A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Michael Barone hosts the annual live broadcast from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England.

In 1918, the then-new dean of King's Chapel, 34-year-old Eric Milner-White, wanted to try something innovative and beyond the standard liturgy of the Church of England. So, he wove together scripture and song, called on readers of various ages from school and town, and made up this truly magical progression that carries us from prophecy to fulfillment, from Old Testament foretelling to a birthday celebration.

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols airs on Classical 91.5/90.3 on Monday, December 24, 2012 at 10 a.m.