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Music Before 1800 Christmas

Program: #23-50   Air Date: Dec 11, 2023

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While we have heard many performances from this great concert series in the past, this time the founder, Louise Basbas, returns to take us through some of her favorite ensembles for the season.

I. On Yoolis Night (Anonymous 4). Harmonia Mundi CD HMU 90799.

1.   Hodie Christus Natus Est 1:05
2.   O Nobilis Nativitas/O Mira Dei/O Decus Virgineum/Apparuit 0:47
3.   Lux De Luce 0:30
4.   Alleluya: A Nywe Werke 5:43
5.   Verbum Supernum Prodiens 2:18
6.   Balaam De Quo Vaticinans 2:33
7.   Ave Maria 2:39
8.   Gabriel, Fram Heven-King 3:55
9.   Lullay: I Saw A Swete Semly Syght 2:53
10.   Prolis Eterne Genitor/Psallat Mater Gracie/[Pes] 2:28
11.   Vox Clara, Ecce, Intonat 3:08
12.   De Supernis Sedibus 2:14
13.   Omnes De Saba 0:38
14.   Puellare Gremium/Purissima Mater/[Pes] 1:33
15.   Lullay, Lullay: Als I Lay On Yoolis Night 8:02
16.   Tria Sunt Munera 3:27
17.   Orto Sole Serene/Origo Viri/Virga Lesse/[Tenor] 2:02
18.   Peperit Virgo 4:20
19.   Ecce Quod Natura 4:14
20.   A Solis Ortus Cardine 3:47
21.   Ther Is No Rose Of Swych Vertu 3:38
22.   Videntes Stellam 0:32
23.   Nowel: Owt Of Your Slepe Aryse 4:50

II. Lionheart: Tyding True  Koch Schwann CD KIC CD 7562.

The six-man, New York City-based Lionheart a cappella vocal ensemble began nine years ago when several of its members came together to sing chant. With two national tours with Anonymous 4 and a number of lauded discs under their belts, the men have become one of this country's finest male ensembles specializing in medieval and modern repertoire.

This beautiful assemblage of medieval English carols and motets - often derived from ancient pagan melodies later retrofitted to Christian ends - is graced by a unanimity of vision that produces truly heart-centered singing. Lionheart's uncommon vocal beauty, abetted by the captivating resonance of New York's Church of the Ascension, makes for wonderful listening.

  1. Lionheart - solis ortus cardine
  2. Lionheart - Nowell, Nowell
  3. Lionheart - Hayl Mary, carol
  4. Lionheart - Venter tuus, motet
  5. Lionheart - Facta est cum angelo
  6. Lionheart - Benedicite omnia opera domini domino, canticle
  7. Lionheart - As I out the enderes night (The Coventry Shepherds' Carol) (16th century)
  8. Lionheart - Ecce, quod natura (Seldon manuscript, 15th c.)
  9. Lionheart - Nesciens Mater
  10. Lionheart - A, my dere, a, my dere Son, carol
  11. Lionheart - Nowell, Nowell
  12. Lionheart - Sancte Dei Preciose
  13. Lionheart - Eya Martyr Stephane, carol for 2 voices
  14. Lionheart - Hic est discipulus, responsory
  15. Lionheart - Worcepe we this holy day, carol
  16. Lionheart - Lully, Lullay Thou Little Tiny Child
  17. Lionheart - St Thomas Honour We (15th c.), carol
  18. Lionheart - Magi videntes, hymnus
  19. Lionheart - Ave rex angelorum, carol for 3 voices
  20. Lionheart - Gaude virgo mater Cristi
  21. Lionheart - Alleluya, omnes de saba, antiphon
  22. Lionheart - Nunc dimittis

  • 1-1 Angelus ad virginem 2:39
  • 1-2. Nowell sing we 3:01
  • 1-3. There is no rose 3:35

The Coventry Carol

  • 1-4. Lullay: I saw 2:19
  • 1-5. Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child 3:20

Ave Maria

  • 1-6. Ave Maria for four voices - Josquin 5:25
  • 1-7. Beata es virgo / Ave Maria - Verdelot 5:40
  • 1-8. Ave Maria for four voices - Victoria (attributed) 2:15
  • 1-9. Ave Maria for double choir - Victoria 4:51

German Chorales

  • 1-10. Es ist ein'Ros' entsprungen - M Praetorius 3:06
  • 1-11. Joseph, lieber Joseph mein - H Praetorius 2:30
  • 1-12. In dulci jubilo - H Praetorius 3:41

Flemish Polyphony

  • 1-13. Pastores quidnam vidistis 4:43
  • 1-14->18. Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis 31:15

Chant from Salisbury

  • 2-1->14. Missa in gallicantu - 1st Mass of Christmas 39:04
  • 2-15. Christe Redemptor omnium - Christmas Hymn 3:49
  • 2-16. Veni, Redemptor gentium - Christmas Hymn 4:30
  • 2-17. Salvator mundi, Domine - Christmas Hymn 2:31
  • 2-18. A solis ortus cardine - Christmas Hymn 4:59

Tudor Polyphony

  • 2-19->21. Missa Puer natus est nobis - Tallis 23:54

Stile Antico's newest recording (their fifth) focuses on the wonderful music written by the English Tudor composers for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. At its heart is Thomas Tallis' magnificent seven-part 'Christmas' Mass, based on the festive plainchant Puer natus est ('A boy is born'). The mass is interspersed with William Byrd's exquisite propers for the fourth Sunday of Advent, and framed by responsories by Taverner and Sheppard, Robert White's exuberant setting of the Magnificat, and Tallis' own sublime Videte miraculum. The recording is on Harmonia Mundi, and is CD # HMU 807517.

