What on EARTH was that?!

I heard it and turned the radio down when it came on! I suspect it was a reference to the tradition among arabic women of a noise they make to celebrate a happy occasion - known as ululation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md7OvU5JIcI
Suppose culturally it was appropriate but certainly thought it was totally out of place in a traditional service. And it did sound discordant

Some of it was lovely, by the time the discordant stuff began I was only half listening. I think the modern type music/carols are horrendous. I think we switched off, I was disappointed in it this year.

We watched the celebration from St. Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen which was wonderful. Though they did have folk in some strange places doing the readings, but for me personally it was a far superior programme than Carols from Kings this year. Saddens me to say this, I have loved the programme for years.

The service at St Machar's had some wonderful carols that I had never heard before and Barbara Dickson sang (pre-recorded from Glasgow Cathedral) but she was great and still has a fantastic voice.

I will still tune into Kings next year, but I do hope they improve some of the songs/music. I did not realise the radio and television versions of the programme were different.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p039z975

This is the one! The horrible noisy bit starts at about 01:10:30hrs if you want to slide the control along to that time. The words are practically indecipherable.

Right; the one I saw had lots of gospel,bluesy type carols and I like my carols to be just 'carols' .

Tegan this was the full Kings College Cambridge one on the radio. They do a separate one for the TV which is more of a concert rather than an official church service one.

True I didn't hear the offending carol but the rest was superb.

I think this one might have been the "offending number" but I am not sure.

CAROL

The child on the dirtpath
finds the highway blocked
The dogs at the entrance
snarl that doors are locked
The great god of kindness
has his kindness mocked

May those who travel light
Find shelter on the flight
May Bethlehem
Give rest to them.

The sea is a graveyard
the beach is dry bones
the child at the station
is pelted with stones
the cop stands impassive
the ambulance drones

We sleep then awaken
we rest on the way
our sleep might be troubled
but hope is our day
we move on for ever
like children astray

We move on for ever
our feet leave no mark
you won’t hear our voices
once we’re in the dark
but here is our fire
this child is our spark.

The Flight
Words,
George Szirtes
Music,
Richard Causton

Is that the one I've just seen with Aled Jones? I didn't like it at all. Noticed there was one on the BBC later but didn't see that one.

Phoenix I agree entirely. One of those was just dreadful, it was a wailing keening noise.

So sad to be so disappointed! Most un Christmassy except for the very small selection of carols! Odd poems too! Three generations here equally unhappy with it!

I have recorded it so have it to look forward to

Oh, I'm so glad I'm not the only one! I know exactly the cacophony you mean. It was so terrible I switched off too! It was the boys screaming that really did for me.

Teetime you must have left the room at that particular point. I caught up with the second half on tv later and it was lovely, but why do they now have to ruin a wonderful tradition by including what can only be showing off the choirs capability to follow unconnected discordant notes.

Loved it - got to Oh Holy Night and the tears fell down!! Beautiful choral music lovely lovely xxx

I always have the radio on (Radio 4) in the kitchen, and Carols from Kings is part of my Christmas, in that I'm always in the kitchen during the day on Christmas Eve, but I couldn't believe my ears when I heard that!

What was it supposed to be? Humans mimicking whale song?

I will admit that I wasn't giving it my full attention as I was wrapping presents at the time, but still!!

phoenix I was looking forward to it but ended up switching it off.