All around the world, winter holidays are celebrated, and their music is wonderful to hear, regardless of which tradition you observe. Bill gets us started with Nova Stella, medieval Italian Christmas music with a very early staging of the nativity. We will enjoy Christmas in Paris with music from Debussy, Charpentier and Poulenc and a Polynesian traditional hymn, Anau Oia Ea, plus an excerpt from Amahl and the Night Visitors from the original television production. Bill plays us one of his favorites from Ernest Bloch, Sacred Service. On our final day we will listen to Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, and this week’s celebration will end with more holiday cheer from David Bowie and Bing Crosby.
Holiday Celebration
Playlist
Episode 1
Anonymous: Nova Stella: A Medieval Italian Christmas (excerpts)
Altramar Medieval Ensemble
Nova Stella – A Medieval Italian Christmas / Altramar
Dorian 80142
13:49
Altenburg, Michael: Puer Natus In Bethlehem
Harwood Early Music Ensemble/Nygro
Harwood Early Music Ensemble/Nygro
Classic Digital 1001
2:34
Arbeau, Thoinot: Branle De l’Official
Harwood Early Music Ensemble/Nygro
Harwood Early Music Ensemble/Nygro
Classic Digital 1001
3:21
Guerrero, Francisco: O Que Nueva!
Harwood Early Music Ensemble/Nygro
Harwood Early Music Ensemble/Nygro
Classic Digital 1001
:58
Respighi, Ottorino: L’adorazione Dei Magi from Trittico botticelliano
BBC Concert Orch & Choir of King’s College,
Cambridge/Cleobury
Christmas Music: L’adorazione dei Magi /
A Boy Was Born / Une cantate de Noël
BBC Music MM236
9:41
Brubeck, Dave: La Fiesta de la Posada (excerpts)
Brubeck, piano; Davis, bass; Lewis, drums Orch/Davies
La Fiesta De La Posada
CBS IM 36662
15:06
Melichar: Mille Cherubini in Coro
Vienna Symphony/ Sutej; Carreras, tenor
Christmas In Vienna
Sony 53358
3:21
Armstrong, Louis: ‘Zat you, Santa Claus?
Louis Armstrong & the Commanders
Zat You, Santa Claus?
Decca 28943
2:39
Arbeau, Thoinot: Branle De l’Official (excerpt)
Harwood Early Music Ensemble/Nygro
Classic Digital 1001
00:21
Episode 2
Debussy, Claude: Noel De Enfants: “Qui N’ont Plus de Maisons”
Soriano, piano; de los Ángeles, soprano
Victoria De Los Angeles Sings Debussy
And Ravel & Other French Songs
Angel Records 36406
2:43
Charpentier, Marc-Antoine: Noëls pour lesinstruments (excerpts)
English Chamber Orchestra/Preston
Christmas Concertos
Novalis 150133
9:48
Poulenc, Francis: Quatre Motets pour le Temps de Noël
The Sixteen/ Christophers
Poulenc: Figure Humaine / The Sixteen
Virgin Classics 59192
11:20
Honegger, Arthur: Cantate De Noël
BBC Concert Orchestra and Choir of King’s College, Cambridge/ Cleobury
Christmas Music: L’adorazione dei Magi /
A Boy Was Born / Une cantate de Noël
BBC Music MM236
24:08
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr/ arranged by Duke Ellington:
Sugar Rum Cherry
The Duke Ellington Orchestra
The Nutcracker Suite
Columbia Col 472356 2
3:07
Charpentier, Marc-Antoine: Or Nous Dites, Marie (Sarabande)
English Chamber Orch/ Preston
Christmas Concertos
Novalis 150133
2:29
Episode 3
Polynesian Trad: Hymn: Anau Oia Ea
Tubuai Choir
Polynesian Odyssey
Shanachie LC 5762
1:13
Berlioz, Hector: L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25 (excerpts)
Frankfurt Radio Symphony/ Inbal
Hector Berlioz Edition –