Nicholas Kenyon in The Observer writes:

Surely the pick of the new CDs for Christmas this year, this exquisitely performed and beautifully planned disc is another winner for Stile Antico, a young, versatile and conductor-less group. They bring together Tallis's incomplete but richly resonant mass Puer natus est with Byrd's much tighter, shorter Advent motets from The Gradualia, a satisfying contrast. Then they add Robert White's expansive Magnificat and Sheppard's glorious Verbum caro to finish. Sometimes there is an emphasis on sound at the expense of the words, but what a sound: perfectly blended, carefully balanced, its sonorities reaching back effortlessly to conjure up a vanished age of devotion.  For more information on this remarkable ensemble:

www.stileantico.co.uk/

  • Tallis: Videte miraculum ("Behold the miracle of the Mother of our Lord")
  • Taverner: Audivi vocem de caelo ("I heard a voice coming down from heaven")
  • Byrd: Rorate caeli desuper ("Drop down, heavens, from above")
  • Tallis: Gloria  (Missa Puer natus est)
  • Byrd: Tollite portas ("Lift up your gates, o princes")
  • Tallis: Sanctus & Benedictus  (Missa Puer natus est)
  • Byrd: Ave Maria ("Hail Mary, full of grace")
  • Tallis: Agnus Dei  (Missa Puer natus est)
  • Byrd: Ecce virgo concipiet ("Behold, a virgin shall conceive")
  • White: Magnificat ("My soul doth magnify the Lord")
  • Plainchant: Puer natus est ("To us a Child is born")
  • Sheppard: Verbum caro ("The word has been made flesh”)

V. Creator of the Stars  (Pomerium/Alexander Blackly). Arkiv CD 449 819-2.

  1. Anonymous: In dulci iubilo à 2 1:00
  2. In dulci iubilo à 2 1:42
  3. In dulci iubilo à 3 2:17
  4. In dulci iubilo à 4 0:59
  5. Anonymous: Resonet in laudibus 1:18
  6. Christian Erbach: Resonet in laudibus à 4 1:56
  7. Roland de Lassus: Resonet in laudibus à 5 4:15
  8. Anonymous: Preter rerum seriem 1:36
  9. Josquin des Prez: Preter rerum seriem à 6 6:39
  10. Guillaume Dufay: Conditor alme siderum 3:50
  11. William Byrd: Puer natus est à 4 8:13
  12. Anonymous: O Sapientia 1:02
  13. William Horwood: Magnificat secundi toni à 5 14:49
  14. Robert Ramsey: O Sapientia à 5 2:35
  15. Anonymous: Quem vidistis pastores 1:00
  16. Cipriano de Rore: Quem vidistis pastores à 7 3:47
  17. Anonymous (Sarum): Alma redemptoris mater 2:12
  18. Alma redemptoris mater à 4 5:14
  19. William Byrd: Reges Tharsis et insulae à 4 4:18

VI. Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Messe de Minuit (Ensemble Correspondances/Sébastien Daucé) Harmonia Mundi CD HMM 902707.

Sébastien de Brossard (1655 - 1730): Elevatio O miraculum!:

  1. Brossard: Elevatio O miraculum!01:55

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643 - 1704):

  1. Charpentier: In Nativitatem Domini Canticum, H. 416: Praeludium. Usquequo avertis faciem tuam10:46
  2. Charpentier: In Nativitatem Domini Canticum, H. 416: Nuit - Réveil des bergers - Cæli aperti sunt18:16
  3. Charpentier: In Nativitate Domini N[ost]ri Jesu Christi Canticum, H. 42110:09
  4. Charpentier: Messe de Minuit, H. 9: Kyrie03:46
  5. Charpentier: Noël sur les instruments, H. 534: Joseph est bien marié00:59
  6. Charpentier: Messe de Minuit, H. 9: Gloria04:38
  7. Charpentier: Alma Redemptoris Mater, H. 4404:28
  8. Charpentier: Messe de Minuit, H. 9: Credo09:30
  9. Charpentier: Noël sur les instruments, H. 534: Laissez paître vos bêtes00:51
  10. Charpentier: Messe de Minuit, H. 9: Sanctus02:25
  11. Charpentier: Messe de Minuit, H. 9: Agnus Dei03:35
  12. Charpentier: Te Deum, H. 14709:31

Composer Info

Josquin, Verdelot, Victoria, M Praetorius, H Praetorius, Tallis, Taverner, Byrd, White, Plainchant, Sheppard, Christian Erbach, Roland de Lassus (1532-1594), Josquin Des Prés (1450-1521), Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474), William Horwood, Robert Ramsey, Cipriano de Rore, Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643 - 1704), Sébastien de Brossard (1655 - 1730)

CD Info

Harmonia Mundi CD HMU 90799, Koch Schwann CD KIC CD 7562, Gimell CD CDGIM 202, Harmonia Mundi CD HMU 807517, Arkiv CD 449 819-2, Harmonia Mundi CD HMM 902707