348:'s short-lived "House Party Series", which was designed to keep the 10-inch album alive, even as most labels released most of their new LPs on 12-inch discs. In 1957, the album was reissued once again, this time on a 12-inch LP as CL 1051, including an instrumental brass ensemble, a medley of the carols arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael. The original Columbia Choir album did not include "Christmas Cometh Caroling", "What Are the Signs", and "Sleep Baby Mine", also titled "The Carol of the Mother".
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189:, which he sent to family members and parishioners. On these cards were original Christmas carols, with both the words and music by the Reverend Burt. After Alfred graduated from college, his father asked him to take over as composer and write the music for the family Christmas card in 1942, "Christmas Cometh Caroling". From then on, Alfred would write the music for the family's Christmas cards.
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401:. The recording engineer was Lowell Frank. The unusual 8-part vocal harmony arrangements were written by Alfred's lifelong friend, Brinley Bethel. The tracks were recorded during a 3-day session in Hollywood on September 9, 10 & 11 of 1963. The recording was nominated for a Grammy in 1964 in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Performance. In 1964, there was no category for
378:(Capitol T/ST 1260), and six of the Alfred Burt Carols appeared on it: "Caroling, Caroling", "O Hearken Ye", "Jesu Parvule", "The Star Carol", "Come Dear Children", and "This Is Christmas" (the latter also known under the name "Bright, Bright the Holly Berries"). Finally, Cole recorded "Caroling, Caroling" on his 1960 album
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Burt married his childhood sweetheart, Anne Shortt (August 14, 1922 – November 30, 2000), on
October 13, 1945. Finally earning his discharge in early 1946, he formed a short-lived band; after the group disbanded, he and Anne returned to Michigan to spend time with his father. The 1947 Christmas card,
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Burt finished the last of his carols, "The Star Carol", on
February 5, 1954. Less than two days later, he died. "The Star Carol" would be used on the final Burt family Christmas card that holiday season. The artwork and printing of the card was donated by Columbia Records with a staff photographer
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That changed with the 1952 carol, "Come, Dear
Children". Burt finished writing the music during a rehearsal with the Blue Reys, the vocal group with Alvino Rey's orchestra. He asked them to sing it so he could make sure the harmonies worked; they liked it so much that they asked Burt if they could
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Orchestra in 1949. Meanwhile, Anne remained in
Michigan, where the Burts' only child, Diane Bates Burt, was born on March 8, 1950. While she was pregnant, Anne, in consultation with Alfred, asked an old family friend, Wihla Hutson (1901–2002), the organist at Rev. Bates Burt's church, to write the
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lyrics for the annual
Christmas card, which Alfred then would set to music. This carol, entitled "Sleep, Baby Mine" (or "Carol of the Mother") was a lullaby for their unborn child. In the spring of 1950, Alfred, Anne and six-week-old Diane moved to Los Angeles, California.
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was recorded by The
Columbia Choir under the direction of Grafton (Bud) Linn at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal church, on Coldwater Canyon Avenue in Studio City, California, of which Alfred was assistant choir director and both he and his wife were members.
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with Burt present to conduct from his wheelchair. Meanwhile, to fill the album, Burt was assigned four new carols. One of them, "O Hearken Ye", was sent as the 1953 family
Christmas card. For the first time, Alfred knew his carols were going to be recorded.
299:, was informed of Burt's failing health and organized the project, assembling an all-star choir of Hollywood singers to perform Burt's four-part harmonies. Recording sessions for the older carols took place in late 1953 in the North Hollywood
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as a musician and arranger/composer. He also worked as a teacher at The
American Theatre Wing professional school, where he collaborated with Helen Hobbs Jordan (April 6, 1907 – April 26, 2006) on a sight-reading book.
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Over the next several years and, as the Burts' circle of friends grew, the
Christmas card list grew from 50 to 450 people. But still, the Alfred Burt Carols remained unknown outside the Burts' growing mailing list.
