Editing Nine Lessons and Carols (section)

==Service at King's College, Cambridge==
[[File:Kings College Chapeljh.jpg|thumb|[[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]] (left), from where the popular Nine Lessons and Carols service is broadcast annually on Christmas Eve]]
The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at [[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]], was held on [[Christmas Eve]] in 1918, directed by [[Arthur Henry Mann]] who was the [[organist]] from 1876 to 1929.<ref name="King's College Chapel: History">{{citation|title=Nine lessons and carols: History of the service|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/index.html|publisher=[[King's College Chapel, Cambridge|King's College Chapel]]|access-date=9 March 2008}}.</ref>
. During [[World War I]] the dean, Eric Milner-White, had served as [[army chaplain]] in the [[7th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|7th Infantry Division]] and he was concerned that the distress of the "Great War" had hardened attitudes against religion. Taking advantage of the established choral tradition of the [[Choir of King's College, Cambridge]], he introduced Benson's carol service to King's as a means of attracting people back to Christian worship.

The King's College service was immensely successful, and the following year Milner-White made some changes to Benson's original format, notably introducing the tradition of opening the service with a solo treble singing "[[Once in Royal David's City]]". This was then followed by a [[bidding prayer]] penned by Milner-White himself, and re-ordering the lessons.<ref name="McGrath">{{cite book |last1=McGrath |first1=Alister E. |title=Christianity: An Introduction |date=2006 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9781405108997 |page=293 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v26doW8jIyYC&q=Edward%20White%20Benson%20nine%20lessons%20archbishop%20of%20canterbury&pg=PT234 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=In the Chapel: Carols |url=https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/archive-centre/online-resources/online-exhibitions/in-the-chapel-carols |website=King's College Cambridge |access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="guardian-truro" /> The choir had 16 [[boy soprano|trebles]] as specified in statutes laid down by [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]], and until 1927 the men's voices were provided by [[choral scholar]]s and [[lay clerk]]s. Today, 14 [[undergraduate]]s from the choir sing the men's parts.<ref name="King's College Chapel: History"/>

===Broadcasting of the service===
The popularity of the service was established when the service began to be broadcast by the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]] in 1928, and, except for 1930, has been broadcast every year since. During the 1930s the service reached a worldwide audience when the BBC began broadcasting the service on its [[BBC World Service|Overseas Service]]. Even throughout the [[Second World War]], despite the [[stained glass]] having been removed from the chapel and the lack of heating, the broadcasts continued. For security reasons, the name "King's" was not mentioned during wartime broadcasts.<ref name="King's College Chapel: History"/>

Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College was first televised by [[BBC Television]] in 1954, conducted by the director of music, [[Boris Ord]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Humphreys |first1=Garry |title=The Choir of King's College, Cambridge made world-famous by Boris Ord. |url=https://www.semibrevity.com/2012/05/the-choir-of-king%E2%80%99s-college-cambridge-and-the-man-who-made-it-famous-part-1/ |website=www.semibrevity.com |access-date=2 October 2019 |date=20 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Coghlan |first1=Alexandra |title=Carols From King's |date=2016 |publisher=Random House |isbn=9781473530515 |page=168 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vvmpCwAAQBAJ&q=boris+ord+nine+lessons+1954+televised&pg=PA168 |access-date=2 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Peter Paul Rubens 009.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[The Adoration of the Magi]]'' (1634) by [[Peter Paul Rubens]], which hangs behind the [[Altar#In Western Christian churches|altar]] in [[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]]]]
Since the Second World War, it has been estimated that each year there are millions of listeners worldwide who listen to the service live on the [[BBC World Service]]. Domestically, the service is broadcast live on [[BBC Radio 4]], and a recorded broadcast is made on Christmas Day on [[BBC Radio 3]].<ref name="King's College Chapel: History"/> In the US, a 1954 service was put into the [[National Recording Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite news | first=Natasha | last=Metzler | title=New National Recording Registry entries announced | date=9 June 2009 | publisher=Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle | url =http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/09/national/w124722D20.DTL&type=business | access-date =17 March 2017 }}</ref> The broadcast has been heard live on public radio stations affiliated with [[American Public Media]] since 1979, and most stations broadcast a repeat on Christmas Day. Since 1963, the service has been periodically filmed for television broadcast in the UK.<ref>{{citation|title=History of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons/history.html|publisher=[[King's College, Cambridge]]|access-date=25 December 2010}}.</ref> Presently, each year a programme entitled ''Carols from King's'' is pre-recorded in early or mid-December then shown on Christmas Eve in the UK on [[BBC Two]] and [[BBC Four]]. The programme is weighted more heavily in favour of carols sung by the choir, with only seven readings in total, not all of which are from the Bible.

