Recommended Repertoire: Church Choirs at Xmas

Specially selected for Boosey & Hawkes by Charlotte Mobbs, a choral/consort singer who regularly performs with The Sixteen, The Monteverdi Choir and the Gabrieli Consort.

The selection listed here provides a starting point from which church choirs can begin to plan music for Christmas services or Festivals of Nine Lessons and Carols. The carols are either a cappella or with organ accompaniment and all, except the Lauridsen and Haydn, are by English composers, in no more than eight parts (SSAATTBB) and each no more than five minutes long.

Elizabeth Poston’s “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” is a simple, syllabic and beautiful unaccompanied carol which varies the vocal textures to magical effect. A perfect choral miniature.

“A Hymn to Virgin”, a carol by Benjamin Britten, was composed in his final year at school and sets a semi chorus or solo quartet singing a Latin text against a C14th English poem for the full SATB chorus in this exquisite and timeless work.

Kenneth Leighton’s “Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child” is another early composition in the composer's output. Published in 1956 it is the second in a set of three carols for soprano soloist and chorus and has earned a place in many choirs’ Christmas repertoire. The work is largely tonal and gives opportunity for dramatic story telling alongside its more reflective passages.

“Here is the little door” and “A Spotless Rose” are two of Howells’ 3 carol-anthems. The first, in four parts, atmospherically reflects the child-like simplicity of the text, while the second, for four part chorus plus baritone solo, creates an atmosphere of timeless wonder with an easy ebb and flow. It is an acknowledged masterpiece which can be heard in carol services year after year.

“The little road to Bethlehem” is probably best known as a solo song, but also exists in four other versions – SA with accompaniment and a cappella TTBB, SAB and SATB choirs, each with Head’s beguiling tune gently evoking the peaceful pastoral scene.

The ravishing, yet delicate carol “Bethlehem Down” by Peter Warlock is in four parts throughout with achievable chromatic harmonies which perfectly complement the wonderfully evocative poem. Another work which has found a regular place in the repertory of choirs throughout the world.

For something more upbeat, John Gardner’s setting of “Tomorrow shall be my dancing day” is a fun and lively four part carol with organ accompaniment (and optional percussion). An excellent carol with which to finish a service or a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.


John Rutter, Martin Lauridsen and Will Todd provide three more contemporary works.

The much loved “Candlelight Carol” will be a favourite with younger choir members. It is pleasingly straight forward but with Rutter’s customary tunefulness, scored for four part accompanied choir (also available for SSAA).

O Magnum Mysterium by Lauridsen is scored for SSAATTBBB. The beautiful legato lines and rich harmony depict the mystery and wonder of the child’s birth in the stable in what the composer describes as “a quiet song of profound inner joy”.

Rising British composer Will Todd’s “The Christ Child” is a soothing lullaby in four parts with a pleasing directness and understated, tolling accompaniment. This is a very approachable piece with rewarding results.

Haydn’s “Missa Sancti Nicolai” is a joyful, straight forward mass setting with organ accompaniment, ideally suited for either Midnight mass or Christmas morning services.

The 100 Carols for Choirs contains many more carols including familiar classics and traditional favourites in new arrangements, both with accompaniment and a cappella as well as the traditional Order of Service for a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Charlotte Mobbs is in great demand as a choral/consort singer, regularly performing with The Sixteen, The Monteverdi Choir and the Gabrieli Consort. She also has a busy diary singing as a soloist in venues around the country. In her spare time Charlotte works with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.