Annual Christmas song event in Australia
Carols by Candlelight
is an annual
Australian
Christmas
tradition
that was popularised in
Melbourne
in 1938.
[1]
The tradition has since spread around the world. It involves people gathering, usually outdoors in a
park
, to sing
carols
by candlelight, featuring live performances by both national and international celebrities accompanied by a symphony orchestra.
Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight
[
edit
]
Vision Australia
's Carols by Candlelight is the oldest Carols by Candlelight event in Australia.
History
[
edit
]
Carols by Candlelight, held in Melbourne, Victoria, was introduced in 1938 by radio announcer
Norman Banks
, of Melbourne radio station
3KZ
. Whilst walking home from his night-time radio shift on
Christmas Eve
in 1937, he passed a window and saw an elderly woman sitting up in bed inside listening to
Away in a Manger
being played on the radio and singing along with her face being lit by candlelight.
[
citation needed
]
Wondering how many others spent Christmas alone, he had the idea to gather a large group of people to all sing Christmas carols together by candlelight. The first ever event was held in
Alexandra Gardens
the following Christmas in 1938, and was attended by around 10,000 people.
[
citation needed
]
Following
World War II
, the Carols became so well patronised that the decision was made to move it to the neighbouring park in
Kings Domain
.
[
citation needed
]
In 1959, the newly constructed
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
provided a permanent venue, where they are still held more than 60 years on as of 2023.
Funds raised from donations, ticket, and candle sales are given to Vision Australia (formerly the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, (RVIB)).
[
citation needed
]
However, originally, all profits went to the
Austin Hospital
. During
World War II
the
Red Cross
and the
Australian Comforts Fund
joined the Austin Hospital as co-recipients, and in the immediate post-war era the RVIB received funds, as did the Austin Hospital.
[
citation needed
]
In recent years,
[
when?
]
the dress rehearsal on 23 December has become open to the public. Tickets to the event are cheaper than the main event, while funds raised still go towards Vision Australia. The event has become almost as popular as the main event in recent years.
Due to the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic
, there were no crowds for the 2020 event; it was the first time no crowds were allowed since its 1938 inception.
[2]
[3]
Crowds were allowed in 2021, but all attendees (10,000 people) needed to have had the COVID vaccination.
[4]
[5]
Hosts and broadcast
[
edit
]
The event was originally hosted by its founder Melbourne sports broadcaster Norman Banks and broadcast live over radio station
3KZ
.
The 1956 Carols By Candlelight was the first to be broadcast on television, as part of
GTV9
's pre-launch test transmission, with 3KZ maintaining a separate radio broadcast of the event.
[6]
When Banks left 3KZ in 1952,
Philip Gibbs
became host. During the time that Gibbs was hosting, the program became a radio/TV simulcast on 3KZ and
ATV-0
,
[
citation needed
]
with ATV-0's first telecast in 1969, extending to other stations across the
0-10 Network
(now
Network Ten
). From 1979 it was telecast nationally through the
Nine Network
. Later radio broadcast partners included
3MP
,
3AW
and
3EE
and across the
Macquarie Radio Network
as well as Vision Australia's own
national radio network
.
The event was also previously linked to
Ray Martin
, who hosted the carols for 18 years.
The event is also broadcast and telecast live to eastern Asia, many Pacific Islands and New Zealand.
Performers
[
edit
]
Performers for the event vary from year to year. Regular performers include
David Hobson
,
Marina Prior
,
Silvie Paladino
,
Denis Walter
and
Anthony Callea
. Australian children's band
Hi-5
headlined children's segments from 1999 to 2019.
Nine Network
stars have starred in the event in recent years. Contestants from
The Voice Australia
have also starred in the event from 2012 to 2020.
The Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight Choir, Australian Girls Choir and National Boys Choir of Australia appear on the show each year as supporting acts in numerous of the performances.
In 1938, the massed choirs were led by
Horace Stevens
, who was followed in the position by Max Balderson. Since 1988, Douglas Heywood has held the position of Choral Director.
[
citation needed
]
The long-serving musical director from 1984 to 2002 was
Geoff Harvey
.
[13]
Since 2003,
John Foreman
has filled the position.
[14]
In earlier years, Carols by Candlelight had a strong classical music theme, and a noticeable religious influence. The
Sun Aria
winner for each year was automatically invited to sing at Carols by Candlelight. However, since the 1960s, the program has certainly moved toward popular culture.
Ray Martin
holds the record for hosting the most Carols by Candlelight shows, from 1988 to 2007. He sang at only one show, in 1996, when he sang
Harry Connick Jr
's "
When My Heart Finds Christmas
".
Other carols events
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]
Most cities and towns in Australia hold a night-time carols event in the lead-up to Christmas.
Sydney
[
edit
]
Carols in the Domain
have been held annually since 1983, originally on the last Saturday evening before Christmas Eve, and on the last Sunday evening before Christmas Eve since 2016. They are televised in Australia and sometimes in other countries.
Brisbane
[
edit
]
Carols in the City
is held on Riverstage in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and on television throughout Queensland.
