CHRISTMAS AT WOODSIDE 2008

PART 1

Choir: Welcome Yule Arr. Sir Hubert Parry

Audience: O Little Town of Bethlehem

Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams

O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go
by
Yet in the dark street shineth the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth
For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love
Verse 3 Choir only
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel

Reading: Softly the Night is Sleeping Anon

Margaret Coxall

Choir: Gesu Bambino Fredrick H Martens & Pietro A Yon

Ensemble: A Christmas Carol
11 Carols From Georgian England
Edited by Peter Holman & Sally Drage
Lucy Miller-White, Jane Homer, Chris
Waghorn

Reading: Neighbours of the Christ Night

Nora Archibald Smith
Gill Cheaney

Ensemble: Carol 11 Carols From Georgian England

Edited by Peter Holman & Sally Drage
Lucy Miller-White, Jane Homer,
Iain Rutherford, Mike Steele

Choir: Jesus Child Steve Race

Audience: Away in a Manger Arr. Sir David Willcocks

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

Reading: Lark Rise to Candleford Flora Thompson

Gill Cheaney
Ensemble: Hark! The Herald
Herald Angels Sing
11 Carols From Georgian England
Edited by Peter Holman & Sally Drage
Anna Carter, Chris Fox, Chris Waghorn

Choir: Joseph’s Carol Peter Dale & Antony le Fleming

Ensemble: Hymn for Christmas Day

11 Carols From Georgian England
Edited by Peter Holman & Sally Drage
Anna Carter, Chris Fox, Lilian Dixon,
Iain Rutherford, Mike Steele

Reading: Christmas at Fezziwig’s Warehouse

Alan Dickinson Charles Dickens

Choir: Mistletoe & Wine

Leslie Stewart & Jeremy Paul & Keith Strachan
Novello Youth chorals, arr Barty Rice

Audience: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

Arr. Sir David Willcocks
God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father a blessed angel came,

And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by
name
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a feeding, in tempest, storm and wind,
And went the Bethlehem straightway
This blessed babe to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

But when to Bethlehem they came, whereat this infant lay,

They found him in a manger, where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling, unto the Lord did pray
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

INTERVAL

Like a flutter to help a good cause?

Then please see the information about the
Hitchin Thespians 200 Club
on your table!
 PART TWO

Audience: Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne
Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I've bought some corn for popping,
The lights are turned way down low,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
When we finally kiss goodnight,
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.
The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bying,
But as long as you love me so,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Choir: Winter Carol Nathan H Dale & Joachim Raff

Jingle Bells JS Pierpont
Novello Youth chorals, arr Barty Rice

Audience: Winter Wonderland

Richard B Smith & Felix Bernard
Over the ground lies a mantle of white
A heaven of diamonds shine down through the night
Two hearts are thrillin' in spite of the chill in the weather.
Love knows no season, love knows no clime
Romance can blossom any old time
Here in the open, we're walkin' and hopin' together.
 Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,

Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,

Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: “Are you married?”

We'll say: “No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.”

Later on, we'll conspire,

As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Reading: Goodwill To All Men – Give Us Your

Money
Joanna Chugg Pam Ayres

Choir: A New Christmas Alphabet Oliver Barton

Reading: Santa’s New Idea Anon

Chris Waghorn, Joanna Chugg
Reading: What Happened Christmas Eve Oliver Herfold
Sheila Soothill

Choir: Christmas – What’s It All About?

Deanna Waters & Eric Wild

Audience: White Christmas Irving Berlin

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Choir: Keeping the Dream Alive

Zauner, Strobel, Touchton & Briggs
Novello Youth chorals, arr Barty Rice

Reading: The Art of Sending Christmas Cards

Margaret Coxall William Connor

Choir: Happy Xmas (War is Over)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Novello Youth chorals, arr Barty Rice
Choir: Merry Christmas Everybody
Neville Holder & James Lea
Novello Youth chorals, arr Barty Rice
Audience: O Come All Ye Faithful
Arr. Sir David Willcocks
O come, all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and adore him born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
God of God, light of light,
Lo he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten not created:
O come……
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God in the highest:
O come……

Have you enjoyed the concert?

Would you like to be part of it next Christmas?
Hitchin Thespians are looking for new members,
especially Tenors and Basses. If you are interested
please contact the Secretary or ask any member of the
choir.
choir.
Sopranos
Gill Atkinson, Gwenda Beech, Margaret Brendish, Anna Carter,
Gill Cheaney, Joanna Chugg, Margaret Coxall, Ann Crook,
Sheila Davies, Chris Fox, Ellie Fryer, Lesley Greasley, Jane Homer,
Lucy Miller-White, Susan Osbourn, Sandra Page, Ann Peacock,
Julia Skinner, Sheila Soothill, Pat Staff, Lyndsey Waghorn, Ellen Ward,
Roz Ward, Kate Webb, Jenny Wilson.
Altos
Gillian Clough, Lilian Dixon, Pauline Gimson, Judith Harrison,
Antonia Homer, Sheila Mole, Judy Page, Keryle Rutherford, Kay Watts.

Tenors
Fred Ardron, Andrew Carmichael, Alan Dickinson, Peter Gordon,
Andy Johnson, Iain Rutherford.
Basses
John Beal, Ray Gorbing, Jack Lardent, Nick Morgan, Keith Mortland,
David Ross, Mike Steele, Chris Waghorn, Andy Wyllie.

Instrumentalists
Keyboard - Alan Childs Bassoon - Kirsty McArthur
Clarinet - Lucy Miller-White Flute – Julia Thompson
Percussion - Mike Roberts
Acknowledgements
Choral Manager: Susan Osbourn
Concert Manager: Andy Johnson
Box Office Managers: Nick & Nicky Morgan
Front of House Managers: Sarah Bailes & Alison Day
Publicity Manager: Sandra Page
Artwork: Tracey Gwynne
Programme Editors: Sandra Page & Susan Osbourn
Lighting: Alan Bailes & team
Rehearsal Pianist: Audrey Jenkins
Hall Decoration: Allan Lintern
Raffle: Viv Tadman
Mince Pies
supplied by the Hospitality & Catering Dept. North Herts College
Choir Corsages
worn in aid of Garden House Hospice