The Time of Snow

December 12, 2015
University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford
Christmas tree

Sir David Wilcocks, legendary conductor, administrator and editor, inspired a generation of musicians. His death in September, aged 95, probably marked the passing of the last person to have been conducted by Elgar. 

Wilcocks was dynamic in many fields, but his contribution to Christmas carols was immense, partly through the much copied King's College Cambridge sound where his broadcasts between 1957 and 1974 influenced millions, and partly through the ubiquitous collections: Carols for Choirs, used every year by singers everywhere.

We draw widely from the 2011 collection, Carols for Choirs 5. There are brilliant new settings of famous words (including finally a really good tune for The Holly and the Ivy) and beautiful new carols by Best of British composers including Malcolm Archer, Bob Chilcott, Harold Darke, John Rutter and Will Todd. 

With mulled wine at the interval and a couple of well-known carols so you can join in, come and join us for what will be a Christmas festive treat from the City of Oxford Choir.

  • Archer: A litte child
  • Berlioz: The shepherd's farewell
  • Blackwell: Lo, how a Rose e're blooming
  • Britten: Hymn to the Virgin
  • Chilcott: The time of snow
  • Hewitt-Jones: What child is this?
  • Owens: The holly and the ivy
  • Reger: Maria Wiegenlied
  • Rutter: Candlelight carol
  • Todd: My Lord has come