1950s: Working List of Christmas Classical and Choral Recordings

 
1950s Christmas Classical and Choral Recordings

Compiled by R. Rojas. We are indebted to YouTube archivists including Christmas Vinyl Channel.

Note: The following are not reviews but descriptions from the record label or artists. Edits to descriptions may have been made to condense the description or make grammatical corrections. Many descriptions are cut and pasted, so our apologies for formatting that we could not correct and make congruent with the rest of the post.

Early 1950s

Boris Ord's real first name was Bernhard; his friends called him Boris because he loved the Mussorgsky opera Boris Godunov so much. From 1929 to 1958, he was organist and choir director at Cambridge University's famed King's College. 

Not only was Ord unusual for his pioneering efforts in the early music movement, but he was also one of the first "cathedral" musicians to emphasize choral singing over organ playing. Under his leadership, the choir at King's became known far beyond the shores of England, and many recordings were made, beginning in the late 1940s. 

This disc features Christmas music, works by English Renaissance composers, S.S. Wesley's "Cast me not away," and Howells's "Collegium Regale Magnificat." Naturally, the sound, transferred from 78s and tape originals, is more than a bit rough in places, but the essence of these classic Ord performances is intact. --David Vernier

1 Once In Royal David's City 2 In Dulci Jubilo 3 The Three Kings 4 Ding Dong! Merrily On High 5 Mass In Four Parts: Sanctus And Benedictus 6 Mass In Four Parts: Agnus Dei 7 Hosanna To The Son Of David 8 O Lord, In Thy Wrath Rebuke Me Not 9 Dum Transisset Sabbatum 10 Ave Verum Corpus 11 Hosanna To The Son Of David 12 Let Thy Merciful Ears 13 O Lord, Arise 14 Te Deum 15 Factum Est Silentium 16 Magnificat 'Collegium Regale' 17 Christe Jesu, Pastor Bone 18 Senex Puerum Portabat 19 Lustorum Animae 20 Deliver Us, O Lord Our God 21 Cast Me Not Away From Thy Presence

1952

The Gabriel Singers – Christmas Carols / Christmas Medley in 4K (1953)
Label: Remington – R-199-153 Format: Vinyl, LP Country: USA & Canada Released: 1953 

Tracklist: 

0:00 Oh Come All Ye Faithful 

3:27 The Holly and the Ivy 

5:38 Oh Little Town of Bethlehem 

8:46 God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen 

11:48 Joy to the World 

13:43 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 

15:45 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 

17:42 On Christmas Night Medley 

19:15 Oh, Holy Night 

24:21 We Three Kings of the Orient Are 

25:52 Joy to the World 

27:11 Good King Wenceslas 

28:21 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 

32:04 Jingle Bells

Listen to the album on the Christmas Vinyl Channel on Youtube.

1955

Richard Ellsasser – Joy To The World Beloved Christmas Music For Organ And Chime in 4K (1955)

Label: MGM Records – E3271 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album Country: US Released: 1955

Tracklist:

0:00 Joy To The World 

2:07 Silent Night 

4:34 Away In A Manger 

7:32 We Three Kings Of Orient Are 

10:38 Carol Of The Bells 

13:28 O Come All Ye Faithful Of The Bells 

15:41 What Child Is This? 

18:41 The Holly And The Ivy 

20:57 Three Old English Carols 

25:10 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 

26:42 The First Noel 

29:15 Good King Wenceslas 

30:51 Veni, Emmanuel 

33:35 Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabelle 

35:24 O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Listen to album on the Christmas Vinyl Channal on Youtube.

1956

Label: Philips – P 10181 L Format: Vinyl, LP Country: Netherlands Released: 1956 Genre: Folk, World, & Country

Tracklist:

0:00 Austria: Silent Night, Holy Night 

3:09 Germany: O Tannenbaum 

4:46 France: La Noël Passée 

9:03 Italy: Piva Piva 

11:07 England: Good King Wenceslas 

13:41 Switzerland: Tout Dort Dans La Nuit Sombre 

16:26 Spain: El Belén Tocan A Fuego 

19:12 The Netherlands: Adeste Fideles 

22:02 The Netherlands: De Herdertjes Lagen Bij Nachte O, Hoe Heerlijk 

23:40 France: Oh Que De Gens 

25:55 Germany: Ihr Kinderlein Kommet 

27:30 England: Away In A Manger 

30:12 Spain: Rin Rin 

32:11 Denmark: Du Kaere Gamle Julemand 

34:52 Italy: Tu Scendi Dalle Stellq 

38:00 Germany: Süsser Die Glocken Nie Klingen 

40:33 Germany: The Sound Of The "Pummerin"

Listen to album on the Christmas Vinyl Channal on YouTube.

