We did indeed make it into the Nine Lessons and Carols service at King's College Chapel. We got there at about 8:30 am to queue, and time passed quickly as we chatted with our queue neighbors, a retired lawyer who was attending for the first time, a young American physics student staying in town for Christmas, and a boarding school teacher who was practically a characticture of himself, right down to the cap and tweed jacket.While we were in line, we were treated to the voices of the King's College Choir -- the older boys:
King's College Choir Singing For the Queue from dceditors on Vimeo.
And we got a glimpse of the younger boys as they went between the college buildings. They were adorable in their gowns and top hats. (Clicking on the picture will bring up a larger version, as usual)The service itself was absolutely beautiful. There were a couple of carols commissioned just for this year's service that were really pretty. We were seated right against the wall and could hear the lead glass windows rattle when the organ played the low notes. It wasn't amplified, so you actually get better sound if you listen to the radio broadcast. But it was still absolutely amazing -- and a centerpiece of an English Christmas. and I'm very glad we went.
I'm not sure if this will work, but you might be able to listen to this year's service from this link. It starts with the tail end of the news (very ironically, the news that Maxjet has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy), but hang in there for a minute and thirty seconds to at least hear the beginning of the first hymn. Goosebumps, I tell you.
