‘A Christmas book about kindness and cheer to make even Scrooge’s heart melt’ Dame Jacqueline Wilson Funny festive middle grade about the world's most Christmassy family from the founder of Authorfy, perfect for 8+ readers and fans of Matt Haig, Ben Miller, Sibeal Pounder’s Tinsel, and the Nativity! films

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From Andrew Gant, Oxford professor and renowned British composer, The Carols of Christmas is a joyous account of the history behind our favorite carols--from Advent through Epiphany. Everyone loves a carol--in the end, even Ebenezer Scrooge had a soft spot for them! They have the power to evoke a special type of mid-winter joy, like the aroma of gingerbread or the twinkle of lights on a tree. It's a kind of magic. But how did they get that magic? Gant--a choirmaster, church musician, university professor, and writer--tells the story of twenty carols, each accompanied by lyrics and music, unraveling a captivating, and often surprising, tale of great musicians and thinkers, saints and pagans, shepherds and choirboys. Along the way, Gant answers some of the biggest questions he's received about these beloved carols over the years, including: How did the most beloved carols come to be? Why do we sing the versions of carols that we do? How did these carols stand the test of time? Readers get to delve into the history of favorites like "Good King Wenceslas," "Away in a Manger," and "O, Tannenbaum," discovering along the way how "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" came to replace "Hark, how all the welkin' ring" and how Ralph Vaughan Williams applied the tune of an English folk song about a dead ox to a poem by a nineteenth-century American pilgrim to make "O Little Town of Bethlehem." A charming book that brims with anecdote, expert knowledge, and Christmas spirit, The Carols of Christmas is a fittingly joyous account of one of the best-loved musical traditions.

A Collection of over 150 Christmas Carols arranged for voice or piano. MIDI files for each song, as well as a PDF of the entire manuscript is available here:http://acollectionofchristmascarols.comThe entire list of carols is as follows:Ad cantus lætitiæAdeste FidelesAll my heart this night rejoicesAlma Redemptoris MaterAlthough at Yule it Bloweth CoolThe Angel GabrielAngels from the Realms of GloryAngels We Have Heard on HighAngelus ad VirginemAs Lately We WatchedAs With Gladness Men of OldAuld Lang SyneAve Jesu DeusAway in a MangerThe Babe of BethlehemBlessed be that Maid MarieThe Boar's Head CarolBring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella!Carol for Christmas DayCarol for Christmas EveA Carol for Christmas EveCarol of the BellsCarol of the BirdsCarol of the ShepherdsA Child this day is bornChrist Was Born on Christmas DayChristians, Awake, Salute the Happy MornChristmas BellsChristmas DayChristmas is ComingA Christmas RoundChristmas SongChristmas Time is Come AgainChrystmasse of OldeCome Thou Long Expected JesusCome, tune your heartCome, ye loftyConditor alme siderumCongaudeat turba fideliumCorde NatusThe Coventry CarolA Cradle-Song of the Blessed VirginCreator alme siderumA day, a day of gloryDeck the HallDing Dong Merrily on HighEarth today rejoicesEs Ist Ein Ros EntsprungenThe First NoëlFlos de radice JesseThe Friendly BeastsFrom Church to ChurchFrom far awayFrom Heaven High I Come to YouFum Fum FumGaudeteGlad Christmas BellsGlorious, beauteous, golden-brightGloucestershire WassailGod loved the worldGod Rest You Merry, GentlemenGod's dear SonThe Golden CarolGood Christian Men, RejoiceGood King WenceslasHacia Belén va una burraHail! Holy Child, Lain In An Oxen MangerHark! A Herald Voice is CallingHark! The Herald Angels SingHo! Steward Bid my servantsThe Holly and the IvyHow Great Our JoyHymn for Christmas DayI Heard the Bells on Christmas DayI Saw Three ShipsIl est né le divin EnfantIn Bethlehem, that noble placeIn Dulci JubiloIn natali DominiIn terra PaxIn The Bleak Midwinter (both Darke and Holst)The IncarnationInfant Holy Infant LowlyIt Came Upon the Midnight ClearJacob's LadderJesu, hail! O God most holyJesus in the MangerJesus the Light of the WorldJingle BellsJolly Old Saint NicholasJoseph, O Dear Joseph MineJoy to the WorldKling GlöckchenLætentur CoeliLo, How a Rose E'er BloomingMake we joy now in this festThe Manger ThroneMasters in This HallMilfordMyn LykingNew Prince, New PompeNoel NouveletO Christmas TreeO Come Divine MessiahO Come, All Ye FaithfulO Come, Little ChildrenO Come, O Come, EmmanuelO Du FrohlicheO Holy NightO Little Town of BethlehemO Magnum MysteriumO TannenbaumOf the Father's Love BegottenOn Jordan's BankOn the Birthday of the LordOnce in Royal David's CityOrientis PartibusPast Three A ClockPat-a-PanPersonent HodiePuer Natus in BethlehemPuer nobis nasciturQuem PastoresRing out Wild BellsRise Up, Shepherds, And FollowRiu Riu ChiuThe Sans Day CarolThe Seven Joys of MaryShepherds! Shake Off Your Drowsy SleepShilohSilent NightSleep, Holy BabeThe Son of God is born for allStill Still StillStille NachtThe Story of the ShepherdThe Stranger StarSussex CarolSweet was the song the Virgin sungThere's a Song in the AirThis Endris NightTo us is born a little ChildTo Us This Morn a Child is BornTollite HostiasThe Truth from AboveTwas in a Cave on Christmas MornTwas in the winter coldThe Twelve Days of ChristmasUnto us is born a SonUp Good Christen Folk and ListenVeni, Veni, EmmanuelThe Virgin and ChildA Virgin UnspottedWachet AufThe Waits' SongThe Wassail SongWatchman, Tell Us of the NightWe Three Kings of Orient AreWe Wish You a Merry ChristmasThe Wexford CarolWhat Child is This?When Angelick Host EntunedWhen Christ Was Born of Mary FreeWhile Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Music and verses for all the most popular Christmas Carols are accompanied by colourful Stephen Cartwright illustrations in this great-value carol book. Includes all the favourites from Once in Royal David's City and In the Bleak Mid-Winter to O Little Town of Bethlehem and We Wish you a Merry Christmas.

Original and traditional stories, together with familiar carols, make up this Christmas collection which reflects all aspects of the festive season, from carol-singing to the wonderful tale of the very first Christmas of all.