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as a trumpeter. His father sent him the lyrics for the carols from
Michigan, first in 1943 ("Jesu Parvule") and then in 1944 ("What Are The Signs"). Burt completed the music from his base.
374:#4 in the Christmas season of 1958–59 and reappeared on either the main LP charts or the special Christmas charts for a decade thereafter. In 1959, Waring recorded the Christmas LP
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Through the early part of 1953, Burt complained of a persistent virus and fatigue. Eventually agreeing to a thorough medical examination, he was diagnosed with terminal
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recorded Burt's carols. In 1958, Ford recorded "The Star Carol" for his first full-length album of Christmas music and named the entire album of songs after it.
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551:(VAG Records 4222) of 1964 were remastered in 1995, and several of the tracks from those recordings were used to celebrate the 50th year of the carols on
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The album remained in print for several Christmas seasons. In 1955, the original 10-inch LP was reissued with a new catalog number (CL 2546) as part of
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in 1963 and has remained in print ever since. Simon and Garfunkel recorded "The Star Carol" in 1967, which was released on the LP
182:, with an emphasis on Music Theory. He graduated as an outstanding music theory student with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1942.
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between 1942 and 1954. Only one of the carols was performed in public outside his immediate family circle during his lifetime.
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providing the photo of the little girl looking at a Christmas ornament. Many thought it was Al's daughter, Diane Burt.
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131:(April 22, 1920 – February 7, 1954) was an American jazz musician who is best known for composing the music for fifteen
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to represent the carols. The Caroling Company included eight of the Alfred Burt Carols on their Grammy listed CD,
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in Pontiac. At the age of 10, having shown an early interest in music, Alfred received his first musical instrument, a
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vocal music; thus, the work was placed in the instrumental category. It lost to Henry Mancini's "Pink Panther" theme.
397:(Warner Bros. W/WS 1566). The recording was produced by Anne S. Burt, Alfred's wife, and James Conkling, president of
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The first recording of all 15 of The Alfred Burt Carols was released in 1964 by the Voices of Jimmy Joyce called
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annual Christmas party. It proved to be a hit among the party guests, and served to introduce Burt's carols to
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Twelve of Burt's carols were released in time for the holiday season of 1954 on a 10-inch vinyl album called
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332:(Columbia CL 6336). The album was credited to "The Columbia Choir", conducted by Bud Linn and produced by "
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413:"Caroling, Caroling" and "Some Children See Him" are the most recorded carols written by Alfred S. Burt.
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159:, as a present from his parents. Though he would learn to play several other instruments, including the
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early in 1948. Alfred and his wife chose to continue the family Christmas card tradition in his honor.
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when he was two after his father, Bates G. Burt (1878–1948), became rector of All Saints Pontiac, an
709:"Singers Unlimited at Singers.com - Sheet Music, CDs and Songbook Arrangements of Singers Unlimited"
217:"Nigh Bethlehem," was the last collaboration between Alfred and Bates Burt. Reverend Burt died of a
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A tradition that the elder Burt had begun prior to moving to Pontiac in 1922, was the creation of a
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In 1980, Diane Burt, Alfred's daughter, started an eight voice a cappella ensemble called
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420:'s 1967 recording of "The Star Carol" (first released on the Columbia Records compilation
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Burt continued his professional career as an arranger and musician for bands such as
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James Conkling, husband of Donna King Conkling, and, at that time, the president of
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614:"This Is Christmas" (also known as "Bright, Bright, the Holly Berries") (1950)
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The Burt-Hutson collaboration continued until Alfred Burt's death in 1954.
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This Is Christmas: A Complete Collection of the Alfred S. Burt Carols
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University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni
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652:"Helen Hobbs Jordan, 99, Music Teacher to Generations, Is Dead"
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recorded six of the Alfred Burt Carols on their 1972 album
382:(Capitol W/SW 1444), which was reissued under the title
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recorded "This Is Christmas" on a Hallmark recording,
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For the English recipient of the Victoria Cross, see
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in bands and orchestras, with a special interest in
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The Alfred Burt Christmas Carols Golden Anniversary
416:Other recordings of The Alfred Burt Carols include
163:, Alfred spent most of his life playing cornet and
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
507:wrote two medleys of Alfred Burt's works for the
324:, on which 12 of the Burt carols first appeared.
