Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols

The title track of the podcast is here! Even though “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was never meant to be a Christmas carol, it has proven one of the most popular in history. We’re exploring its soaring descants and hallmark harmonizations with conductor/composer Colin Britt. And we’re unpacking its many scriptural allusions with Laurie Brink, a Dominican sister and New Testament scholar. 

Special thanks to the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, the Ignatian Schola and One Hope Project, for allowing us to play parts of their recordings of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

Support “Hark!” and subscribe to America today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would it mean to approach Advent with a sense of longing, rather than wanting or demanding? That’s the question posed by Roc O’Connor S.J., of the famed St. Louis Jesuits. And the Christmas carol that seems to best encapsulate this holy longing is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” It’s one of the oldest carols in circulation, with a text that dates back to the 8th century. To uncover the story of this ancient hymn, we’re joined by Cameron Upchurch, chapel organist and Director of Music at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

Special thanks to the Ignatian Schola and to Salt of the Sound (and their record label Echoes Blue Music), for their recordings of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel;” to Frank Tuson for providing instrumental accompaniment to the Schola; and to Cameron Upchurch, Frank Tuson and Ricardo da Silva for vocals on this episode.

Support “Hark!” and subscribe to America today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the first episode of Hark! we unwrap the history of Christmas carols in Europe and why so many of them are set in a haunting minor key. Host Maggi Van Dorn is joined by Rosie Pentreath, musician and music writer for Classic FM, and the founder/host of the OUTcast podcast.

Support “Hark!” and subscribe to America today.

Special thanks to Harpa Dei and Jim Bilodeau for providing some of the original music you heard in this episode. And to Frank Tuson for our theme music.

Which Christmas carols would you like for us to explore next year? Let your voice be heard! Complete this brief listener survey.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America Media presents “Hark!” a podcast on the meaning and the making of our most beloved Christmas carols and their time-honored traditions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices