Christmas Carol - It's a Knockout 2010 (Winner: Good King Wenceslas)

[Corki]

"It's A Knockout" returns for the festive period after a lengthy break to DM breaking and my studies! The festive season is upon us, and that means the focus is on Christmasy songs and music. And like last year. you are in for a double dose of "It's A Knockout" this Christmas, with the third contest for Christmas Carols (2008 and 2009) and one with your nominated songs.

 

In 2008, Hark! The Herald Angel Sings won but got knocked out in the 1st Round in 2009, which meant that O Come All Ye Faithful took the crown in 2009, beating its position of runner-up in 2008. Again, for 2010, we have 4 seeded carols (based on their 2009 performance), which are as follows:

 

1. O Come All Ye Faithful

2. Once in a Royal David's City

3. O Little Town of Bethlehem

4. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

 

There will probably be a few changes to the carols from those 16 chosen in previous years. And therefore, "It's A Knockout" remains with the longer format this month - and this means there are 16 carols instead of 8!

 

 

"It's a Knockout" - Format

For those of you who have not been involved with a "It's A Knockout" thread before, the rules are quite simple. The Band of the Red Hand is DM's travel and music Social Group, and "It's a Knockout" is a knock out competition to find out the winner of the chosen category (past categories include Micheal Jackson songs, Classical Music, One Hit Wonders). Each day (or in larger groups depending on my activity and memory!), 2 carols will be posted, along with a link so you can listen to the carol if you do not know it, and all you have to do is post which carol is the better of the two (or simply which one you prefer). After a day, the votes will be counted, and the winning carol will progress to the next round, until we only have 1 carol left as the winner at the end of the competition - which will take the crown of DM's and the Band's Carol for 2010. It's very simple, so I look forward to seeing you getting involved!

 

So without further a-do, let the competition begin!

[Corki]

RESULTS

 

Round 1

 

1. O Come All Ye Faithful (1) beat While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (3-0)

2. I Saw Three Ships lost to In a Bleak Midwinter (1-2)

3. We Three Kings of Orient Are beat Away in a Manger (3-)

4. 12 Days of Christmas lost to (4) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (1-2)

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem (3) beat Mary, Did You Know? (3-0)

6. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear lost to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (0-3)

7. Silent Night lost to Good King Wenceslas (1-2)

8. The Holly and the Ivy beat (2) Once in a Royal David's City (2-1)

 

2nd Round

 

1. O Come All Ye Faithful (1) beat In a Bleak Midwinter (2-1)

2. We Three Kings of Orient Are beat (4) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (2-1)

3. O Little Town of Bethlehem (3) lost to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (1-2)

4. Good King Wenceslas beat The Holly and the Ivy (2-1)

 

Semi-Final

 

1. O Come All Ye Faithful (1) beat We Three Kings of Orient Are (2-1)

2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing lost to Good King Wenceslas (1-2)

 

3rd/4th Play-off

 

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing lost to We Three Kings of Orient Are (0-3)

 

Final

 

1. O Come All Ye Faithful (1) lost to Good King Wenceslas (1-2)

[Corki]

THE CHOSEN CAROLS

 

1. O Come All Ye Faithful (1)

O Come All Ye Faithful is the English translation of the Latin hymn, Adeste Fideles. It is attributed to John Francis Wade, with the English translation done by Frederick Oakeley. When it first originated is unknown, but since translation, the carol has expanded from 4 verses to 8. Personally, I prefer the Latin version (well, I do have bias), but both are great, great carols!

2008: Runner-up

2009: Winner

 

 

2. While Shepherds Watched

This is another popular Christmas carol, with the words attributed to Irish hymnist, lyricist and England's Poet Laureate, Nahum Tate. The exact date of the the lyrics is unknown, but it is sometime around 1700. Again, there is different music, with UK version using Winchester Old from Este's Psalter adapted from Christopher Tye, and the US adapting music from Handel.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

 

 

3. I Saw Three Ships

This is another traditional and popular Christmas carol from England. The earliest printed version is from the 17th century, but its true originals are unknown.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

 

 

4. In a Bleak Midwinter

The lyrics were written as a poem by English poet Christina Rossetti before 1872, and became a Christmas carol after it appeared in The English Hymnal in 1906 with Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets, arranging the music.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

 

 

5. We Three Kings of Orient Are

This epiphany carol was written and composed by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., and it is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863.

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 2nd Round

 

 

6. Away in a Manger

A widely known Christmas carol, often sung at school nativity plays. The song was first published with two verses in 1885, but the author is unknown. The third stanza was added later, and there is again more mystery surrounding this.

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 2nd Round

 

 

7. 12 Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas is an English Christmas carol that enumerates a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. The earliest well-known recording appears in 1842. There are different variations to some of the days.

2008: N/A

2009: N/A

 

 

8. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (4)

A new song for the 2009 contest. This is the English translation of the Latin Veni, veni, Emmanuel. This was translated by John Mason Neale in the mid-19th century. The text is based on the biblical prophesy from Isaiah 7:14 that states that God will give Israel a sign that will be called Immanuel.

2008: N/A

2009: 4th place

 

 

9. O Little Town of Bethlehem (3)

Another of the popular Christmas Carols, inspiration for the words arose when the priest Phillips Brooks visited Bethlehem. His organist Lewis Redner composed the music, and this music is used most in the US. The English tune Forest Green, adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams, is the tune that features in the UK.

2008: 3rd place

2009: 3rd place

 

 

10. Mary, Did You Know?

A new carol for the 2010 contest. It is an extremely recent carol, with the words written in 1984 by Mark Lowry. Buddy Greene wrote the music several years later. Michael English was the first recording artist to record.

2008: N/A

2009: N/A

 

 

11. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is both a poem and Christmas carol written by Edmund Sears, and the music is by Richard Storrs Willis. It first appeared on December 29, 1849.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

 

 

12. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

The tune normally used for this carol is based on a chorus composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. The words were written by Charles Wesley. It first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739. For many years it has served as the recessional hymn of the annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.

2008: Winner

2009: 1st Round

 

 

13. Silent Night

The original carol was written in German (Stille Nacht) by the Austrian Father Josef Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber. In 1859, John Freeman Young published the English translation that is most frequently sung today. The first performace of the carol was on 24th December 1818.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 2nd Round

 

 

14. Good King Wenceslas

This popular carol is about a king who goes out to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (26th December). The words were written by John Mason Neale, with the music coming from Piae Cantiones. It based upon the legend of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935).

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 1st Round

 

 

15. The Holly and The Ivy

The Holly and The Ivy returns for the 2010 contest. The traditional English carol is intermingled with Christian and Pagan imagery. Sir Henry Walford Davies wrote a popular choral arrangement that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and by choirs around the world.

2008: 1st Round

2009: N.A

 

16. Once in a Royal David's City (2)

One of the better known Carols, Once in a Royal David's City was originally a poem written by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848. One year later, H.J. Gauntlett discovered the poem and set it to music. It is typically sung first in The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, with the first verse sung by a boy chorister as a solo, the second verse is sung by the choir, and the congregation joins in the third verse. Excluding the first verse, the hymn is accompanied by the organ.

2008: 4th place

2009: 2nd place

[Corki]

Round 1, Tie 1

 

O Come All Ye Faithful (1)

O Come All Ye Faithful is the English translation of the Latin hymn, Adeste Fideles. It is attributed to John Francis Wade, with the English translation done by Frederick Oakeley. When it first originated is unknown, but since translation, the carol has expanded from 4 verses to 8. Personally, I prefer the Latin version (well, I do have bias), but both are great, great carols!

2008: Runner-up

2009: Winner

 

 

vs.

 

 

While Shepherds Watched

This is another popular Christmas carol, with the words attributed to Irish hymnist, lyricist and England's Poet Laureate, Nahum Tate. The exact date of the the lyrics is unknown, but it is sometime around 1700. Again, there is different music, with UK version using Winchester Old from Este's Psalter adapted from Christopher Tye, and the US adapting music from Handel.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

 

Voting ends on Sunday 26th December 2010 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 1, Tie 2

 

I Saw Three Ships

This is another traditional and popular Christmas carol from England. The earliest printed version is from the 17th century, but its true originals are unknown.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

Sung by the choir of King's College, Cambridge

 

 

vs.

 

 

In a Bleak Midwinter

The lyrics were written as a poem by English poet Christina Rossetti before 1872, and became a Christmas carol after it appeared in The English Hymnal in 1906 with Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets, arranging the music.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

 

Voting ends on Sunday 26th December 2010 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 1, Tie 3

 

We Three Kings of Orient Are

This epiphany carol was written and composed by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., and it is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863.

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 2nd Round

 

 

vs.

 

 

Away in a Manger

A widely known Christmas carol, often sung at school nativity plays. The song was first published with two verses in 1885, but the author is unknown. The third stanza was added later, and there is again more mystery surrounding this.

