Programme Index

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from a college chapel upon Christmas Eve, 1940
Processional Hymn: Once in Royal David's city
The Bidding Prayer
Invitatory Carol: O little Town of Bethlehem (Walford Davies)
First Lesson: Genesis iii, 8-15. God announceth in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head
Reader, A chorister
Carols: Past three o'clock (London Waits; Refrain, trad.), Ding Dong! Merrily on high (French, 1588)
Second Lesson: Genesis xxii, 15-18.
God promiseth to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed
Reader, A choral scholar
Carol: The holly and the ivy (traditional French)
Third Lesson: Isaiah ix, 2, 6, 7.
Christ's birth and kingdom are foretold by Esias
Reader, The organist
Carol: God rest you, merry gentlemen (traditional English)
Fourth Lesson: Micah v, 2, 3, 4.
The prophet Micah foreseeth the glory of little Bethlehem
Reader, A Fellow
Carol: Christ was born on Christmas Day (16th century Swedish)
Fifth Lesson: St. Luke i, 26-33 and 38. The Angel Gabriel visiteth the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reader, The Vice-Provost
Carol: There stood in Heav'n a linden tree (German, 1420)
Sixth Lesson: St. Matthew i, 18-23.
St. Matthew telleth of Christ's Holy Birth
Reader, A Free Church Minister
Carol: While shepherds watched (Este's Psalter, 1592)
Seventh Lesson: St. Luke ii, 8-16.
The Shepherds go unto the Manger
Reader, The Mayor's chaplain
Carols: Shepherds in the field abiding (Old carol of Lorraine)
I saw a fair maiden (20th century, Peter Warlock)
Eighth Lesson, St. Matthew ii, 1-11.
The Wise Men are led by the Star to Jesus
Reader, A representative of Eton College
Carol: In Dulci Jubilo (14th century German)
Ninth Lesson, St. John i, 1-14. St. John unfoldeth the great mystery of the Incarnation
Reader, The Provost
Carol: O come, all ye faithful (17th-18th century, French)
Collect for Christmas Day
The Blessing
Recessional hymn: Hark! the herald angels sing (Mendelssohn, 1809-47)

In place of their usual Christmas Party the Minstrels do their best to have a ' do '
Invitations have been issued by Harry S. Pepper to:
Scott and Whaley, Ike Hatch ,
C. Denier Warren , Sidney Burchall
The Kentucky Banjo Team: Dick Pepper , Edward Fairs ,
Bernard Sheaff
Leslie Woodgate and Doris Arnold
BBC Variety Orchestra and Male
Voice Chorus

Contributors

Unknown:
Harry S. Pepper
Unknown:
Ike Hatch
Unknown:
C. Denier Warren
Unknown:
Sidney Burchall
Unknown:
Dick Pepper
Unknown:
Edward Fairs
Unknown:
Bernard Sheaff
Unknown:
Leslie Woodgate
Unknown:
Doris Arnold

A .choral drama
The libretto adapted from the Coventry Nativity play
Music by Rutland Boughton
BBC Theatre Chorus
(Trained by Charles Groves)
BBC Theatre Orchestra
Leader, Tate Gilder
Conductor, Stanford Robinson
Scene 1: The home of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth
Scene 2 : A moor at night Scene 3 : The stable
Scene 4: An open space in Jerusalem. The door of Herod's palace in the background
Scene 5: The stable
Rutland Boughton's Bethlehem, though originally written for the stage, is equally successful as a concert production, as its outlines are clear and its texture void of complexities. The libretto, adapted from the Coventry Nativity Play, is full of quaint — even crude — phraseology, which, while it often constitutes a source of anxiety to the performer, is so cleverly clothed with lovely sound that the atmosphere of each and every scene is realised at once.
The Prelude and most of the Interludes are based on old carols, some of which are to be found in the main sections of the work. Bethlehem was first produced at the Glastonbury Festival, which was founded by the composer.

Contributors

Music By:
Rutland Boughton
Leader:
Tate Gilder
Gabriel:
Joan Hammond
The Virgin Mary:
Lisa Perli
Joseph:
Norman Allin
Jem:
John McKenna
Sym:
James Topping
Zarathrustra:
Appleton Moore
Merlin:
Kenneth Ellis
The Believer:
Ivor John
The Unbeliever:
Dennis Noble
Calchas, the Herald:
Dennis Noble
Herod:
Henry Wendon

BBC Home Service Basic

About BBC Home Service

BBC Home Service is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 1st September 1939 and ended on the 29th September 1967.

Appears in

About this data

This data is drawn from the Radio Times magazine between 1923 and 2009. It shows what was scheduled to be broadcast, meaning it was subject to change and may not be accurate. More