CAROLS FROM KING'S - ORDER OF SERVICE WITH NOTES Once in Royal David's City. Choir and congregation The words by Mrs C F Alexander come from a set of 'Hymns for Little Children' (1824). The tune 'Irby' was written as a Christmas carol by Henry John Gauntlett and published in 1849. Gauntlett became organist at the age of 10 in the church where his father was the vicar, but went on to work as a lawyer for 15 years before becoming a professional musician who wrote over 1,000 hymn tunes. The descant is by Stephen Cleobury. Bidding Prayer A Tender Shoot Choir Music by Otto Goldschmidt (1829-1907). This German composer was a pupil of Mendelssohn and moved to London in 1858 where he became organist of two churches in Wimbledon and founded the London Bach Choir with whom he conducted the first complete performance in English of Bach's B minor Mass. This is the Truth Sent from Above Choir This is a traditional carol from Herefordshire, collected and arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and published in 1919. As is very common, only the first five verses are performed here. First reading: Isaiah 9 Isaiah speaks of the peace that Christ brings. Sussex Carol [On Christmas Night All Christians Sing] Choir A traditional carol from Sussex, also collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The sparkling arrangement is by Philip Ledger, Stephen Cleobury's predecessor as Director of Music of King's College Chapel. The Holly and the Ivy Choir The words are a traditional English carol collected in Gloucestershire by Cecil Sharp and published in 1911. The tune comes from France, and is arranged here by June Nixon, one of Australia's best known organists, choir trainers and composers. Dr Nixon has been Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne since 1973 Second reading: The Heart in Waiting, by Kevin Crossley Holland The English poet Kevin Crossley-Holland has written eight collections of poetry and has translated Beowulf and oth