The word 'carol' probably derives from the French word for a piece of music intended for dancing, with a verse and refrain structure and words which were often secular and certainly not always connected with Christmas! The use of the word to refer exclusively to Christmas hymns dates from the 19th century and in particular from the service of Nine Lessons with Carols which was devised by Bishop Benson (later Archbishop of Canterbury) for use in Truro Cathedral. This form of service, in which readings are interspersed with hymns for the congregation and seasonal pieces for the choir, was adapted by King's College, Cambridge, in 1918 and has provided a framework for special Christmas services ever since. The readings range from Genesis through the prophecies of Isaiah to the Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth, culminating in the great opening chapter of St John's Gospel proclaiming the Word made flesh.

At St Bride's the number of organisations who hold such services is growing year by year, with old friends such as the Publicity Club of London, the British Printing Industries Federation and the London College of Printing being joined in more recent years by newer inhabitants of the Street, such as Freshfields and Goldman Sachs. Our own services, including the Advent carol service held on Advent Sunday and Nine Lessons and Carols on the Sunday before Christmas, are equally important - none more so than Fleet Street Carols, traditionally held at noon on the Wednesday before Christmas, with the church full to overflowing. Trafalgar Brass joined the choir at this service for a number of years to play David Willcocks's carol arrangements which provide the framework for this recording. Sir David Willcocks was Organist of King's College, Cambridge during the 1960's and early 1970's and subsequently Director of the Royal College of Music and conductor of the Bach Choir, a post from which he only retired this year. He made these arrangements for the annual Christmas Eve carol service at King's, which is broadcast all over the world. The only descant on this recording not by Willcocks is that for 0 Little town of Bethlehem, which is by Sir Thomas Armstrong, sometime Organist of Christ Church, Oxford.

In more recent years, John Rutter, formerly Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge, has emerged as a leading composer of Christmas music, whose work is popular on both sides of the Atlantic. We include one of his arrangements, 0 Holy night, whose tune is originally by the 19th century French composer Adolphe Adam, and two original compositions; the Advent hymn Of a Rose, a lovely Rose, and The Candlelight Carol, a long-standing favourite of St Bride's congregation and especially its Rector! Other contemporary composers featured are Andrew Gant, once a member of St Bride's choir and now in charge of the music at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, Peter Gritton, now on the music staff at St Paul's School, who composed his Run with torches for the chapel choir at Radley College, David Morgan, whose Make we joy, a setting of a mixed Latin and English text from the 15th century Selden manuscript, was published in 1986 and David Cooper, whose Dormi Jesu, a gentle carol depicting the Virgin Mary rocking the cradle as she sits at her spinning wheel, was broadcast by the BBC in a Daily Service from Blackburn Cathedral in 1989.

Moving back through the century, John Ireland's The Holy Boy is a setting of words by Herbert S Brown. Originally a solo song, this arrangement was made in 1941 by the composer for the BBC Singers. Peter Warlock's setting of Latin words from the 15th century Sloan manuscript was composed in 1924 and Richard Terry's Myn lyking (a favourite of both the Harmsworth family and Lady Thatcher!) also has a 15th century text, with the music dating from 1912. Our performance gives the listener a chance during the four solo verses to hear each of the St Bride's choir's excellent sopranos in turn. Ivor Atkins' arrangement of The three kings dates from the early years of the century (Atkins was Organist of Worcester Cathedral and a close confidante of Elgar), and adds a setting of the Epiphany hymn How Brightly shines the morning star to a song by the 19th century German composer Peter Cornelius, which is sung by a baritone soloist.

The lighter side of our repertoire is represented by the Calypso Carol in an arrangement by John Bertalot (formerly organist of Blackburn Cathedral and now resident in the USA), and Malcolm Sargent's arrangement of the Cowboy Carol which he made for the Royal Choral Society in 1952. The three remaining carols on the disc need little introduction. Our arrangement of Silent Night is by John Cullen, formerly Director of Music at Tonbridge School, Away in a manger is always sung by all the children present in church on Christmas morning (supported by a reluctant soprano!) and We wish you a merry Christmas is sung by the choir from the back of the church after the dismissal at the end of most carol services. Our hope is that this disc will either recreate or introduce you to the very special atmosphere and character of Christmas at St Bride's.