1957

1957 vinyl LP on Columbia "six-eye" label. Track listing: THE COLUMBIA CHOIR:
1) Caroling Caroling,
2) The Star Carol,
3) Christ in the Stranger's Guise,
4) Come Dear Children,
5) Some Children See Him,
6) All on a Christmas Morning,
7) O Hearken Ye,
8) Jesu Parvule,
9) Nigh Bethlehem,
10) Bright Bright the Holy Berries,
11) Ah Bleak & Chill the Wintry Wind,
12) We'll dress the House. AUGMENTED BRASS ORCHESTRA: 1) Caroling Caroling, 2) All on a Christmas Morning, 3) We'll Dress the House, 4) The Star Carol, 5) Some Children See Him, 6) Come Dear Children, 7) A Bleak & Chill the Wintry Wind, 8) Jesu Parvule, 9) O Hearken Ye.

1957






1958

Christmas in England in 4K (1957)
Label: Capitol Records – T-10097 Series: Capitol Of The World Format: Vinyl, LP Country: US Released: 1957 

Tracklist:

• 0:00 Medley: Ronnie Ronalde, The Children And Orchestra – The First Noël Ronnie Ronalde, The Children And Orchestra – Away In A Manger Ronnie Ronalde, The Children And Orchestra – Brahm's Lullaby Ronnie Ronalde, The Children And Orchestra – Bring In The Holly Bough 
• 2:14 King's College Chapel Choir Of Cambridge – Ding Dong Merrily On High Medley 
• 4:22 The London Church Choir – Once In Royal David's City The London Church Choir – Good King Wenceslas The London Church Choir – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 
• 8:38 Ronnie Ronalde, The Children And Orchestra – Jingle Bells 
• 9:48 The Bells Of Westminster Abbey In London, The Bells Of York Minster, The Bells Of Coventry Cathedral 
• 12:30 Ruby Murray With Ray Martin's Orchestra – The Very First Christmas Of All 
• 15:38 King's College Choir Of Cambridge – Three Kings, The Bells Of Bath Abbey, The Bells Of St. Mary's, Puddletown 20:30 King's College Choir Of Cambridge – In Dulci Jubilo Medley 
• 24:11 Ronnie Ronalde, The Children And Chorus With Arturo Steffani's Orchestra – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Ronnie Ronalde, The Children And Chorus With Arturo Steffani's Orchestra – Silent Night, Holy Night Ronnie Ronalde, The Children And Chorus With Arturo Steffani's Orchestra – White Christmas.

Listen to album on the Christmas Vinyl Channal on YouTube.

Christmas in Germany in 4K (1958)

Label: Capitol Records – T10095 Series: Capitol Of The World Format: Vinyl, LP, Scranton Pressing Country: US Released: 1958 

Tracklist: 

• 0:00 Heil'ge Nacht, O Giesse Du (Holy Night, Pour Forth Your Spirit) 
• 2:55 Kling, Glockchen, Kling (Sound, Little Bell, Sound) 
• 4:32 Leise, Rieselt Der Schnee (The Snow Falls Softly) 
• 7:42 Susser Die Glocken Nie Klingen (The Bells Never Sound Sweeter) 
• 10:40 Weisse Weihnacht (White Christmas) 
• 13:30 Stille NachtHeilige Nacht (Silent Night, Holy Night) 
• 17:09 Heil'ge Nacht, Nacht Der Unendlichen Liebe (Holy Night, Night Of Everlasting Love) 
• 19:24 Christmas Medley: Von Himmel Hoch, Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen, Ihr Kinderlein Kommet, Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht, Alle Jahre Wieder, O Tannenbaum, O Du Frohliche

Listen to album on the Christmas Vinyl Channal on YouTube.

