He collaborated with Julie Andrews on a collection of Christmas carols in 1966, focusing on rarely heard carols.

His publications include Congregational Praise (1951), The University Carol Book (1961) and critical and historical works on hymnody, church music and carols.

With variations on familiar carols, rediscovered obscurities and new seasonal tunes, the holidays nurture creativity mixed with calculation; by now, there is hardly a niche left unsung.

Then Santa stopped in Herald Square to sing some variations on carols - "Frosty the Cokehead" and "Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire."

His compositional output includes several preludes for organ, an organ work on French carols, some motets and other choral works, a communion service, a prelude and fugue for string orchestra, and a polyphonic mass.

ESSEX - First Congregational Church, 33 Prospect St. Today, 3 P.M., "Midnight Mass" based on French carols by Charpentier, with choir, string quartet, flutes, and organ.

The music was composed by Alan Silvestri with some of the music being based on actual carols.

At 7 P.M., variations on carols by Richard Donohue, organist, and 12th-century carol "Friendly Beasts."

In 1991, he narrated a track on the The Chieftains' album of traditional Christmas music and carols, The Bells of Dublin.

Over the years, further aspects were introduced into the Radio format such as the annual "Villancicos" contest (Christmas Carol contest) where businesses and workplaces were invited to write and perform their own take on popular songs and carols.