1. O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël) Words based on poem by Placide Cappeau (1808-1877). Music: Adolphe-Charles Adam. Trans. John Sullivan Dwight
2. In the Bleak Midwinter Words: Christina G. Rossetti (1830-94). Music: Gustav Holst or Harold Edwin Darke
3. Once in Royal David's City Words: Mrs C.F. Alexander (1818-95) Music: H. J. Gauntlett
4. O Little Town of Bethlehem Words: Bishop Phillips Brooks (1835-93). Music by R. Vaughan Williams
5. The Coventry Carol Words attrib. Robert Croo, 1534. Tune anon., 1591 or earlier
6. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Words: E.H. Sears (1810-76). Trad. English tune adapted by Arthur Sullivan)
7. Christe, redemptor omnium Sixth-century Gregorian chant
8. Good King Wenceslas Words trans. J. M. Neale (1818-1866). Tune, anon., thirteenth century
9. O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) Words: Ernst Anschütz, 1824. Music is an old German folk tune
10. O Little One Sweet, O Little One Mild Words transl Percy Dearmer (1867-1936). Old German tune harmonised by J.S. Bach
FROM the first day of voting it was clear that one carol on our shortlist was vastly more popular than the rest: O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël) had gathered almost 40 per cent of the votes. The lyrics started as a Christmas poem written at the request of his priest by a wine merchant, Placide Cappeau (1808-77), from Roquemaure, near Avignon. It was passed to Adolphe-Charles Adam, a composer best known today for his ballet Giselle, who set the poem to music. It was translated into English by an American Unitarian minister, John Sullivan Dwight, and published in his Journal of Music in 1855.
The melody of O Holy Night was possibly the first piece of music to be broadcast on the radio. It was played on the violin 100 years ago by the inventor and radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden on Christmas Eve, 1906, during what could be thought of as the first radio programme ever, broadcast from Brant Rock, Massachusetts. Since then, it has been recorded by numerous artists from the opera stars Plácido Domingo to popular singers such as Christina Aguilera.
Second place in the poll, with 15 per cent of the vote, is In the Bleak Midwinter, nominated by the theologian Jane Williams, wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Once in Royal David's City comes in at third place and is the choice of one of Britain's foremost choral conductors, Sir David Willcocks (see article), and also the composer John Tavener.
Not surprisingly, the least-known carol on our shortlist, At the Nativity (Gloomy Night), failed to make the final top 10. It was nominated by the art historian Sr Wendy Beckett. As far as we know it has never been commercially recorded and that is one good reason why it should be included in the compilation of our readers' favourite carols that we hope to produce as a CD in time for next Christmas.