This collection serves as a comprehensive repository of traditional carols, aiming to preserve and standardize the musical heritage of the holiday season for choral performance. Percy Dearmer, alongside his co-editors, compiled this work to provide choirs with an authoritative source of traditional melodies and lyrics. The book functions as a historical and practical guide, organizing carols by their liturgical and seasonal significance. It establishes a framework for the performance of carols that balances historical authenticity with accessibility for modern choral groups.

Experts and choir directors frequently cite this collection as a foundational resource for traditional choral repertoire. Readers often note the academic rigor and historical depth provided in the editorial notes accompanying the music.