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Artwork for Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols

Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols

America Media
Christmas
Go Tell It On the Mountain
Angels We Have Heard On High
Christianity
The Coventry Carol
Christmas Carols
Civil Rights Movement
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Negro Spirituals
African American History
The Little Drummer Boy
Bristol
Latin
The Gospel Of Luke
The First Noel
Fannie Lou Hamer
Oral Tradition
Martin Luther King Jr.
Massacre Of the Innocents
Coventry Cathedral

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The cookies, the mistletoe, the lights...oh, and the music! For Christians, Christmas carols mark a season of hope and the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Even in popular culture, these iconic jingles capture a warmth, a cheer and a nostalgia that transcends religious belonging. But where do these beloved yuletide songs come from? What inspired the people who... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes24Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols

Latest Episodes

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” has shaped how millions of English speakers imagine the Palestinian town where Jesus was born: a small place, still and peaceful, resting under the stars. The wars and struggles of recent decades invite us to question whe... more

Did you know that when a ewe rejects her newborn lamb, the shepherd has only hours to convince her to nurse it—or the lamb will die? This is the work of shepherds—staying awake through the night when lambs are being born, watching closely, ready to s... more

We often imagine angels as gentle and serene. But in Scripture they arrive in blinding light and overwhelming sound—so much so that their first words are almost always “Do not be afraid.” These are the messengers who burst into the night sky to meet ... more

Most Christmas carols celebrate the birth of Jesus. But not “The Coventry Carol,” the premiere episode of “Hark!” season five. This song centers on a biblical horror: the “massacre of the innocents,” King Herod’s order to kill all male babies two yea... more

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Recent Guests

Stephanie Saldaña
A writer from San Antonio, Texas, who has made her home in the Holy Land for many years.
Episode: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Rachel Wenner Gardner
Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia, where Phillips Brooks wrote O Little Town of Bethlehem.
Holy Trinity Church
Episode: O Little Town of Bethlehem
John French
Former organist and choir director at Holy Trinity Church, where the carol was written.
Holy Trinity Church
Episode: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Karen Swallow Prior
Retired English professor who loves reading and writing about literature.
Episode: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Christopher Walker
Music expert and former Director of Music at Clifton Cathedral.
Clifton Cathedral
Episode: Angels We Have Heard on High
Candida Moss
Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology at the University of Birmingham.
University of Birmingham
Episode: Angels We Have Heard on High
Susan Reynolds
Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Candler School of Theology and parishioner at St. Thomas More in Decatur, Georgia.
Emory University
Episode: What Child Is This?
Richard Jeffrey-Gray
Director of Music for the Diocese of Clifton in Bristol, England.
Diocese of Clifton
Episode: What Child Is This?
Milton Mermikides
The 37th Gresham Professor of Music based at Gresham College, London.
Gresham College
Episode: What Child Is This?

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 367 ratings
  • I was uncertain at first but was pleasantly surprised. I am not a Catholic but am a Christian. I may disagree with some of the concepts at times but really not many. I love history so I like the stories but equally enjoyed the spiritual challenges. Just great podcast. listen and share

    Audible
    5
    Kindle Customer
    United Statesa month ago
  • Best Way to welcome the Christmas season!

    I learned about this podcast after watching another one with Maggy Van Doren “The Spiritual Life” that I also love, this one Hark has been the best discovery to prepare for the holidays! A new season is coming but it is timeless, so I’ve been listening to the previous seasons, I LOVE IT!!! You learn, feel, elevate yourself to a special retreat with Christmas Music!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WChFL123
    United Statesa month ago
  • So many new perspectives

    My favourite advent calendar, bringing so very many new insights touching on the faith, the music, the people and their history, lovingly put together in a brilliant production. Thank you for lighting up these shortening days 🙏🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    marxpierinx
    Netherlands2 months ago
  • Holiday tradition

    I’ve been listening to this podcast every December for several years and I eagerly await each new season’s music choices. I learn so much about the history of the carols and hymns.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3675()
    United States3 months ago
  • Review of Hark

    My spirit caught FIRE after listening to 2024 series & then I downloaded all seasons!!! This was a special Christmas gift!!! I have shared it with my choir director, Lupe RIOS, at The IMMACULATA at UNIVERSITY of San Diego!! Thank you for these special moments learning about each carol!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Brickyard House
    United Statesa year ago

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Talking Points

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The First Noel
Q: Why do you think that God chose shepherds to announce the birth of Christ to?
Shepherds at the time of Jesus were the anawim, the poor of God, unclean and outcasts. The announcement to them emphasizes the lowliness of Jesus' origins and the importance of the poor in receiving the good news.
Angels We Have Heard on High
Q: When did the switch occur from terrifying angels to more gentle, domestic images?
This idea of a personal guardian Angel began in the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries with monastics thinking of themselves as living angelic lives.
Angels We Have Heard on High
Q: So why is it important to begin with the text?
It concerns me a lot with today's church music often, where choirs think the words are a vehicle for making beautiful sounds in music.
Angels We Have Heard on High
Q: So maybe to begin, who are angels?
Angels are messengers of God, representing various ranks and roles within the divine order.
The Little Drummer Boy
Q: What do we know about the origins of this carol for Katherine?
Katherine Davis composed The Little Drummer Boy while trying to take a nap when the melody came to her.

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this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 24 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Stephanie Saldaña
2. Rachel Wenner Gardner
3. John French
4. Karen Swallow Prior
5. Christopher Walker
6. Candida Moss
7. Susan Reynolds
8. Richard Jeffrey-Gray

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