In 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the service was conducted, for the first time, without a congregation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qrxc|access-date=2020-12-25|website=BBC|title=Carols from King's}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-29|title=Carols from King's to be sung in empty chapel for first time in a century|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/nov/29/first-time-100-years-kings-carollers-coronavirus|access-date=2020-12-25|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The service did not take place live, but instead a pre-recorded service produced by King's College was broadcast at the usual time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radio to broadcast recorded version of Christmas Eve service|url=https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2020/radio-broadcast-recorded-version-christmas-eve-service|access-date=2021-08-31|website=King's College Cambridge|language=en}}</ref> It was the first time since 1930 that the service had not been broadcast live.

===Order of service===
The format of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has not changed substantially since 1918. The order of the lessons was revised in 1919, since when the service has always begun with the hymn "[[Once In Royal David's City|Once in Royal David's City]]".<ref name="King's College Chapel: History"/> Today the first verse is sung unaccompanied by a solo boy chorister. To avoid putting him under undue stress, the chorister is not told that he will be singing the solo until immediately before the service.<ref>{{citation|author=Peter Kingston|title=The world's greatest carol event|url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2231099,00.html|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] (EducationGuardian)|date=21 December 2007}}.</ref>

The nine lessons, which are the same every year, are read by representatives of the College and of the city of Cambridge using the text of the [[King James Version]] of the [[Bible]] published in 1611. The singing is made up of "carols" sung by the choir and "hymns" sung by the choir and congregation. Some services have also included [[anthems]] sung between the carols and hymns, such as a performance of "[[E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come]]" in 2004.<ref name=LC2004>{{cite web|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2004|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons/order-service-2004.html|website=King's College, Cambridge|publisher=University of Cambridge|access-date=3 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024073528/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons/order-service-2004.html|archive-date=24 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since 1983, a new carol has been commissioned by the College and premiered at the service. The carols vary from year to year, although some music is repeated, and the service ends with the hymn "[[Hark! The Herald Angels Sing]]". The order of service in 2024 is as follows:<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2024">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2024|url=https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents//9lc-2024-oos.pdf|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}. For the songs sung in earlier years, see "[[List of carols performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College Chapel, Cambridge]]".</ref>

