The Laboratory

Have you lost Whamageddon yet? Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil it for you - no video links here! If you haven't heard of it, the game starts in November when someone mentions it, and you drop out of the game the first time you hear "Last Christmas" by Wham! Are you still in?  There's also variations like DavidEssexAWintersTaleAgeddon, and of course Harkageddon - you lose as soon as your vicar schedules Hark The Herald when it's only the second Sunday in Advent. You could play HarkHunter, from the great Twitter account @QuireMemes: Tonight Sarah and I will be losing Harkageddon, but hopefully not Whamageddon, as we are going to the Carol Service at what is officially the UK's nicest Red-brick College in the Snow, Royal Holloway University of London. It narrowly beat Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford as Sarah got more likes on Facebook. Here it is:

It's finally here! The school Carol Service is tonight, which means a whole day of runthroughs with the amazing 5 choirs, orchestra, sinfonia, jazz band and soloists. Such a great day. I can't post our rehearsal, but here are 2 of the pieces we are doing. "Christmas Lullaby" by the Senior Girls Choir ["We didn't do it because it was too hard" - Guy Creen] and the grand finale of massed choirs and orchestra, "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" arranged by Mark Hayes

It's the season of Carol Services, with Woking last Sunday and Ottershaw next. Our school Carol Service is being broadcast on Youtube, and on Christmas Eve, Adam will go into church for the first time since March to play the organ. Getting used to online services took a while, and someone wrote new words to the hymn "All Creatures Of Our God And King" about how it all felt:

Today is one of the most exciting days of the year! It's the Salesian School Carol Service, with 7 choirs, 20 musical items, and a whole day of rehearsals. This year the music includes "Noel" by Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin, and a special "Home Alone" medley of three songs from the film written by John Williams and Leslie Bricusse. I couldn't find a good vocal version but here are the Brooklyn Duo doing a medley on piano and cello. And here are the Salesian Choirs and Band performing a special charity version of The Twelve Days Of Christmas:

Today's post is all about carol services! Maybe you're going to one this Sunday, or next Sunday, or on Christmas Eve. Or maybe like me, you are doing all 3! So many different songs going round in my head as we practice all the choir pieces... But the best one will be my school's carol service on Tuesday - 5 different choirs, congregational carols on the organ, readings and soloists. It's a fantastic time! Nothing sounds better than a choir of children singing their hearts out. Here's a video of one of my favourite carols, "Tell Out The News": And a carol I heard sung at St Alban's Primary School that is really beautiful, "In a Stable": But in case you need something to dilute all the shmaltz, here is your cut-out-and-keep Carol Service Bingo card - just don't shout "House" too loudly! (thanks to The Church Sofa )