Hark the Herald Angels Sing

 [This piece was written as part of a series of four pieces for My Kolkata.  Published on December 3, 2023.  You can read it with all the videos, images, bells and whistles ONLINE. ]

A former choir master and Christmas Carols enthusiast traces the recent evolution of Carol Singing in the city

“O Little Town of Bethlehem / How still we see Thee lie!” - brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear these lines sung by an ageing contralto, accompanied by a light piano, or not. This fast vanishing breed of pure voices, sometimes with perfect pitch, reminds us of our salad days when, at the behest of the choirmaster, the rest of the carol singers would break into the chorus. Silent Night followed as did Adeste Fidelis and all the other Christmas Carols.

It also brought tears to my eyes of a different sort when, just outside our main door, we were rudely disturbed by the same words belted out by raucous and probably inebriated voices, accompanied by a guitar whose strings were as harmoniously related as chalk and cheese. Rhythm accompaniment in the form of a tambourine and a tin, into which one was expected to drop a few coins, completed the ensemble. Around the time of Christmas and suspiciously because Christmas requires money to be spent, these itinerant Carol Singers would roam the neighbourhood attempting to earn a few bucks to spend on goodies. Carols have given way to popular Christmas songs with incongruous images of snow, marshmallows, reindeer, chimneys and mistletoe ostensibly bought from Free School Street! Not to mention the plaintive, Please Daddy don’t get drunk for Christmas! 

A teaser trailer in disguise

In the parish where I grew up, St Mary’s Church Ripon Street, our Carol singing groups comprised singers from the children’s choir, the youth choir and even the senior choir. This motley crew, well bundled against the cold with caps and mufflers, went down predefined routes, stopped outside known buildings and sang under the baton of Fr Conquo (may his soul rest in peace). The accompaniment was usually Fr Conquo himself on violin and this writer on guitar. There was no collection can and no collection! Occasionally, and at predetermined points, I suspect, we were invited in for a cup of hot cocoa and maybe a cookie made lovingly by one of the parishioners.  The real meaning of Christmas made us swell with pride. We were told, in later years, that this Carol singing actually brought people to the church “to hear more” - it was a teaser trailer in disguise.

And then Carol singing went a little professional. In Goa, where I have ethnic roots, there are Carol singing competitions in every parish church.  Teams of trained singers spend serious time and money getting their acts together and travelling the length and breadth of the tiny state to be heard on stage.  It’s the feeling of Christmas pervading the community.  In Kolkata where my roots have borne large trees, there are few real competitions.  There are displays of amazing talent in Christmas Carols evenings at various venues. The pandemic and Facebook Lockdown Live has spawned a plethora of superstar singers too.

Hitting the right note

Among the earliest and still going strong, in fact growing in strength, is the annual Songs of the Season at the Assembly of God church.  Every year there are themes which are developed and the sound and light spectacular kicks off the season well before Christmas. This year it is The Christmas Star. 

Some of the other well-known and loved venues and programs that herald the run up to Christmas are Emmanuel at St Mary’s Church Ripon Street, Christmas Carol Singing Competition by the Calcutta Branch of the All India Anglo Indian Association, Joy to the World at St James’ Church, the Baptist Mission’s Oh Glorious Light of Christmas, St Paul’s Cathedral’s Classic Christmas Concert and the Christmas Carnival presented by Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalipmong, at Birkmyre Hostel - though we will miss the regular fixture in our calendars at Sacred Heart Church this year.

The chronicles of carol singing

This overflow of talent has resulted, over the last decade, in the Kolkata Christmas Festival at Allen Gardens on Park Street. In smaller venues, multiple groups of Carol singers do yeoman service entertaining and bringing in the spirit of Christmas at homes for the elderly - most popular venues being Little Sisters of the Poor and St Catherine’s Home. I used to be the inevitable guitar accompaniment for the Parsee Club’s visit to the homes and this year I will be at the keyboard for the Life Ascending Christmas programme at Don Bosco Park Circus which hosts over 200 senior citizens, many below the poverty line.

And not to be left out, several of the city’s social clubs conduct inter-club carol singing events as well as events of their own.  Till recently CC&FC, Dalhousie Institute and Tollygunge Club held Carols evenings - the latter branded their singing group as Tolly Trillers!  But Dalhousie Institute, where my roots turned to trees and the trees bore fruit, is my go to place for Christmas Carols evening. In addition to the actual singing of carols by the members’ choir, there is a stage production scripted and performed by the members themselves. This includes dances, songs, drama and the Nativity Scene which is really the reason for the season. And this is followed by a traditional barbecue dinner! 

In the week before Christmas you can hear carols and Christmas music streaming out of every door as the families prepare sweets, cakes and other goodies. Some of these, heard later in the evening, will tune you back to the scene from A Christmas Carol. Families singing at the tops of their voices while climbing ladders to hang decorations or chopping fruit for the cake. Families that gather round the tree to exchange gifts on Christmas day. This, too, brings tears to my eyes - tears of joy!  

Wish you a melodious Merry Christmas!