*Organ preludes
::*"Prelude and Fugue in G, BWV 541" &ndash; music by [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] (1685-1750)
::*"[[Sieben Stücke, Op. 145|Weihnachten, Op. 145 No. 3]] &ndash; music by [[Max Reger]] (1873-1916)
::*"Chorale-Improvisation on 'In dulci jubilo', Op. 75 No. 2" &ndash; music by [[Sigfrid Karg-Elert]] (1877-1933)
::*'Pastorale on "Joseph, lieber Joseph mein" and "Stille Nacht"' from "Weihnachten, Op. 22" &ndash; music by [[Carl Sattler]] (1877-1966)
::*"[[Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"|Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", BWV 769]]" &ndash; music by Johann Sebastian Bach
::*'Desseins éternels' from "[[La Nativité du Seigneur]]" &ndash; music by [[Olivier Messiaen]] (1908-1992)
::*"[[The Holy Boy]]" &ndash; music by [[John Ireland (composer)|John Ireland]] (1879-1962); arranged by [[Alec Rowley]] (1892-1958)
::*"In dulci jubilo, BuxWV 197" &ndash; music by [[Dieterich Buxtehude]] (c. 1637-1707)
:*[[Processional hymn]]: "[[Once in Royal David's City]]" &ndash; words by [[Cecil Frances Alexander]] (1818−1895); melody ('Irby') by [[Henry Gauntlett]] (1805−1876); harmonised by [[Arthur Henry Mann]] (1850−1929); [[descant]] by [[Philip Ledger]] (1937−2012)
*[[Bidding prayer]], concluding with the [[Lord's Prayer]]
:*Carol: "[[Sussex Carol]]" &ndash; words and music, English traditional; arranged by [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]] (1872-1958)
*'''First lesson from [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 3: 8&ndash;15, 17&ndash;19''' (read by a chorister of King's College)
:*Carol: "[[Adam lay ybounden]]" &ndash; words, 15th century English, modernised by [[Edith Rickert]] (1871-1938); music by Matthew Martin
*'''Second lesson from Genesis 22: 15&ndash;18''' (read by a student of King's College)
:*Carol: "[[Trinity Carol Roll|Nowell sing we now all and some]]" &ndash; words, anonymous 15th century English; translated by Rosanna Omitowuju; music by [[Elizabeth Maconchy]] (1907-1994)
*'''Third lesson from [[Isaiah]] 9: 2, 6&ndash;7''' (read by a member of the King's College staff)
:*Carol: "[[Es ist ein Ros entsprungen|A Great and Mighty Wonder]]" &ndash; words by [[Germanus I of Constantinople|St Germanus]] (c.634-740); translated by [[John Mason Neale]] (1818-1866); music arranged by [[James Whitbourn]] (1963-2024)
:*Hymn: "[[It Came Upon the Midnight Clear]]" &ndash; words by [[Edmund Sears|Edmund Hamilton Sears]] (1810-1876); melody ('Noel') adapted by [[Arthur Sullivan]] (1842-1900); descant by [[John Scott (organist)|John Scott]] (1956-2015)
*'''Fourth lesson from Isaiah 11: 1&ndash;4a, 6&ndash;9''' (read by the Master over the Choristers of King's College)
:*Carol: "[[The Lamb (Tavener)|The Lamb]]" &ndash; words by [[William Blake]] (1757-1827); music by [[John Tavener]] (1944-2013)
:*Carol: "[[Gabriel's Message]]" &ndash; words by [[Sabine Baring-Gould]] (1834−1924); music, Basque carol, arranged by [[David Willcocks]] (1919−2015)
*'''Fifth lesson from [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 1: 26&ndash;35, 38''' (read by a [[Fellow]] of King's College)
:*Carol: "[[Ave Regina caelorum|Ave Regina coelorum]]" &ndash; words from [[Roman Breviary|Brevarium Romanum]]; music by [[Orlando di Lasso|Orlando de Lassus]] (c. 1532-1594)
:*Carol: "[[John Rutter|Nativity Carol]]" &ndash; words and music by John Rutter
*'''Sixth lesson from Luke 2: 1&ndash;7''' (read by the Deputy [[List of mayors of Cambridge|Mayor of Cambridge]])
:*Carol: "Come all you faithful Christians" &ndash; words and music, English traditional; arranged by [[Christopher Robinson (musician)|Christopher Robinson]]
:*Hymn: "[[While shepherds watched their flocks|While shepherds watched their flocks by night]]" &ndash; words by [[Nahum Tate]] (1652-1715); melody ('Winchester Old') arranged by [[George Kirbye]] (c. 1565-1634); descant by [[Nicholas Marston]] (died 1624)
*'''Seventh lesson from Luke 2: 8&ndash;16''' (read by the Director of Music of King's College)
:*Carol: "Three Points of Light" &ndash; words by Peter Cairns; music by [[Grayston Ives]] (commissioned for the 2024 service)
:*Carol: "[[I Saw Three Ships|I saw three ships come sailing in]]" &ndash; words and music, traditional English; arranged by [[Simon Preston]] (1938-2022)
*'''Eighth lesson from [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 2: 1&ndash;12''' (read by the Vice-Provost of King's College)
:*Carol: "Lullay, dear Jesus, my heart's only treasure" &ndash; words, 'Lulajże, Jezununiu', 17th century Polish; translated by [[:de:Hans Effenberger (Musiker)|Jan Śliwiński]] (1884-1950); music by [[Arnold Bax]] (1883-1953)
:*Carol: "Procedenti puero" &ndash; words, 15th century English; music by [[Peter Warlock]] (1894−1930)
*'''Ninth lesson from the [[Gospel of John|John]] 1: 1&ndash;14''' (read by the [[Provost (education)|Provost]] of King's College)
:*Hymn: "[[Adeste Fideles|O Come, All Ye Faithful]]" &ndash; words, translated by [[Frederick Oakeley]] (1802−1880), William Thomas Brooke (1848−1917), et al.; melody ('Adeste, fideles') by [[John Francis Wade]] (1711−1786); arranged by David Willcocks; descant by [[Daniel Hyde (organist)|Daniel Hyde]]
*[[Collect]] and [[blessing]]
:*Hymn: "[[Hark! The Herald Angels Sing]]" &ndash; words by [[Charles Wesley]] (1707−1788), et al.; adapted by [[William Hayman Cummings]] (1831-1915); melody ('Mendelssohn') by [[Felix Mendelssohn|Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy]] (1809−1847); descant by David Willcocks
*Organ voluntaries
::*"[[In Dulci Jubilo]], BWV 729" &ndash; music by Johann Sebastian Bach
::*'Final' from "Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 59" &ndash; music by [[Louis Vierne]] (1870-1937)

