Leek Community Carol Sing – Cat McGill – Neurodivergent musician and author

Leek Community Carol Sing 2025

Leek Trestle Market
24th Dec 5-6pm

About the event

This Christmas, the people of Leek have come together to produce a month’s worth of Advent Celebrations all throughout the town, building on the Live Advent calendar which was run by OUTSIDE for two brilliant years. Once again, on Christmas Eve YOU have an opportunity to be part of the magic!

Leek-based musician and composer Cat McGill has teamed up with the brilliant Florence Brass to host a Community Carol Sing on Christmas Eve, which is open to anyone and everyone to join. You don’t have to be the best singer, or be brilliant at playing an instrument, it’s all about getting together and sharing the joy of Christmas.

As last year, the finale to the carols will be Cat’s Staffordshire Moorlands carol that was written specially for the 2023 Advent Doors event, inspired by an old Christmas song sung by the Staffordshire Colliers over 100 years ago. Music and lyrics available to download here.

Everyone is welcome to join in and sing, and if you play an instrument please do bring it along and join the live brass band!

Joining in

How do I join in?

You can download music and lyrics from this folder. The band will be playing from the Salvation Army’s New Christmas Praise, so if you have a copy of that do bring it along.

If you want to play an instrument and need a music stand you will need to bring one with you.

Location

This year the carols are in Leek Trestle Market. This is level access throughout and the nearest car park is accessed via Market Street. This is a standing event, there is very limited seating available and we anticipate the musicians will use most of it!

Timings

5pm – Arrival and welcome
5.05pm – Carol singing
5.50pm – Singing of ‘On Christmas Night’
5.55pm – Finale We wish you a Merry Christmas
6pm – Event finish

FAQs and more information

FAQs

Who can join in?

Anyone! I have tried to make it accessible for anyone to join in with, no matter whether you’re a musician, singer, or you just like to join in with carols at Christmas! If you really want to join in but you’re not sure how do feel free to drop me an email on cat@catmcgill.uk and I’ll do what I can to help.

Why are there so many instrument parts in different keys?

This is because different instruments have different ‘home’ keys, so when lots of different instruments are playing together you need to make sure everyone has music in the correct key for their instrument.

I don’t know what key my instrument is in?

If you play the recorder or flute you will need the music in C. If you play the clarinet or trumpet, you will need the music in Bb. If you play the alto saxophone or tenor horn you will need the music in Eb. If you play something that I haven’t listed then either ask your instrumental teacher or drop me an email!

How easy is the easy part?

Well, I have passed my Grade 1 exam on the tenor horn (for a sponsored event about four years ago!) and I can play it, with a bit of practice..! For On Christmas Night, 3/2 can look like a tricky time signature, so it’s best to think of it as a ‘slow three’, and play as if a minim is one beat and a crotchet is half a beat. If you’re finding it tricky, listening to the music can be really helpful, as once you’ve got the tune in your head you’ll find it easier to play.

Can children join in?

Yes! We would love this to be an event for all the family – though please make sure that all children bring a grown up with them who will be responsible for them throughout the event. If you or your children play a musical instrument, I have written out easy harmony lines for all of the carols, which should be playable for anyone who is around Grade 1 standard. Children are very welcome to join in with the singing as well.

Is there parking / refreshments?

Yes, you can park in the car park accessed from Market Street. I’m hoping there will be refreshments available – just waiting to confirm!

Can I sing On Christmas Night with my community choir?

Yes! If you scroll down I have included links to download the full score in SATB, the full score for instrumentalists, and audio recordings to listen to if you prefer to learn by ear. (If you do perform On Christmas Night please remember to credit Cat McGill as the composer, and fill out your PRS forms!)

About 'On Christmas Night'

How I wrote the song

The main melody of the verse (up to ‘The choirs sing…’) and the lyrics of the first verse have been adapted from a ‘Christmas Song of the South Staffordshire Colliers’ which was recorded in the Lucy Broadwood Manuscript Collection in 1904. The tune and lyrics would have been sung around South Staffordshire in the 1800s, and were sent to Lucy Broadwood by Dr James Culwick, who wrote:

“I have certainly not heard this for the past forty years. I have written it from memory of my mother’s singing. She said when she learned it the recital lasted nearly an hour. There were about ninety verses sung slowly by a man with a strong, rough and deep bass voice.”

You can view the original manuscript in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House in London, on online: https://www.vwml.org/record/LEB/5/127

The refrain, harmonies, and additional verses were added by Cat McGill to celebrate Christmas in Leek 2023, as part of OUTSIDE Arts’ Advent Doors project. This carol was performed for the first time on Christmas Eve, nearly 120 years after it was first written down, and is being reprised for the 2024 event.