Carols for a Victorian Christmas

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Description of Carols for a Victorian Christmas

The Victorians almost re-invented Christmas trees and carol singing after decades of neglect of our major festival. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert led the changing style of Christmas as it became a real family occasion for the first time, with presents around the tree and carol singing in the home and on the street. This recording assembles a variety of Victorian Christmas music from the sounds of street musicians to drawing room songs, from mechanical instruments and organs to bells and church choirs.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert led the changing style of Christmas as it became a real family occasion for the first time, with presents around the tree and carol singing in the home and on the street. This recording assembles a variety of Victorian Christmas music from the sounds of street musicians to drawing room songs, from mechanical instruments and organs to bells and church choirs.

This varied selection of music reflects both the pious and robust sides to the Victorian musical style. Vigorous carols such as God rest you merry gentlemen (track 1) mix with gentle ones such as Sleep, holy babe (track 13) and the beautiful and famous See amid the winter's snow (track 12). Adam's powerful Cantique de Noël (Song of Christmas - track 4) contrasts with Liszt's quiet arrangement of In Dulci Jubilo (track 10).

The music of Bach and Handel was a feature of Victorian music making in the choral societies of towns and cities throughout the land and can be heard here in Jesu, Joy (track 16), In dulci jubilo (track 22) and in an all-time favourite Christmas piece, the Hallelujah Chorus (track 21).

The atmosphere of the Victorian Christmas drawing room is recreated here in sentimental songs from around the piano. What shall we sing at Christmas? (track 7) draws together several seasonal songs while the Song of the Robin Redbreast (track 9) may have brought a tear to the Victorian sentimental eye! Music boxes (including the famous Leipzig-made Polyphons) could be heard in the home or in the public bar, to which the carol singers (singing the Wassail Song - track 17) and slightly tipsy musicians might repair after a night of music-making and revelry around the town. In Landlord fill the Flowing Bowl (track 18) the musicians make it sound as though the landlord might have a few problems serving drinks accurately himself!

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