===Commissioned carols and organ postludes===

{{See also|List of carols at the Nine Lessons and Carols, King's College Chapel}}

The table below shows the new carols commissioned by King's College, Cambridge, since 1983.

<!--Please arrange in chronological order. Thanks.-->
{| class="wikitable" style="max-width: 1000px;"
|-
!width=60px|Year
!width=|Title of carol
!width=|Author/source and composer
|- valign=top
|align=center|1983
|In Wintertime{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(When Thou Wast Born in Wintertime)
|Words: [[Betty Askwith]]<br />Music: [[Lennox Berkeley]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1984
|One Star, At Last{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(Fix on One Star)
|Words: [[George Mackay Brown]]<br />Music: [[Peter Maxwell Davies]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1985
|Illuminare Jerusalem<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2001">{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2001|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2001/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=2001|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209052818/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2001/|archive-date=9 December 2007}}.</ref>
|Words: Adapted from the [[Bannatyne Manuscript]]<ref>{{citation|author=John MacQueen|author2=Winifred MacQueen|title=A Choice of Scottish Verse, 1470&ndash;1570|location=London|publisher=[[Faber and Faber]]|year=1972|isbn=0-571-09532-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/choiceofscottish0000macq}}</ref><br />Music: [[Judith Weir]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1986
|Nowel, Nowel, Holly Dark{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
|Words: [[Walter de la Mare]]<br />Music: [[Richard Rodney Bennett]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1987
|What Sweeter Music Can We Bring<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2005">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2005|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2005/NineLessonsCarols2005.pdf|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2005|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211001315/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2005/NineLessonsCarols2005.pdf|archive-date=11 December 2006}}.</ref>
|Words: [[Robert Herrick (poet)|Robert Herrick]]<br />Music: [[John Rutter]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1988
|The Birthday of Thy King{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(Awake, Glad Heart, Get up, and Sing!)
|Words: After [[Henry Vaughan]]<br />Music: [[Peter Sculthorpe]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1989
|Carol of St. Steven{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
|Words: Adapted from [[William Sandys (antiquarian)|William Sandys]]<br />Music: [[Alexander Goehr]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1990
|Богородице Дево, радуйся<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2007">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2007|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/assets/7/7c/Nine_Lessons_and_Carols_2007.pdf|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2007|access-date=24 December 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607220420/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/assets/7/7c/Nine_Lessons_and_Carols_2007.pdf|archive-date=7 June 2011}}.</ref><br />(Rejoice, O Virgin Mary)
|Words: [[Eastern Orthodox]] liturgy (in [[Russian language|Russian]])<br />Music: [[Arvo Pärt]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1991
|A Gathering{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
|Words: [[Lancelot Andrewes]]<br />Music: [[John Casken]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1992
|Swetë Jesu{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
|Words: Anonymous, 13th century<br />Music: [[Nicholas Maw]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1993
|Christo Paremus Cantica{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
|Words: Anonymous, 15th century<br />Music: [[Diana Burrell]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1994
|The Angels{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(Should you Hear them Singing Among Stars)
|Words: [[John V. Taylor]]<br />Music: [[Jonathan Harvey (composer)|Jonathan Harvey]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1995
|Seinte Marie Moder Milde{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
|Words: 13th century manuscript in the library of [[Trinity College, Cambridge]]<br />Music: [[James MacMillan (composer)|James MacMillan]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1996
|Pilgrim Jesus{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<br />(Iesus! Christus! In the Manger of my Body)
|Words: [[Kevin Crossley-Holland]]<br />Music: [[Stephen Paulus]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1997
|The Fayrfax Carol<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 1997|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1997/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=1997|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928142402/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1997/|archive-date=28 September 2006}}.</ref>
|Words: Anonymous, [[Tudor period|early Tudor]]<br />Music: [[Thomas Adès]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1998
