Classical Notes: December 12, 2008 Archive

Christmas List

Posted at 4:02 PM on December 12, 2008 by Rex Levang (4 Comments)

BBC Music, which logically enough is the music magazine of the BBC, has released its list of the 50 top Christmas carols.

The results seem pretty odd, at least to this American reader. Here are their Top Five, and nary a Silent Night or Hark the Herald in the bunch:

1. In the Bleak Midwinter (Harold Darke)
2. In Dulci Jubilo
3. A Spotless Rose
4. Bethlehem Down
5. Coventry Carol

The list was selected by a group of mostly British choral conductors, which might explain why the list is British-centric. And they may have been thinking more about pieces that their choirs sing in concerts and services, and not so much about broad popularity.

I've searched for an online version, with no luck--maybe a better Googler than I can find the link. (It's the December 2008 issue.) Meanwhile, you can read and hear a bit of the Top 5 here.

Any favorite carols you'd like to weigh in on?

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