Forty years after the School of Music and the Office of Public Information recorded a Christmas program for a television-viewing audience, it is again available to the general public just in time for the holiday season!

Christmas Comes a Caroling, produced in 1972, is one of many Christmas programs the University Archives recently digitized from the original film.
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The concert begins with the University of Illinois Wind Ensemble conducted by Dr. Robert Gray, followed by the University Chorus Ensemble  directed by William Hienz, Jr.

If viewers have doubts about the film’s date, they only need continue watching to see Bright New World sing to guitar and upright bass accompaniment in classic 1970s fashion.

The program continues with The Girls Next Door, followed by the University of Illinois Madrigal Singers who provide the final choral portion of the film complete with a set–including a boar’s head–and costumes.

The University Wind Ensemble concludes the 30 minute program.   This Christmas film, and other like it through the late 1970s, are available online through the University Archives website.