The Choir of Royal Holloway, directed by Rupert Gough, with Prunella Scales and Timothy West.The Choir of Royal Holloway is one of the finest mixed-voice collegiate choirs in Britain. Its first recording on Edition Peters Sounds brings together the music, atmosphere and ethos of Christmas at Royal Holloway in the Chapel, celebrating with both sacred and secular music.The album presents a broad mix of old and new complete with contemporary arrangements of familiar carols and pieces the Baltic states. Several pieces have not been recorded before, including an upper voice setting of William Blake's The Lamb by American composer George Whitefield Chadwick. New contemporary arrangements include Away in a manger by the Norwegian-born composer Ola Gjeilo. There are three arrangements by Royal Holloway musicians: O little one sweet (by a Royal Holloway choral scholar), Silent Night (by Rupert Gough) and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by a former choral scholar. Also previously unrecorded are original compositions by James Burton and Rihards Dubra. / Choeur Mixte

The infamous census of the ages has made Bethlehem a busy and crowded spot, and there are some guests at a local inn who aren't very happy. F. W. Woolworth (a rich wool salesman), and Rock Starling (a hip star singer), among others, have made it clear they want no part of the 'lower class' staying at the inn (or otherwise). By the end of this 20-minute, easy-to-prepare and present musical, we learn that Jesus came for everyone, and that because of Him, we're all included in God's Kingdom. For grades K--6. / Choeur

It's not just another day at the Tiny Bit of Heaven Motel in Bethlehem (actually a stable behind a small Inn), which is run completely by animals. Annie Lamb is a reporter for The Bethlehem Chronicle and snooping around for clues regarding Caesar's Census. However she---along with the others---is about to have a life-changing night. Major Moo runs a tip-top motel, accompanied by Miss Dovie (Front Desk Clerk), Ladybug Lacey (maid), and Cecil R. Caterpillar (bellhop). The Innkeeper is the only human that ever comes in among the animal visitors, but rumor has it he's bringing a human couple in to stay the night, and the animals are afraid they'll ruin everything! But they all eventually learn a certain 'Stranger on the straw' came to earth to change the world, and that even people and things we don't understand can sometimes be miracles in disguise. Recommended for grades K-6. Approximately 20 minutes. / Choeur