A musical gift
Each year at this time, Harvard’s Memorial Church presents members of the University community and beyond with the gift of song. For more than a century, the church’s Harvard University Choir has performed two Christmas carol services that include readings by the clergy, and a mix of traditional and contemporary carols and hymns sung by both the choir and congregation. “It’s a beautiful part of the holiday season, and an important offering that the church gives to the community,” said Edward Jones, the Gund University organist and choirmaster who has led the service for the past decade. “We are now in our 103rd annual performance. As far as we know, it’s the oldest continually running carols service in America.” Though its overall format has remained largely unchanged since it began, the service regularly blends the old with the new, weaving favorite carols in with newer works, including an annual commissioned song. This year’s...