|Winter Solstice Carol<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 1998|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1998/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=1998|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813171723/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1998/|archive-date=13 August 2007}}.</ref>
|Words: English translation of the [[Magnificat]] [[antiphon]] for Christmas Day<br />Music: [[Giles Swayne]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|1999
|On Christmas Day to My Heart<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 1999|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1999/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=1999|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216001631/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/1999/|archive-date=16 December 2007}}.</ref>
|Words: [[Clement Paman]]<br />Music: [[Richard Rodney Bennett]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2000
|[[The Three Kings (Dove)|The Three Kings]]<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2000|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2000/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=2000|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808233206/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2000/|archive-date=8 August 2007}}.</ref>
|Words:[[Dorothy L. Sayers]]<br />Music: [[Jonathan Dove]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2001
|Spring in Winter<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2001"/>
|Words: [[Christopher Smart]]<br />Music: [[John Woolrich]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2002
|The Angel Gabriel Descended to a Virgin<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2002|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2002/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=2002|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117232733/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2002/|archive-date=17 November 2007}}.</ref>
|Words: 15th&ndash;17th century<br />Music: [[Robin Holloway]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2003
|The Gleam<ref>{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2003|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2003/|publisher=[[King's College Chapel, Cambridge]]|year=2003|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225122620/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2003/|archive-date=25 December 2007}}.</ref><br />(Not yet shepherds the gilded kings)
|Words: [[Stephen Plaice]]<br />Music: [[Harrison Birtwistle]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2004
|God Would be Born in Thee<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2004">{{citation|title=Nine Lessons and Carols 2004|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2004/|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|year=2004|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117224654/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2004/|archive-date=17 January 2008}}.</ref><ref>In addition, a carol entitled ''Starry Night O'er Bethlehem'' with words by Anne Willcocks and music by [[David Willcocks]] was also specially written for the service.</ref><br />(Lo, In the Silent Night a Child in God is Born)
|Words: [[Angelus Silesius]]<br />Music: [[Judith Bingham]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2005
|[[Away in a Manger]]<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2005"/>
|Words: 19th century<br />Music: [[John Tavener]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2006
|Misere' Nobis<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2006">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2006|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2006/NineLessonsCarols2006.pdf|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2006|access-date=1 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204013517/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2006/NineLessonsCarols2006.pdf|archive-date=4 February 2007}}.</ref><br />(Jesu of a Maiden Thou Wast Born)
|Words: English mediaeval carol<br />Music: [[Mark-Anthony Turnage]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2007
|Noël (Now Comes the Dawn)<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2007"/><br />(Stardust and Vaporous Light)
|Words: [[Richard Watson Gilder]]<br />Music: [[Brett Dean]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2008
|Mary<br />
(The Night When She First Gave Birth)<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2008">{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, 2008|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/chapel/festival-nine-lessons-2008.pdf|publisher=Provost and Fellows of [[King's College, Cambridge]]|date=24 December 2008|access-date=25 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105081101/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/chapel/festival-nine-lessons-2008.pdf|archive-date=5 November 2010|url-status=dead}}. For the songs sung in earlier years, see "[[List of carols performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College Chapel, Cambridge]]".</ref>
|Words: [[Bertolt Brecht]], translated by [[Michael Hamburger]]<br />Music: [[Dominic Muldowney]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2009
|The Christ Child<ref name="OUP Choral News Oct 2009">{{citation|title=OUP Choral News E-mail October 2009|date=9 October 2009}}.</ref>