Perth
[
edit
]
In
Perth
, Carols by Candlelight are held in mid-December at the
Supreme Court Gardens
, while other events are held at
Fremantle
,
Scarborough
and
Rockingham
. In 2012, Suzie Mathers performed during the IGA Carols by Candlelight in Perth
[15]
Adelaide
[
edit
]
In
Adelaide
, Carols by Candlelight is held in the weeks before Christmas in
Elder Park
on the banks of the
River Torrens
. In 2012, 30,000 people witnessed the event.
[16]
In the Adelaide suburb of
Modbury
, the annual Civic Park Carols attracts the second biggest crowd of its type (community) in Australia,
[
citation needed
]
with about 40,000 people attending the seventh edition in 2018.
[17]
Hobart
[
edit
]
In
Hobart
, due to the urban nature of the city, there are three main carols services. One each in
Clarence
,
Glenorchy
and the main ceremony is held in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens by Variety - the Children's Charity of Tasmania.
Canberra
[
edit
]
In
Canberra
the annual Carols by Candlelight is held in Commonwealth Park on Stage 88. 2019 will be its 75th occurrence. This is the second longest-running Carols in a capital city. It is a traditional Carols with community singing of carols led by Woden Valley Youth Choir and one of the local bands such as Canberra City Band. Guest Artists are featured - usually drawn from the local community. Donations are collected for a local charity with $14,180 raised in 2012 for the Snowy Hydro Southcare Helicopter service. In 2011 Auslan interpreters started to provide interpretation for members of the regional deaf community
[18]
Darwin
[
edit
]
Carols by Candlelight is held at the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens each year, raising money for charity.
Around Victoria
[
edit
]
- Carols in the Park is held annually in North Balwyn. In 2011 it moved to Macleay Park, North Balwyn. In 2012, 10,000 people attended the celebration in Victoria.
[19]
- Carols at Como Park is held annually in South Yarra by the
City of Stonnington
.
- Denis Walter
's Carols by the Bay is held on the first Saturday of December in
Geelong
. It is held at Eastern Beach and is a free event.
- The
City of Monash
organises the large annual Carols by Candlelight event in
Jells Park
, hosted by
Pete Smith
. It has attracted up to 25,000 people and has been running for over 25 years.
- In the
City of Yarra
a large Carols by Candlelight event has recently been held in the
Abbotsford Convent
gardens.
- In the
City of Manningham
a large Carols by Candlelight event is held annually in
Ruffey Lake Park
.
- In
Werribee
, there is the annual
City of Wyndham
Carols held on the lawns at the historic
Werribee Park Mansion
. This event takes place on the second week of December.
Other
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Norman Banks"
.
- ^
Knox, David (5 November 2020).
"No crowds for Carols by Candlelight"
.
TV Tonight
.
TV Tonight
. Retrieved
5 November
2020
.
- ^
Perry, Kevin (5 November 2020).
"Carols by Candlelight will continue, but no crowds in 2020"
.
TV Blackbox
. Retrieved
5 November
2020
.
- ^
Knox, David (4 November 2021).
"Crowds to return for Carols by Candlelight"
.
TV Tonight
.
TV Tonight
. Retrieved
4 November
2021
.
- ^
Perry, Kevin (4 November 2021).
"The crowds will be back for Carols by Candlelight"
.
TV Blackbox
. Retrieved
4 November
2021
.
- ^
"The Age"
. 20 December 1956.
- ^
"TV and radio | Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight"
.
- ^
"Livinia Nixon, David Campbell to host Carols by Candlelight"
.
TV Tonight
. 27 November 2020.
- ^
"EDDIE MCGUIRE to host 2020 Carols By Candlelight after David CAMPBELL forced to pull out"
.
TV Blackbox
. 18 December 2020
. Retrieved
18 December
2020
.
- ^
Knox, David (8 November 2021).
"David Campbell & Ally Langdon to host Carols by Candlelight"
.
TV Tonight
.
- ^
Molk, Steve (10 December 2022).
"DAVID CAMPBELL and BROOKE BONEY host Vision Australia's CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT"
.
TV Blackbox
. Retrieved
10 December
2022
.
- ^
"Music phenomenon G Flip to light up carols stage on Christmas Eve & David Campbell and Sarah Abo to host"
.
Nine for Brands
. Retrieved
8 December
2023
.
- ^
"Harvey, Geoff - People and organisations"
.
Trove
. Retrieved
7 April
2018
.
- ^
"About John"
.
- ^
Photo Gallery of PerthNow, 2012 Carols by Candlelight
Retrieved 26 April 2013
- ^
Rain stays away for Carols by Candlelight at Elder Park
Retrieved 27 April 2013
- ^
Thousands of people are packing Civic Park at Modbury for the annual Christmas Carols
(video news report), Channel 9 News, 16 December 2018
- ^
Canberrans in tune with carol spirit
Retrieved 8 July 2013
- ^
Carols By Candlelight singers wow thousands of families at the Sidney Myer Music bowl
Retrieved 27 April 2013
External links
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