up to 9 "While Shepherds" tunes. No instruments at the George and I think I prefer that for most of the carols, however, you need symphonies for "Old Foster"!

 

I do "Sweet Bells" elswhere, it can be quite good exercise to swing the concertina (Bb/F) whilst singing the carol.

 

Robin

[Geoffrey Crabb]

On 12/15/2024 at 8:31 PM, wes williams said:

I think I heard quite a few free reeds in it. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00261t6

Certainly on the opening carol.

 

Geoff

[d.elliott]

I think you did too Geoff, there ae several free reeder's in our locality

 

[John Wild]

Some find this program interesting - A cause for carolling 7.Folk Carol Survival and Revival. I spotted it in the radio4 extra schedule this morning.

This is labelled episode 7. There is a link to more episodes.

It is not a new program, first broadcast in 2013.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b03lpfx0

[MartinW]

I believe the opening carol in the Sunday Worship programme was The Dungworth Singers, with Jon Boden playing duet concertina. They were recorded in Dungworth before the regular carols sing a few weeks ago.

 

The Carols Survival programme would have been recorded at The Festival of Village Carols in 2012, when the Glen Rock Carolers made their 2nd visit to the festival. The orchestra for the festival always includes several English concertinas including one or two basses. Other instruments include violins, cellos, double bass, flutes, oboes, recorders and a serpent 

 

Martin

[Kevin Knippa]

The programme webpage has a full setlist with performers and carols.

 

Carols for the Christ Child: Village Carols

 

 

 

Kevin Knippa
Austin, TX USA

 

Irish Concertina Company Vintage

[Moll Peatly]

Farming Today also had a short piece about village carols, this time from Bradford on Avon, where it is organised by a couple of concertina players.

[wes williams]

Chris Timson (Anne Gregson's partner in the B-o-A area) is well known here for The Concertina FAQ.