Oakham’s singers have been hard at work in recent weeks, recording a range of music for a specially-filmed sequence of Carols & Readings for Christmas 2020. To watch the watch Carols & Readings for Christmas 2020, click here.
Released on the last day of the School term (Saturday 12 December), the film features music sung by the Chamber Choir, Chapel Choir and Lower School, as well as a number of vocal and instrumental soloists, alongside readings and prayers led by the Heads of School, Headmaster and Chaplain.
“Despite restrictions preventing our normal series of Carol Services taking place in Chapel, we were all so keen to celebrate the festive season through the release of a traditional sequence of music and readings online,” says Director of Music, Peter Davis. “The musical performances are particularly poignant at a time when there are so many understandable restrictions on carol singing, and the pupils were outstanding in the way that they rose to the challenge of singing 2 metres apart during the recording sessions.”
The film includes the very first performance of an excellent new carol by Form 7 musician, Ben Kelly, who composed his own setting of the “Wexford Carol” and won the School’s first carol composition competition. Viewers are also invited to join in with four congregational carols, led by the Chapel Choir. The sequence ends with an exuberant arrangement of “Ding dong! merrily on high” for choir and organ which is guaranteed to put you in the festive spirit!
Watch Carols & Readings for Christmas 2020 here.
