Top 10 Christmas carols countdown

Christmas is the busiest time of year by far for the Oxford Music Hire Library. Oxford University Press publishes most of the carols the world knows and loves – the one that has just popped into your head is probably one of ours – with newly-composed Christmas titles added every year. Carol orders come in as early as August and keep rolling in until worryingly close to the big day itself.

To help you get into the Christmas spirit, here’s a playlist of OUP’s 10 most-requested carols in 2015. Many of our most popular carols come from the much-loved Carols for Choirs series, and most of our top 10 can be found in the ever popular 100 Carols for Choirs.

10     Nativity carol
Arranged by John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs

9     On Christmas Night
Arranged by Bob Chilcott

8     Star Carol
Arranged by John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 3 and 100 Carols for Choirs

7     O little town of Bethlehem
Arranged by Vaughan Williams, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs

6     Candlelight Carol
Arranged by John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 5

5     Once in royal David’s city
Arranged by Gauntlett, arr. David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs

4     Jingle bells
Arranged by Pierpont arr. David Willcocks, from 100 Carols for Choirs

3     The twelve days of Christmas
Arranged by John Rutter, from Carols for Choirs 2 and 100 Carols for Choirs

2     O come, all ye faithful
Arranged by David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs

1     Hark! the herald-angels sing
Mendelssohn, arr. David Willcocks, from Carols for Choirs 1 and 100 Carols for Choirs

Featured image courtesy of the Oxford Music Hire Library.