Carols for Choirs
Encyclopedia
Carols for Choirs, published by Oxford University Press
, edited by Sir David Willcocks with Reginald Jacques
and John Rutter
, is the most widely-used source of carols
(predominantly Christmas
carols, though some are for other festivals) in the British
Anglican tradition, and among British choral societies.
There are four books in the original series and a portmanteau book published later. They contain the most commonly performed carols and their harmony arrangements, with descants from the editors (mainly Willcocks) which have become the de facto standard descants for these tunes in the Anglican communion
in the UK. Choir singers usually refer to the books by the colours of their covers, with the "green" and "orange" books (volumes 1 and 2) being the most widely used. The "blue" book (volume 3) contains a number of longer anthems, and the "red" book features fifty carols arranged for sopranos and altos. Most of the arrangements were originally written for use by the choir of King's College Cambridge or the Bach Choir in London.
The publisher, Oxford University Press, has in recent years expanded the series with volumes appropriate for other church seasons, e.g. Advent for Choirs and Epiphany to All Saints for Choirs.
In July 2011, Oxford University Press published the fifth incarnation of the original series, Carols for Choirs 5, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the first volume.
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, edited by Sir David Willcocks with Reginald Jacques
Reginald Jacques
Thomas Reginald Jacques was an English choral and orchestral conductor. His legacy includes various choral music arrangements, but he is not primarily remembered as a composer....
and John Rutter
John Rutter
John Milford Rutter CBE is a British composer, conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, mainly of choral music.-Biography:Born in London, Rutter was educated at Highgate School, where a fellow pupil was John Tavener. He read music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the...
, is the most widely-used source of carols
Carol (music)
A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with church worship, and often with a dance-like or popular character....
(predominantly Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
carols, though some are for other festivals) in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Anglican tradition, and among British choral societies.
There are four books in the original series and a portmanteau book published later. They contain the most commonly performed carols and their harmony arrangements, with descants from the editors (mainly Willcocks) which have become the de facto standard descants for these tunes in the Anglican communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
in the UK. Choir singers usually refer to the books by the colours of their covers, with the "green" and "orange" books (volumes 1 and 2) being the most widely used. The "blue" book (volume 3) contains a number of longer anthems, and the "red" book features fifty carols arranged for sopranos and altos. Most of the arrangements were originally written for use by the choir of King's College Cambridge or the Bach Choir in London.
The publisher, Oxford University Press, has in recent years expanded the series with volumes appropriate for other church seasons, e.g. Advent for Choirs and Epiphany to All Saints for Choirs.
In July 2011, Oxford University Press published the fifth incarnation of the original series, Carols for Choirs 5, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the first volume.