Deck the Hall: The Stories of our Favourite Christmas Carols

(Hardback)

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'Ding dong! This is my kind of Christmas present. A musical Christmas cracker - fascinating and full of interesting surprises.' - Gyles Brandreth

Which carol lent its tune to a satire about the Foreign Secretary Which carol was the first song to be broadcast from space What exactly is a dancing day And why tomorrow

Written with effervescent charm and professional knowledge, Gant's Deck the Hall reveals the musical and social history behind twenty-seven favourite Christmas carols. The perfect seasonal gift for anyone who loves to sing, or just loves Christmas trivia, this is the perfect book to while away those lazy days between Christmas and New Year.

From the Annunciation to Epiphany, the Christmas story is the underlying narrative linking the stories and anecdotes behind each of the twenty-seven carols. The book includes a mixture of the familiar with the less well-known but intriguing, and a variety of traditions and places of origin. As Andrew says, 'Some carols were born to Christmas, some have achieved Christmas, and some have had Christmas thrust upon them.' This wonderful, rich musical pudding gives us a unique insight into what makes us who we are.

Reviews

What an absolute gem of a book. It's much more than a history of carols. Gant has one of those rare minds that is able to bring together strands from so many different histories: language, literature, music, dance, church, societal and political histories all gather in this book. Our understanding of the wonderfully complex and fertile soil which has enabled the birth and nourished the development of the carols we all think we know so well is hugely enriched. It is meticulously researched and beautifully presented, and yet is anything but a dry book of academia. Gant's writing rolls merrily with wit and love, and it is a joy to read. I shall be giving it to everyone for Christmas! * James Gilchrist, Tenor *
Ding dong, merrily on high ... this is my kind of Christmas present. A musical Christmas cracker - fascinating and full of interesting surprises. * Gyles Brandreth *
Andrew Gant provides us with a fluent but flinty digest of the modern scholarship concerning 22 of our favourite seasonal songs. -- Kathryn Hughes * The Guardian (Praise for Christmas Carols: from Village Green to Church Choir) *
Rich in picturesque detail. -- Kirsty McClusky * The Tablet (Praise for Christmas Carols: from Village Green to Church Choir) *
An intriguing history. -- Jane Shilling * The Daily Mail (praise for Christmas Carols: From Village Green to Church Choir) *
Which Christmas carol started life as a song about a dead ox Andrew Gant reveals the curious truth about some of our favourites. * Country Life (praise for Christmas Carols: From Village Green to Church Choir) *
A delight * Sunday Times - Praise for Christmas Carols: from Village Green to Church Choir *

Author Bio

Andrew Gant is a notable singer, organist, choirmaster, composer, conductor, and academic. He has directed many leading choirs, including those of the Guards' Chapel, Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Her (now His) Majesty's Chapel Royal in London, based at St James's Palace. While in this position he led the choir at many state events including the annual Remembrance Day Parade, the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the Golden and Diamond Jubilee Services at St Paul's Cathedral, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey, and many other events for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Andrew has published several books on musical topics. He lives in Oxford, where he is also involved in local politics. He and his wife Kathy have three grown-up children and two dogs.