288:. He spent his final months at home in Pacoima,
497:also has recorded Burt carols in their 2000 CD
424:) and renditions of "Some Children See Him" by
567:A Christmas Present From The Caroling Company
528:The Sounds Of Christmas from Around the World
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599:"Ah, Bleak and Chill the Wintry Wind" (1945)
534:recorded "Caroling, Caroling" on her album
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573:In 2001, Burt's grandniece, the composer
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
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608:"Christ in the Stranger's Guise" (1948)
515:(TNK 48232) and another for the album
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795:20th-century American male musicians
54:adding citations to reliable sources
602:"All on a Christmas Morning" (1946)
201:, Burt served as an officer in the
684:"Various - A Very Merry Christmas"
590:"Christmas Cometh Caroling" (1942)
360:Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians
16:American jazz musician (1920-1954)
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780:Musicians from Pontiac, Michigan
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790:20th-century American composers
650:Wakin, Daniel J. (2006-04-28).
547:(VAG Records 4223) of 1954 and
41:needs additional citations for
629:"We'll Dress the House" (1954)
617:"Some Children See Him" (1951)
517:We Wish You A Merry Christmas
370:(Capitol T/ST 1071) peaked at
312:First recordings of the carols
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620:"Come, Dear Children" (1952)
557:(VAG Records 4225) in 2004.
530:, with the London Symphony.
775:Christian music songwriters
626:"Caroling, Caroling" (1954)
596:"What Are the Signs" (1944)
224:Burt resumed his career in
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193:World War II and aftermath
174:Burt studied music at the
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469:James Taylor at Christmas
611:"Sleep Baby Mine" (1949)
770:American male composers
632:"The Star Carol" (1954)
605:"Nigh Bethlehem" (1947)
376:The Sounds of Christmas
623:"O, Hearken Ye" (1953)
579:Minnesota Public Radio
450:Christmas at the Beach
422:A Very Merry Christmas
388:A Very Merry Christmas
380:The Magic of Christmas
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176:University of Michigan
147:. His family moved to
593:"Jesu Parvule" (1943)
511:, one from the album
509:Boston Pops Orchestra
499:Some Children See Him
334:Edwin L. (Buddy) Cole
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21:Alfred Alexander Burt
562:The Caroling Company
399:Warner Bros. Records
356:Tennessee Ernie Ford
129:Alfred Shaddick Burt
50:improve this article
476:(2018 on the album
466:(2004 on the album
456:(1998 on the album
448:(1996 on the album
438:(1982 on the album
428:(1965 on the album
418:Simon and Garfunkel
145:Marquette, Michigan
656:The New York Times
545:The Christmas Mood
384:The Christmas Song
338:The Christmas Mood
330:The Christmas Mood
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322:The Christmas Mood
320:Original cover of
203:United States Army
549:This Is Christmas
519:(Philips 41627).
487:Singers Unlimited
479:Winter in the Air
280:Illness and death
233:Professional life
207:San Angelo, Texas
149:Pontiac, Michigan
143:Burt was born in
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765:1954 deaths
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736:Alfred Burt
570:, in 2003.
286:lung cancer
265:sing it at
754:Categories
718:2024-06-03
694:2020-05-02
669:2017-10-02
637:References
585:The carols
403:a cappella
301:LDS Church
290:California
255:Alvino Rey
239:Alvino Rey
139:Early life
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522:In 1990,
491:Christmas
372:Billboard
271:Hollywood
180:Ann Arbor
539:in 1994.
459:December
441:December
354:artists
346:Columbia
226:New York
740:Discogs
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