Customer Reviews

100 Carols for Choirs (For Choirs Collections)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the pleasure of participating in a workshop with David Willcocks, and received this book as part of it. It was first published in 1987, but Sir David had some amusing anecdotes to share about how he and John Rutter, another name to reckon with in choral music circles, put it together.

This is what I like about it:

* These gentlemen are giants in the English choral music scene, and personify the English choral tradition in everything they do. So it's a pleasure to find that they have included many carols from other countries, as well as the English ones. It's very hard to find non-English-language carols, so this is a nice little collection.

* Their 4-part arrangements are imaginative but easy enough to sight-sing.

* It also includes a listing of church festivals other than Christmas, with the names and page numbers of carols that would be appropriate for each.

* For ease of navigation as you're singing, the verses are in Roman type while the refrains are in italics.

* For reasons that are not clear, they have chosen to include the text in the original language in some cases, but not all. The foreign language texts are immediately under the English translations, so you can sing in either language.

* At the very end of the book is the order of service for the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, with instructions on the appropriate rank of each person to read, from chorister to bishop.

If you are only going to buy one carol book, this and the Oxford Book of Carols are the best ones to consider. The Oxford has more in it, and is hugely more expensive, so I recommend this one! it'll take you several Christmasses to sing your way through it.

This book is a wonderful source for any established choir. The multi-part harmonies are arranged in a unique and expressive way. The song selections range from old latin (Quem Pastores Laudavere), to religious (It came upon a midnight clear), and even encludes variations of Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls.

This is the first time that I am able to find so many Christmas Carol for Choir which is my favorite music during the whole year. I would like to see more information about the songs contained, and the title of the songs.

Absolutely marvelous collection with wonderful descants and interesting arrangements. I have given copies to many people because I love this book so MUCH!!! If you've ever lived in England, or ever loved CDs of King's College Choir or St. John's College Choir from Cambridge, England, you will discover the arrangements in this great book!

This is a must have for anyone conducting a choir at highschool level and beyond. I sang many of these songs in my choir in highschool, and now that I'm starting my own carreer as a music teacher I've purchased my own copy. If you're looking for some great arrangements of classic pieces, this is the book you want. Perfect for the classroom and more.

Some of the gems of this book that I'd recommend are Lord of the Dance, and In Dulci Jubilo.

Buy this, you're missing some great music if this isn't in your collection.

I had to buy this book for a concert with my local music association. I was impressed with the wide variety of carols in it, despite the fact that it lacks the "Carol of the Bells," one of my favorites. I was kind of hoping that some of the arrangements could be used for informal singing, but most of them are arranged for performance.

Fantastic selection of carols. We bought a number of replacement copies for our choir and one for ourselves. Rutter and Willcocks have a way with choir composition.

The carol book was in better condition than I expected and it came faster than expected. The carols inside are wonderful. A great addition to my music library!

This is an excellent book of traditional, largely sacred carols.(Don't look for either Rudolph or that other homicidal reindeer of song here!)

The Wilcox arrangements are superb. It is just what it says...for choirs.

I received the book in less than 18 hours! Great job, Amazon!