Symphonie Fantastique, Etc / Inbal
Brilliant Classics 99999
7:43
Berlioz, Hector: L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25; “The Shepard’s Farwell”
Frankfurt Radio Symphony /Inbal
Hector Berlioz Edition –
Symphonie Fantastique, Etc / Inbal
Brilliant Classics 99999
3:06
Menotti, Gian Carlo: Amahl and the Night Visitors; “Shepherd’s Dance”
NBC Symphony Orch. & Chorus/ Schippers
Amahl And The Night Visitors
RCA 6485
3:20
Corelli, Arcangelo: Concerto in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 8, “Christmas Concerto”
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Adagio • Canon
DG 429390
13:33
Bloch, Ernest: Sacred Service (excerpt)
New York Philharmonic/ Bernstein; Merrill, baritone
The Royal Edition – Bloch: Sacred Services; Foss / Bernstein
Sony 47533
17:15
Berlin, Irving: White Christmas
Orchestra/ Camarata; Heifetz, violin
The Heifetz Collection Vol 19 – 51 Miniatures 1944-1946
RCA 61750
3:19
Episode 4
Britten, Benjamin: Ceremony of Carols: This Little Babe (excerpt)
The Sixteen/ Christophers
Britten: A Ceremony of Carols / The Sixteen
Coro 16034
:54
Bartók, Béla: Romanian Christmas Carols, Sz 57
Kocsis, piano
Bartók: Works For Solo Piano Vol 2 / Zoltán Kocsis
Philips 442016
4:39
Britten, Benjamin: Ceremony of Carols
The Sixteen /Christophers
Poulenc: Figure Humaine /
Britten: A Ceremony of Carols / The Sixteen
Coro 16034
21:29
Chopin, Frédéric: Scherzo in B Minor,
Op. 20: Presto con fuoco
Emanuel Ax, piano
Emanuel Ax/ Scherzos
Mazurkas/ Chopin
CBS 44544
9:55
Taverner, John: The Lamb
The Sixteen/ Christophers
Poulenc: Figure Humaine / The Sixteen
Virgin Classics 59192
3:38
Ramirez, Ariel: Navidad Nuestra; Annunciation and Pilgrimage
Choral Arts Society of Washington/ Holt
RAMIREZ: Misa Criolla / Navidad Nuestra / Missa Luba
Naxos 8.557542
6:06
Traditional: Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Mahalia Jackson
Stille Nacht – Mahalia Jackson
Singt Weihnachtslieder / Silent Night Songs For Christmas
CBS S 62130
5:19
Ramirez, Ariel: Navidad Nuestra; Annunciation and Pilgrimage (excerpt)
Choral Arts Society of Washington/ Holt
RAMIREZ: Misa Criolla /
Navidad Nuestra / Missa Luba
Naxos 8.557542
2:11
Episode 5
Anonymous: Jesu, Son of Mary
Parthenia VII/ Newman
Eclipse 64432
1:57
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Fantasia on
Christmas Carols
LSO/ Hickox
Vaughan Williams/ Fantasia on
Christmas Carols • The First Nowell •
On Christmas Night
Chandos 10385
11:25
Torelli, Giuseppe: Concerto A Quattro in
Forma Di Pastorale, Op.8 Nr.6; I. II. III.
English Chamber Orchestra/Preston
Christmas Concertos /Simon
Preston, English Chamber Orchestra
Novalis 150133
5:29
Bach, J.S.: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir/ Koopman
Bach: Easter Oratorio, Magnificat / Ton Koopman, Et Al
Erato 23416
25:10
Bach, J.S.: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir/ Koopman
Bach: Easter Oratorio, Magnificat / Ton Koopman, Et Al
Erato 23416
:18
Traditional: Peace on Earth/ Little Drummer Boy
David Bowie and Bing Crosby
Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy
Oglio 85001
2:40
Brubeck, Dave: La Fiesta de la Posada: Sleep, Holy Infant, Sleep
Brubeck, piano; Davis, bass; Lewis, drums; Orch/ Davies
La Fiesta De La Posada
Legacy CK 64669
4:51