The purists must have been squirming. The rest of us were having too much fun to care.

In the friendliest possible way, the Carnival Band has been breaking down barriers for 25 years. But can you imagine: a concert that ranges from the 16th century to jazz, while gently putting the boot into stuffiness?

Wednesday’s Carnival of Carols was the just what the doctor ordered to kick off this year’s Christmas festival.

So the august name of Marc-Antoine Charpentier meant not his famous Midnight Mass, but the traditional French tunes on which it was based.

And how. His Christmas “stomp” sounded middle-eastern, his Christmas ‘swing’ became a Baroque boogie, with blue-note recorders, double bass, guitar and drums. All in the best possible taste, of course.

A health and safety carol in the style of Instant Sunshine brought guffaws for everybody’s favourite bête noire.

So too did Deck The Halls in tango style – a concoction by Jub Davis and Steve Banks – and Maddy Prior’s Round of the Animals with masks.

But there were poignant reminders of the season, especially in traditional English carols like This is the Truth and Shepherds Arise, sung in proper folk style. Giles Lewin, on stage as singer, bagpiper, fiddler, lute-player and more, contributed two touching settings: a modal Did a Bright Evening Star, and an Orkney tune, Lachrimae Amoris.

There was something for everyone here, and plenty to gladden the heart.