|Words: [[G. K. Chesterton]]<br />Music: [[Gabriel Jackson (composer)|Gabriel Jackson]]<ref>{{citation|title=Oxford Music Now|url=http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/music/OMN33.pdf|date=Spring 2009|issue=33|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|page=5|access-date=16 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726010030/http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/music/OMN33.pdf|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=dead}}.</ref>
|- valign=top
|align=center|2010
|Christmas Carol (Offerings They Brought of Gold)
|Words: [[Einojuhani Rautavaara]], translated by Hanni-Mari and Christopher Latham<br />Music: Einojuhani Rautavaara<ref>{{citation|title=Boosey & Hawkes - Performance Calendar|url=http://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/calendar/perf_results.asp|access-date=24 October 2010}}.</ref>
|- valign=top
|align=center|2011
|Christmas Hath a Darkness
|Words: [[Christina Rossetti]]<br />Music: [[Tansy Davies]]<ref>{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, Order of Service, 2011|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/services/festival-nine-lessons-2011.pdf|access-date=25 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131002742/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/services/festival-nine-lessons-2011.pdf|archive-date=31 January 2012|url-status=dead}}.</ref>
|- valign=top
|align=center|2012
|Ring Out, Wild Bells
|Words: [[Alfred, Lord Tennyson]]<br />Music: [[Carl Vine]]<ref>{{citation|title=A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, Order of Service, 2012|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/services/festival-nine-lessons-2012.pdf|access-date=27 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116181748/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/services/festival-nine-lessons-2012.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2013|url-status=dead}}.</ref>
|- valign=top
|align=center|2013
|Hear the Voice of the Bard
|Words: [[William Blake]]<br />Music: [[Thea Musgrave]]<ref>{{citation|title=Commissioned carol sets Blake poem to music|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2013/blake-carol.html|access-date=5 December 2013}}.</ref>
|- valign=top
|align=center|2014
|De Virgine Maria
|Words: 12th-century Latin, translated by [[Ronald Knox]]<br />Music: [[Carl Rütti]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2015
|The Flight
|Words: [[George Szirtes]]<br />Music: [[Richard Causton (composer)|Richard Causton]]<ref>{{citation|title=Richard Causton composes 2015 commissioned carol|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2015/causton-carol.html|access-date=29 November 2015}}.</ref>
|- valign=top
|align=center|2016
|This Endernight
|Words: Anonymous c. 1400<br />Music: [[Michael Berkeley]]<ref>{{citation|title=Michael Berkeley composes Christmas commissioned carol|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2016/michael-berkeley-composes-christmas-commissioned-carol.html|access-date=19 November 2016}}.</ref>
|- valign=top
|align=center|2017
|Carol Eliseus
|Words: Welsh<br />Music: [[Huw Watkins]]<ref>{{citation|title=New Christmas Eve carol announced|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/huw-watkins-commissioned-carol.htm|access-date=9 December 2017}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref>
|-
|align=center|2018
|O Mercy Divine
|Words: [[Charles Wesley]]<ref>http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/chapel/9lc_order_of_service_2018.pdf|access-date=15{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} December 2018</ref><br />Music: [[Judith Weir]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2018/king%E2%80%99s-announces-christmas-eve-carol-composer|title=News}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|2019
|The Angel Gabriel
|Words: [[Sabine Baring-Gould]]<br />Music: [[Philip Moore (organist)|Philip Moore]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2019/kings-commissions-new-carol-christmas-eve|title = King's commissions a new carol for Christmas Eve}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|2020
|''No new commission''<ref>Interview with Daniel Hyde > 'The Irregular Christmas'; [[BBC Music Magazine]], Christmas 2020, p 35</ref>
|-
|align=center|2021
|There is no Rose
|Words: 15th century<br />Music: [[Cecilia McDowall]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2021/kings-announces-commissioned-carol-christmas-eve|title = King's announces commissioned carol for Christmas Eve}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|2022
|Angelus ad Virginem
|Words: Mediaeval<br />Music: [[Matthew Martin (composer)|Matthew Martin]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christmas Religious Programming on the BBC 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/christmas-religious-programming/ |access-date=2025-01-12 }}</ref>
|-
|align=center|2023
|The Cradle
|Words: Anonymous, 17th century Austrian, translated by [[Robert Graves]]<br />Music: [[Cheryl Frances-Hoad]]<ref>[https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2023/kings-commissions-new-carol-christmas-eve King's College, Cambridge, "King's commissions a new carol for Christmas Eve"], 28 November 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.</ref>
|-
|align=center|2024
|Three Points of Light
|Words: Peter Cairns<br />Music: [[Grayston Ives]]<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002611f. Retrieved 4 December 2024.]</ref>
|}