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 2nd Round

Sung by King's College, Cambridge Choir

 

Voting ends on Sunday 26th December 2010 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 1, Tie 4

 

12 Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas is an English Christmas carol that enumerates a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. The earliest well-known recording appears in 1842. There are different variations to some of the days.

2008: N/A

2009: N/A

An a capella version by Straight No Chaser

 

 

vs.

 

 

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (4)

A new song for the 2009 contest. This is the English translation of the Latin Veni, veni, Emmanuel. This was translated by John Mason Neale in the mid-19th century. The text is based on the biblical prophesy from Isaiah 7:14 that states that God will give Israel a sign that will be called Immanuel.

2008: N/A

2009: 4th place

 

Voting ends on Sunday 26th December 2010 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 1, Tie 5

 

O Little Town of Bethlehem (3)

Another of the popular Christmas Carols, inspiration for the words arose when the priest Phillips Brooks visited Bethlehem. His organist Lewis Redner composed the music, and this music is used most in the US. The English tune Forest Green, adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams, is the tune that features in the UK.

2008: 3rd place

2009: 3rd place

 

 

vs.

 

 

Mary, Did You Know?

A new carol for the 2010 contest. It is an extremely recent carol, with the words written in 1984 by Mark Lowry. Buddy Greene wrote the music several years later. Michael English was the first recording artist to record.

2008: N/A

2009: N/A

 

Voting ends on Sunday 26th December 2010 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 1, Tie 6

 

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is both a poem and Christmas carol written by Edmund Sears, and the music is by Richard Storrs Willis. It first appeared on December 29, 1849.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

 

 

vs.

 

 

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

The tune normally used for this carol is based on a chorus composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. The words were written by Charles Wesley. It first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739. For many years it has served as the recessional hymn of the annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.

2008: Winner

2009: 1st Round

 

Voting ends on Sunday 26th December 2010 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 1, Tie 7

 

Silent Night

The original carol was written in German (Stille Nacht) by the Austrian Father Josef Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber. In 1859, John Freeman Young published the English translation that is most frequently sung today. The first performace of the carol was on 24th December 1818.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 2nd Round

 

 

vs.

 

 

Good King Wenceslas

This popular carol is about a king who goes out to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (26th December). The words were written by John Mason Neale, with the music coming from Piae Cantiones. It based upon the legend of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935).

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 1st Round

 

Voting ends on Sunday 26th December 2010 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 1, Tie 8

 

The Holly and The Ivy

The Holly and The Ivy returns for the 2010 contest. The traditional English carol is intermingled with Christian and Pagan imagery. Sir Henry Walford Davies wrote a popular choral arrangement that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and by choirs around the world.

2008: 1st Round

2009: N.A

 

 

vs.

 

 

Once in a Royal David's City (2)

One of the better known Carols, Once in a Royal David's City was originally a poem written by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848. One year later, H.J. Gauntlett discovered the poem and set it to music. It is typically sung first in The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, with the first verse sung by a boy chorister as a solo, the second verse is sung by the choir, and the congregation joins in the third verse. Excluding the first verse, the hymn is accompanied by the organ.

2008: 4th place

2009: 2nd place

 

Voting ends on Sunday 26th December 2010 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Banders, Please Note:

 

Voting in "It's A Knockout" threads counts towards posting in an activity thread for points gained through the roll call. However, in order for that to qualify, you need to post and vote at least 4 times - and sign into the roll call here!

 

Corki

Marshal-General

Social Group Leader

[Krakalakachkn]

1. Oh Come All Ye Faithful

2. In the Bleak Midwinter

3. We Three Kings

4. O Come, O Come Emanuel

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem

6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

7. Silent Night

8. The Holly & the Ivy

[Imperium]

1) O come all ye faithful

2) In a bleak midwinter

3) We three Kings

 

We three king of orient are

One in a taxi one in a car

One on a scooter beeping his hooter

smoking a fat cigar

 

Oh star of wonder

star of might

sit on a box of dynamite

light the fuse and have a snooze

and you'll be gone tomorrow night (had to be done)

 

4) 12 days of Christmas

5) O little town of Bethlehem

6) Hark! the herald angels sing

7) Good King Wenceslas

8) Holy & The Ivy

[Corki]

Sorry about the delay in moving this forward, but I have had a topsy-turvy Christmas and not being online as much as I would like.

 

Anyway, I will get my votes in, and move this forward.

