Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Christmas Music with William Price King Rewind – Favourite Carols –

This week William Price King shares some of the all time favourite carols for us all to enjoy.

“In the Bleak Midwinter” is based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti which was first set to music in The English Hymnal in 1906 by Gustav Holst. In 1911 Harold Drake wrote another version of this hymn which became a popular Christmas carol, mostly preferred by choir masters and choral experts. Sung here by the Choir of  Gloucester Cathedral  4FabBEATLES 

“Ding! Dong! Merrily on High” The Portland Ensign Choir and Orchestra perform this exciting Christmas Carol, arranged by Mack Wilberg. This song first appeared as a secular dance tune, “Branle”, from the dance book Orchésographie, written by Jehan Tabourot. The lyrics are from the English composer George Ratcliff Woodward and the carol was first published in 1924.

 

“Carol of the bells” was composed by Mykola Leontovych in 1914, based on the Ukrainian folk chant “Shchedryk “,with lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song is based on a four-note ostinato and has been performed in many musical genres. Performed here by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

“For unto us a child is born” -Sir Colin Davis conducts the London Symphony Orchestra, Susan Gritton, Sara Mingardo, Mark Padmore, Alastair Miles and the Tenebrae choir in “For Unto Us a Child is Born” from Handel’s Mesiah, composed in 1741.

We hope you have enjoyed singing along to these carols from and Merry Christmas. William.

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

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Regular Venue – Cave Wilson

 

As always William would love to receive your feedback… thanks Sally.