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)