How well do you know your Christmas Carols?
The Christmas hymns, anthems and arrangements we call “carols“ actually date from the 19th century, although many of them draw on tunes and words from earlier times. Carols are constantly being re-invented, and now offer some of the most widely-recognised and shared musical experiences, bringing joy in the dark months equally to people of faith and of none.
Have a listen to this clips montage of eight Christmas Carols. How many can you identify? Do you think you have them all? Some carols are more well-known than others so we've chosen a selection of carols here to test your knowledge.
Listen as many times as you like, and see if you can resist the temptation to check for the answers until you've got them all... or you've given up.
Click below the music player for the answers and don't forget to share this quiz with your friends and family - see who can get them all in the quickest time!
Our Christmas Carols quiz
Can you guess the Christmas Carols we've chosen for this montage?
Click here for the answers
Away in a Manger
This carol was first published in the 19th century. This is the most common setting, by William J. Kirkpatrick.
Ding dong! Merrily on High
This carol was first published in 1924 in George Ratcliffe Woodward’s The Cambridge Carol-Book. Sir David Willcocks also arranged it more recently for the second book of Carols for Choirs.
God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen
This traditional English carol dates to the 16th century, or possibly earlier, and the earliest printed edition dates to around 1760.
I Saw Three Ships
The earliest printed edition of this carol dates from the 17th century, and was then published in 1833 by William Sandys. This particular arrangement is by Nicholas Maw, and features The Choir of Oriel College, Oxford.
In the Bleak Midwinter
This carol is based on a poem by Christina Rossetti. It first appeared set to music in 1906 by Holst, but the 1911 setting by Harold Darke often leads the "BEST Christmas Carol" polls.
Sussex Carol
This carol has been arranged by a number of composers. The most famous setting is by Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
The Three Kings
This carol was written by the German composer Peter Cornelius. The words were translated into English by H. N. Bate.
Torches
This modern carol was written in 1951 by John Joubert, a British composer of South African descent. Torches is one of Joubert’s best-known works.
Enjoyed the quiz?
You can enjoy more much more with Sara Mohr-Pietsch and Choir and Organ this Christmas.
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Choir and Organ's Christmas Special
10 December broadcast includes Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on Christmas Carols and Britten's A Ceremony of Carols.
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Choir and Organ - Spirit of Bach
On Christmas Eve, Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an hour with Bach and the instrument he made his own – the organ.
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When carols aren't always what you think
Our webpages include an interview with Lisa Colton and the history of carol singing.
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Eight amazing carols
You can also read our article and listen to extracts of eight amazing carols you won’t hear on the doorstep this Christmas.
Contact Us
Did you enjoy our quiz? Did you get all of the answers? Did you beat your friends? How many carols have you sung with your Church, or perhaps with your school choir? Did any of our chorals evoke specific memories?
To contact us email: choirandorgan@bbc.co.uk. We will publish some of the comments online. No personal information will be kept or divulged.
