The First Day of Christmas

On the First Day of Christmas, we are delighted to share the Parish Choir’s rendition of the beloved carol “O come, all ye faithful,” recorded remotely from home during the pandemic. Our music director Eric Tuan is at the organ, and the video features guest instrumentalists Vivian Boudreaux Mikasa (flute), Robin Snyder (cello), and Christopher Wilhite (trumpet).

Like so many Christmas carols, “O come, all ye faithful” enjoys a rich and multilayered history. While it was first published by the English Catholic hymnodist John Francis Wade in 1751, to whom it is traditionally attributed, the text and music date back significantly further. The text has been attributed to authors from St. Bonaventure to King John IV of Portugal, which the melody has been credited to composers as diverse as Gluck and Handel. The arrangement offered today is by Sir David Willcocks, best known for his leadership of the legendary Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and his role in creating the Carols for Choirs series.