Since its birth in Truro in 1880, Bishop Benson’s Nine Lessons service has travelled all over the world, not least due to the annual broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve. With this release, we trace the story of the service from the first Nine Lessons service on Christmas eve in 1880 as it has developed in Truro.

There is an audio-only CD recording of the reconstruction of the first 1880 service, a documentary about the history of the service in Truro, presented by Jeremy Summerly, and a full DVD Video recording of the Nine Lessons service as it took place on 23rd December 2014 in Truro Cathedral.

This is the first DVD by Truro Cathedral Choir, and the first choral DVD on the Regent Records label. The present day Truro Nine Lessons service strives to be, as it was for Benson in 1880, an act of worship that truly engages the people of Cornwall with the Christmas story. Capturing this spirit, and documenting Truro’s part in the history of Nine Lessons will add a new dimension to the way Benson’s service is experienced in the twenty-first century.

Contents:
DVD
The complete 2014 Truro Nine lessons and Carols Service filmed live on 23rd December 2014
Includes:
Carols sung by Truro Cathedral Choir:
- I wonder as I wander (Philip Stopford)
- The truth from above (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
- What sweeter music (John Rutter)
- The Salutation Carol (Russell Pascoe: premiere recording)
- There is no rose (John Joubert)
- Quem pastores (arr. Nigel Short)
- In the bleak midwinter (Harold Darke)
- I saw three ships (arr. Philip Marshall)

Congegational Carols:
- Once in royal David's city
- Of the Father’s heart begotten
- O little town of Bethlehem
- O come, all ye faithful
- Hark, the herald-angels sing

Organ Voluntaries:
- In dulci jubilo BWV 729 (Johann Sebastian Bach)
- Vom Himmel hoch (Garth Edmunson)

DVD Extra features:
- Documentary ‘The Story of Nine Lessons and Carols’
Presented by Jeremy Summerly, charting the history of the Nine Lessons and Carols from its inception in 1880 by the first Bishop of Truro, EdwardWhite Benson, to the present day in Truro Cathedral.
- Interviews with former Directors of Music at Truro Cathedral David Briggs, Andrew Nethsingha and Robert Sharpe

AUDIO CD
Audio recording of the reconstruction of the first Nine Lessons with Carols Festal Service for Christmas Eve, 1880
Includes:
Carols sung by Truro Cathedral Choir:
- The Lord at first had Adam make
- Good Christian men, rejoice
- The First Nowell
- For unto us a child is born (Handel)
- Bethlehem of noblest cities
- There were shepherd abiding in the field/Glory to God (Handel)
- O come, all ye faithful (as sung in Truro, 1880)
- Once again, O blessed time
- Hallelujah (Handel)

Organ Voluntary: Sonata No.3 in A major (1st movement) (Mendelssohn)