On Christmas Night – Cat McGill – Neurodivergent musician and author

The Big Community Carol Sing

Leek Town Football Club
24th Dec 4-5pm

featuring 'On Christmas Night' - a new carol for Leek

About the event

This Christmas, OUTSIDE Arts are revisiting their hugely successful Live Advent calendar where you can once again open a door to a magical surprise every day in December. As with last year’s finale, on Christmas Eve YOU have another opportunity to be part of the magic!

Leek-based musician and composer Cat McGill has teamed up with OUTSIDE and Leek Town Football Club to host another Big 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 Big Sing will be Cat’s Staffordshire Moorlands carol that was written specially for the 2023 event, inspired by an old Christmas song sung by the Staffordshire Colliers over 100 years ago. If you want to join in you can download the resources below to help you learn the song, and if you play an instrument do bring it along and join the live band.

Joining in

How do I join in?

Please download music/lyrics (below) to bring with you. There will also be some lyric sheets available. If you want to play an instrument and need a music stand you will need to bring one with you.

Timings

4pm – Audience arrive. Introduction from OUTSIDE Arts
4.15pm – Carol singing
4.50pm – Performance of ‘On Christmas Night’
5pm – Event finish

What are we singing?

The main carols will be:

Hark the herald angels sing, O little town of Bethlehem, The Sussex Carol (also called ‘On Christmas Night all Christians Sing’), Ding dong merrily on high, In the bleak midwinter, The first Noel, O come all ye faithful.

I’ve tried to pick a selection that hopefully most people will know – click on the name of each carol to get a preview! At the end I will teach you the new carol I wrote especially for 24Doors (which is called ‘On Christmas Night‘) so you can sing along with the live band.

Download the words:

Click here to download lyrics for all the carols

If you want to bring an instrument you can download sheet music for the carols:
Click here for instruments in C (eg flute)
Click here for instruments in Bb (eg trumpet)
Click here for instruments in Eb (eg saxophone)

and you can even join in ‘On Christmas Night’ if you want to!

Click here for instruments in C (eg flute)
Click here for instruments in Bb (eg trumpet)
Click here for instruments in Eb (eg saxophone)

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.

What are the timings?

4pm – Audience arrive. Introduction from OUTSIDE Arts
4.15pm – Carol singing
4.50pm – Performance of ‘On Christmas Night’
5pm – Event finish

Is there parking / refreshments?

There is some parking available for performers. There will a bar on site with hot drinks available. The singing will take place outside unless it is raining, so do wrap up warm!

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.