101 Strings – The Glory Of Christmas in 4K (1958)
Label: Stereo-Fidelity – SF-7100 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gold Label Country: US Released: 1958 

Tracklist: 

0:00 Silent Night 

3:36 While The Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night 6:26 O Little Town Of Bethlehem 

11:00 The First Noel 

14:42 Adeste Fidelis 

18:06 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 

21:48 O Tannenbaum 

25:13 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Good King Wenceslas; Jingle Bells

Listen to album on the Christmas Vinyl Channal on YouTube.

The Laymen Singers – O Come, All Ye Faithful in 4K (1958) Label: Sacred Records (4) – LP 8013 Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono, Red Country: US Released: 1958 Tracklist 0:00 Star Carol 2:58 What Child Is This 6:24 O Come, All Ye Faithful 8:45 Behold That Star 10:57 Silent Night 14:00 Christmas Hymn 15:55 Joy To The World 16:51 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 18:56 O Come, O Come Emmanuel 21:21 I Wonder As I Wander 24:01 Away In A Manger 26:52 O Holy Night Listen to album on the Christmas Vinyl Channel on YouTube. Adam Carey Chorale – Christmas Chorales (1958) Adam Carey Chorale – Christmas Chorales (1958) Label: Colortone – C33-4942 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, High Fidelity Country: US Released: 1958 Tracklist: 0:00 Joy To The World 1:43 The First Noel 4:04 Deck The Halls 5:30 Away In A Manger 7:41 God Give Ye Merry Christmastime 8:47 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 11:50 Silent Night 15:34 Oh Holy Night 19:19 O Come All Ye Faithful 21:06 White Christmas 25:01 O Little Town Of Bethlehem 27:53 Jingle Bells Listen to the album on the Christmas Vinyl Channel of YouTube. Edward Carrington Chorale – Christmas Chorale (1958) Label: Grand Award – G.A. 33-387 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album Tracklist 0:00 Hark The Herald Angels Sing 2:33 Good King Wenceslas 4:21 Silent Night 8:04 The First Noel 10:23 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 13:10 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 15:22 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 18:23 O Come All Ye Faithful 20:08 Oh Holy Night 23:53 Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem 26:42 Deck The Halls 28:06 Angels We Have Heard On High 30:12 Joy To The World 31:54 Away In A Manger 34:03 God Give Ye Merry Christmastide 35:07 Jingle Bells 37:20 White Christmas 41:15 Sleigh Ride Listen to the album on the Christmas Vinyl Channel on YouTube. The Robert Shaw Chorale – Joy To The World in 4K (1958) Label: RCA Camden – CAS 448(e) Format: Vinyl, LP, Album Released: 1958 Tracklist 0:00 Joy To The World; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Angels We Have Heard On High 3:33 O Come, O Come, Emanuel; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Silent Night 7:48 O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles); Luther's Cradle Hymn (Away In A Manger); God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen 11:17 We Three Kings; The First Noel; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 14:35 Shepherd's Carol; Coventry Carol; Patapan 18:41 My Dancing Day; I Wonder As I Wander; Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella 23:08 Carol Of The Bells; Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming; Go Tell It On The Mountain 26:50 I Sing Of A Maiden; Echo Hymn; Wassail Song; Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly Listen to the album on the Christmas Vinyl Channel on YouTube. 1959 Axel Stordahl And His Orchestra And Chorus – Christmas In Scandanavia in 4K (1959) Label: Decca – DL 78933 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Repress, Stereo Country: US Released: 1959 Tracklist 0:00 Deilig Er Den Himmel Bla 2:30 Jeg Synger Julekvad 5:28 Medley: Nu Ar Det Jul Igen, Hej Tomtegubbar 7:24 Du Gronne Glitrende Tre God Dag 9:46 Nu Tandas Tusen Julejus 12:03 Kimer I Klokker 14:40 Nar Juldagsmorgon Glimmar 17:01 Deilig Er Jorden 19:19 O Jule Med Din Glede 21:32 Bethlehems Stjarna 24:34 Kimer Nu Til Julefest 27:01 Glade Jul Listen to album on the Christmas Vinyl Channel on YouTube.