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A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

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A traditional Christimas Eve service of readings and carols from King's College, Cambridge

The traditional service of readings and carols from King's College Cambridge that, for many people around the world, signals the beginning of Christmas.

Held in the candlelit Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, this service marks for many people around the world the beginning of Christmas. 

It is based around nine Bible readings which tell the story of the loving purposes of God. 

They are interspersed with carols old and new, sung by the world famous Chapel Choir who also lead the congregation in traditional Christmas hymns.

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A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

24/12/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Service of carols, hymns, and readings live from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge

Service of carols, hymns, and readings live from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge.

For millions, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, live from the candlelit Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, marks the beginning of Christmas. The service is based around nine Bible readings which tell the story of the loving purposes of God. They are interspersed with carols old and new, sung by the world-famous Chapel choir who also lead the congregation in traditional Christmas hymns.

A new work has been commissioned for the Christmas Eve service every year since 1983, and this year Cheryl Frances-Hoad has written The Cradle, a setting of an English translation by Robert Graves of an anonymous 17th Century Austrian text.

A number of pieces by 20th Century composers such as Robin Nelson, Matthew Martin, Judith Weir, James MacMillan, Philip Ledger, William Mathias, and Peter Warlock, sit alongside traditional carols in arrangements by David Willcocks and Christopher Robinson. The service also includes the carol All the Stars Looked Down, composed by John Rutter in memory of the former director of Music at King’s, Stephen Cleobury.

Producer: Ben Collingwood

(Photo: The choir of King's College Cambridge conduct a rehearsal of their Christmas Eve service of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, in King's College Chapel. Credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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