Most hated Christmas carol?, Any nominations? Options

[elidatrading]

I nominate The First Nowell - Biblically inaccurate and I can do without the endless practice of the D major scale, thank you.

Liz

[anacrusis]

I have to switch out to the words of most of them, they all make me cringe: melody-wise that one would certainly be in contention - what a dirge... My single worst hate has to be that verse of Oh come all ye faithful though - god of god, light of light...that one I could cheerfully set in concrete and throw at the writer, it's so obscene.

for it's lack of scansion, probably in the meek blidwinter - Rosetti also is squirm-worthy more generally.

[mel2]

Simply for the dirge-like tune, In the bleak midwinter. Don't mind The First Nowell - plenty of verses to keep 'em busy during Communion.

[porilo]

I quite like In the bleak midwinter, Holst's version, although I've yet to find a congregation who can fit the words properly to the music. Christians awake, salute the happy morn, is one of my absolute favourite carols. As for my most hated carol, several come to mind. Top of the list has to be Little Jesus sweetly sleep (the one with the "we will rock you, etc"). Absolutely hate the words and the tune. That would be closely followed by the pa-ra-pa-pa-pum carol. Thankfully I wasn't asked to play any of those this year.

Incidentally, I've always played The First Nowell in C major. That's the key in my hymnal. Perhaps for fun, and good transposition practice, I might try playing it in D.

[maggiemay]

Mel2, I agree about the Holst tune - dreary. The Darke setting is much more atmospheric, though of course it's not congregational.

Torches is one of my least favourites.

[Vox Humana]

It's not really a carol, but "See him lying on a bed of straw" has to be up there at the top. We had this at one of our Christmas Eve services and I'm afraid I sent it up something rotten, with loads of trills, twiddles and "noises off". Afterwards His Nibs said how much he had enjoyed it and he wanted me to do that sort of thing every Sunday. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Some people wouldn't recognise good taste if it slapped them in the face with a custard pie.

Sticking to traditional hymns, I suppose it as to be Holst's In the bleak midwinter. Though I don't actually object to it, I'm not all that sold on the Darke version either, and you're always at risk of the tenor soloist inadvertently transposing "night and day":

Enough for him whom cherubim
Worship day and night;
A breast full of milk
And a manger full of
Tidings of comfort and joy.

[andante_in_c]

While shepherds watched is my least favourite. Uninspiring. I beg to differ with many posters, as I love the Holst In the bleak mid-winter, much preferring it to the Darke version. In another Holst arrangement, Personent Hodie is also a favourite. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[mrbouffant]

Silent Night. Sickly twaddle.

[MDSS]

Another vote for Holst's In the bleak midwinter. Utterly banal tune (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[dolce@piano]

While shepherds watched is my least favourite. Uninspiring. I beg to differ with many posters, as I love the Holst In the bleak mid-winter, much preferring it to the Darke version. In another Holst arrangement, Personent Hodie is also a favourite. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I agree !!! My husband hates While shepherds watched too and, as keyboard/organ player for our local carol service, was once so horrified to find it, and what's more a zillion verses of it, in the order of service that he played it so quickly to get it over and done with that the congregation barely caught breath from beginning to end.
It's not been included since . . . .

[maggiemay]

Wild shepherds is certainly on my 'not keen ' list.

[willobie]

Mel2, I agree about the Holst tune - dreary. The Darke setting is much more atmospheric, though of course it's not congregational.

Torches is one of my least favourites.

I love Torches!

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[corenfa]

It's not really a carol, but "See him lying on a bed of straw" has to be up there at the top.

I was first introduced to this this Christmas Eve and it went straight up there to the top of my unfavourite list.

[barry-clari]

Silent Night. Sickly twaddle.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

When you hear the great carols like 'O Come all ye Faithful' and 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing', it just emphasises just how banal and saccharine this dreadful carol is...

[MDSS]

It's not really a carol, but "See him lying on a bed of straw" has to be up there at the top.

I was first introduced to this this Christmas Eve and it went straight up there to the top of my unfavourite list.

Another one I can't stand...alongside The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy. It used to drive me up the wall at my old church when these two carols found their way on the music list. Organs and calypso pieces don't go together.