“John Joubert meets Herbie Hancock and Coldplay” Christmas song shortlisted
A Christmas carol composed by a member of Birmingham Bach Choir is in the final of the BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition 2017.
David Hughes, 62, who lives in Compton, Wolverhampton, studied music at Wolverhampton Grammar School, before becoming a corporate lawyer in London, Birmingham and finally back in Wolverhampton as a consultant with FBC Manby Bowdler.
Now retired, he continues to enjoy music, playing jazz piano with the Big ‘B’ Swingtet, and also singing with Birmingham Bach Choir, who he first joined in 1986 and through whom he met his wife, Linda.
David explained: “The BBC runs a Christmas Carol Competition each year, and this year challenged amateur composers to write a 21st century carol using the 15th century poem Sir Christemas.
“I decided to have a go, and was thrilled that my carol was chosen as one of the final six by the distinguished panel of judges including the composer Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music, and David Hill, Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers.”
Describing the carol, which is dedicated to his wife, Linda, David added: “I took a pop song structure – verse, bridge passage and chorus – and harmonised it in a jazz style, with a couple of piano riffs which recur throughout the carol. It’s a bit like John Joubert meets Herbie Hancock and Coldplay.”
The winning carol will be chosen by a public vote. A recording of David’s carol can be found on the BBC Radio 3 website, performed by the BBC Singers. Online voting is open until Thursday 21 December 2017, 5pm. The winning carol will be announced on the Radio 3 Breakfast programme the following day (22/12/17) and broadcast throughout the Christmas period.
For more information, see: www.bbc.co.uk/radio3
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