On Christmas Night
The Big Community Carol Sing
Leek Town Football Club — 24th Dec — 4pm
This Christmas, OUTSIDE Arts are holding a Live Advent calendar where you can open a door to a magical surprise every day in December; and on Christmas Eve YOU have an 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 a 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.
The finale to the Big Sing will be a brand new Staffordshire Moorlands carol that Cat has written especially for the event, which has been inspired by an old Christmas song that was sung by the Staffordshire Colliers over 100 years ago. If you want to join in the world premiere of this new piece of music you can download the resources below to help you learn the song, and come along to the workshop that takes place before the main event. You can either come along and sing, or if you play an instrument do bring it along and join the live band.
How do I join in?
If you want to join in with the new carol On Christmas Night we will meet at the Football Club at 2.15pm, and Cat will lead a workshop to teach the new carol. Don’t worry if you’re not a confident singer, you can sing along with the melody, and leave the harmony parts to others!
Please download music/lyrics (below) to bring with you. There will be some lyric sheets available but not the full score. If you require a music stand you will need to bring one with you.
If you only want to join in the audience carols you don’t need to come to the workshop.
Timings:
2.30-3.30pm – ‘On Christmas Night’ workshop for learning the new carol
MAIN EVENT
4pm – Audience arrive. Introduction from OUTSIDE Arts
4.15pm – Audience carols (lyrics & music available to download below)
4.50pm – World Premiere of ‘On Christmas Night’
5pm – Event finish
Other info:
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!
Audience carols will be: Hark the herald angels sing, O little town of Bethlehem, The Sussex Carol, Ding dong merrily on high, In the bleak midwinter, The first Noel, O come all ye faithful.
Click here to download lyrics for audience carols
Download music for audience 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)
Music and lyrics for ‘On Christmas Night’
Download sheet music and lyrics
Singers:
Lyrics
Lyrics (large print)
Tune notation, with chords and lyrics
Full score SATB
Instrumentalists:
Instrumental score in C
Instrumental score in Bb
Instrumental score in Eb
Instrumental parts in C
Instrumental parts in Bb
Instrumental parts in Eb
Melody + easier second part in C
Melody + easier second part in Bb
Melody + easier second part in Eb
Download audio files
Voice recordings:
Verses 1 & 2 – melody / tune only
Verses 1 & 2 – all parts together
Individual harmony parts
Verses 1 & 2 – soprano
Verses 1 & 2 – alto
Verses 1 & 2 – tenor
Verses 1 & 2 – bass
MIDI recordings:
Full song – all parts
About 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 have been added by Cat McGill to celebrate Christmas in Leek 2023, as part of OUTSIDE Arts’ Advent Doors project. This carol will be performed for the first time on Christmas Eve, nearly 120 years after it was first written down, by community choirs and singers from the local area.
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.
I’m not a confident singer and I’m confused by all the different versions!
I would suggest you stick to the melody. You can download either just the lyrics on their own and use the melody recording to learn the part, or if you know how to read music you can download the tune notation to help you learn it.
I am a man / have a deep voice – which part shall I sing?
You can sing whichever part you are most comfortable with! You might want to stick with the melody, or if you are a confident harmony singer you could try the tenor or bass part. Why not listen to them all and then decide?
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 easier 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..! 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.