Tradition is not always Schlamperei

Like many people my Christmas begins at 3-00 on Christmas Eve with the solo treble singing the first verse of Once in Royal David's City from King's College.

As ever the order of service ranged across a wide range of musical styles.  I can't say that this year's new carol, by Rautavaara made much impression (it seemed rather shapeless) but I enjoyed the Judith Weir and, especially, the Pierre Villette, a composer previously only known to me by name only.

But as ever it is the traditional old favourites which made the greatest impression.  (I realise of course that old is a comparative term and that much of Christmas tradition is Victorian in origin).  There is something reassuringly about the straightforward four in a bar sturdiness of those familiar melodies which never fails to resonate.

But to me the icing on the cake - the Christmas moment is Willcocks' descant to the last verse of Hark the Herald - those soaring treble voices in that warm acoustic never fails to thrill.  And I can point to a single moment which sums up to me why this carol service means so much to me and to many others - the scrunching dissonance on the final "Hark the herald"  .  Once I have heard that - and it never cease to thrill -  I am ready for whatever Christmas might throw at me!