 

1. Oh Come All Ye Faithful

2. I Saw Three Ships

3. We Three Kings

4. O Come, O Come Emanuel

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem

6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

7. Good King Wenceslas

8. Once in a Royal David's City

[Corki]

Results:

 

1. O Come All Ye Faithful 3-0 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

2. I Saw Three Ships 1-2 In a Bleak Midwinter

3. We Three Kings of Orient Are 3-0 Away in a Manger

4. 12 Days of Christmas 1-2 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem (3) 3-0 Mary, Did You Know?

6. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 0-3 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

7. Silent Night 1-2 Good King Wenceslas

8. The Holly and the Ivy 2-1 (2) Once in a Royal David's City

[Corki]

Round 2, Tie 1

 

O Come All Ye Faithful (1)

O Come All Ye Faithful is the English translation of the Latin hymn, Adeste Fideles. It is attributed to John Francis Wade, with the English translation done by Frederick Oakeley. When it first originated is unknown, but since translation, the carol has expanded from 4 verses to 8. Personally, I prefer the Latin version (well, I do have bias), but both are great, great carols!

2008: Runner-up

2009: Winner

 

 

vs.

 

 

In a Bleak Midwinter

The lyrics were written as a poem by English poet Christina Rossetti before 1872, and became a Christmas carol after it appeared in The English Hymnal in 1906 with Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets, arranging the music.

2008: 1st Round

2009: 1st Round

 

Voting ends on Tuesday 4th January 2011 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 2, Tie 2

 

We Three Kings of Orient Are

This epiphany carol was written and composed by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., and it is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863.

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 2nd Round

 

 

vs.

 

 

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (4)

A new song for the 2009 contest. This is the English translation of the Latin Veni, veni, Emmanuel. This was translated by John Mason Neale in the mid-19th century. The text is based on the biblical prophesy from Isaiah 7:14 that states that God will give Israel a sign that will be called Immanuel.

2008: N/A

2009: 4th place

 

Voting ends on Tuesday 4th January 2011 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 2, Tie 3

 

O Little Town of Bethlehem (3)

Another of the popular Christmas Carols, inspiration for the words arose when the priest Phillips Brooks visited Bethlehem. His organist Lewis Redner composed the music, and this music is used most in the US. The English tune Forest Green, adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams, is the tune that features in the UK.

2008: 3rd place

2009: 3rd place

 

 

vs.

 

 

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

The tune normally used for this carol is based on a chorus composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. The words were written by Charles Wesley. It first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739. For many years it has served as the recessional hymn of the annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.

2008: Winner

2009: 1st Round

 

Voting ends on Tuesday 4th January 2011 at 10pm (GMT)

[Corki]

Round 2, Tie 4

 

Good King Wenceslas

This popular carol is about a king who goes out to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (26th December). The words were written by John Mason Neale, with the music coming from Piae Cantiones. It based upon the legend of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935).

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 1st Round

 

 

vs.

 

 

The Holly and The Ivy

The Holly and The Ivy returns for the 2010 contest. The traditional English carol is intermingled with Christian and Pagan imagery. Sir Henry Walford Davies wrote a popular choral arrangement that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and by choirs around the world.

2008: 1st Round

2009: N.A

 

Voting ends on Tuesday 4th January 2011 at 10pm (GMT)

[Krakalakachkn]

1. O Come All Ye Faithful

2. We Three Kings

3. Hark! THe Herald Angels Sing

4. The Holly and the Ivy

[Imperium]

1. In a bleak midwinter

2. We Three Kings

3. Hark! The herald angels sing

4. Good King Wenceslas

[Corki]

1. O Come All Ye Faithful (1)

2. (4) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

3. O Little Town of Bethlehem (3)

4. Good King Wenceslas

[Corki]

Results:

 

1. O Come All Ye Faithful (1) 2-1 In a Bleak Midwinter

2. We Three Kings of Orient Are 2-1 (4) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

3. O Little Town of Bethlehem (3) 1-2 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

4. Good King Wenceslas 2-1 The Holly and the Ivy

[Corki]

Semi-Finals, Tie 1

 

O Come All Ye Faithful (1)

O Come All Ye Faithful is the English translation of the Latin hymn, Adeste Fideles. It is attributed to John Francis Wade, with the English translation done by Frederick Oakeley. When it first originated is unknown, but since translation, the carol has expanded from 4 verses to 8. Personally, I prefer the Latin version (well, I do have bias), but both are great, great carols!

2008: Runner-up

2009: Winner

 

 

vs.

 

 

We Three Kings of Orient Are

This epiphany carol was written and composed by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., and it is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863.

2008: 2nd Round

2009: 2nd Round

 

 

Voting ends on Wednesday 5th January 2011 at 10pm (GMT)