Organ postludes have also been commissioned in certain years, as shown in the table below.

<!--Please arrange in chronological order. Thanks.-->
{| class="wikitable" style="max-width: 1000px;"
|-
!width=60px|Year
!width=|Title of postlude
!width=|Composer
|- valign=top
|align=center|2005
|Improvisation on "[[Adeste Fideles]]"<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2005"/>
|[[Francis Pott (composer)|Francis Pott]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2006
|Recessional on "[[In the Bleak Midwinter]]"<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2006"/>
|[[Lionel Steuart Fothringham]]
|- valign=top
|align=center|2007
|Sortie on "[[In Dulci Jubilo]]"<ref name="Nine Lessons and Carols 2007"/>
|[[David Briggs (musician)|David Briggs]]
|}

===Attendance at the service===
Attendance at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held on Christmas Eve is now by ticket only, many of which are allocated by public ballot; standby tickets are also made available to those who applied in the ballot.<ref name=kingsattendance>[https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/a-festival-of-nine-lessons-and-carols King's College, Cambridge, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Attending in Person]. Retrieved 21 December 2023.</ref> Owing to the service's popularity, demand for seats greatly exceeds the number of tickets available. In previous years, when tickets were available at the door, some people began queuing the night before,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hallows |first1=Neil |title=Queuing for King's |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6202751.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=5 October 2019 |date=22 December 2006}}</ref> but now only those with standby tickets are permitted to stand in the queue.<ref name=kingsattendance/>