Christmas Rose
How carols blossom like a rose
Wednesday 13 December 2017, 19:30 - 21:30
St Sepulchre-without-Newgate [ map ]
Holborn Viaduct
London EC1A 2DQ
Orlando Chamber Choir
Peter Foggitt, director
Ben Giddens, organ
Times, they are a-changing – but the good news of Christmas remains the same throughout the ages. Countless composers have infused traditional yuletide texts with musical insights of their time. The words Es ist ein Ros enstsprungen inspired Vulpius and Praetorius in the Renaissance as much as romantic songwrights Brahms and Distler. The medieval text In dulci jubilo was set in the 16th century by Walter, Hassler and Decker, and re-interpreted by Buxtehude a hundred years later. Illustrious composers including Hassler, Schütz and Bach wrote settings of Luther’s hymn Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her. Each carol blossoms like a rose as successive composers contribute their musical petals.
Orlando Chamber Choir demonstrates these tunes’ Christmas bloom by performing one stanza by each composer in an exciting auditory time-lapse of musical evolution. The harmonious bouquet is finished with works by Bonhomme, Palestrina and Brahms – and by our music director and in-house composer Peter Foggitt whose Carols for Choirs combines texts from all times in one exhilarating carol-spotting masterclass.
There will be audience carols too, accompanied on the organ by Ben Giddens; and, as texts and tunes of all times agree on the culinary aspects of Christmas celebrations, we will serve wine and mince pies in the interval while you enjoy our traditional raffle.
