大象传媒

What makes a good Christmas singalong?

Karen: There are quite a few things, aren’t there? Sometimes it’s just a really catchy melody, and sometimes it’s the words that really speak to people. It can also be repetition of something that really grabs you - maybe a little motif that keeps coming back.

Bob: The great thing about well-known Christmas tunes is that they have the ability to go straight into people’s voices. Sometimes, you feel like you know the tune already, even though it’s completely original. And it’s easier to pick up a tune if you have a sense of it already being there when you hear it or sing it for the first time.

Are there any special musical tricks for making a tune easy to sing and remember?

Bob: The shape of a tune is important, and that shape needs to correspond to the natural shape of your breath. Think of a tune you love singing: it has probably been put together in a way that allows your voice to grow naturally.

Karen Gibson, gospel expert and director of The Kingdom Choir

Karen: For me, a good tune should make people want to move. One of my favourite Christmas songs is by a gospel artist called Israel Haughton. It’s called Tidings, and it’s based on the carol God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman. It’s the most beautiful, lilting arrangement: tunes written in 3 / 4 time make your body move automatically, and this song is one of those. I want to move to music, and I want to be moved by music.

Bob: Also, remember that a melody for a group of singers tends to have a different character to a solo melody. When you’re writing for a group of people, you need to think in quite a straightforward way. A group of people will need time to breathe together, for example. And many people don’t like singing too low or too high, so you might need to keep the range fairly small.

How can you get into a creative frame of mind?

Bob: I remember hearing that when Paul Simon was writing music, he would strum his guitar and sing along to “oooh”, a gentle sound that resonates inside you. By doing that, he found little hooks of melody that he could use for his songs. So think about the words and sing along some ideas. You’re trying to come up with a hook that will draw you into a melody. If you do this every day, you’ll quickly get better and gain confidence.

Karen: I’d try listening to lots of carols and other music that is “wordy”. Ask yourself how these songs manage words in a way that it isn’t repetitive and helps people to remember them. Then start getting the words of the poem into yourself, making sure that you know them really well and thinking about how they make you feel. Let the music come from that.

Choral conductor and composer Bob Chilcott

To enter the competition, you need to come up with an original melody for the words of The Winter’s Brightening, a new poem by Niall Campbell. To read the words and hear them read out, visit the Carol Competition homepage.

Bob: And don’t be afraid of borrowing! In a way, all composers are magpies, taking ideas from other people. So, if there’s a particular song or chord sequence you like, try coming up with a new tune over those chords. That’s a great way of creating something new and giving yourself the confidence to build on it.

And what’s the best way to capture ideas?

Bob: When I compose, I tend to write my ideas down - especially in the middle of the night, so I don’t forget them by morning. But the brilliant thing is that you can record things on the move now. Just sing into your phone, or use computer software to get your ideas down. What matters is what comes out at the end, not how it gets there.

You can enter your carol as a written score, or sing it into your phone and upload a recording. For full details, visit the Carol Competition homepage.

Are there any traps that first-time composers should avoid?

Bob: The most important thing of all is to have the confidence to be yourself. When you write a tune, it reflects the kind of person you are or the music you know. We all have different points of reference, and it’s important to use that with pride.

Karen: We’re pushing against a tide of history where carols are concerned. We all love carols: they take us back to our childhood, and we’re used to hearing carols in a particular style. But my advice is to be authentic: don’t feel you have to sound like anyone else.

Feeling inspired? The deadline for entries to the Radio 3 Carol Competition is 11.59pm on Tuesday 1 November 2022. Visit the Carol Competition homepage to find out more, including details of how to enter. Good luck!