To Shorten Winter's Sadness: An early English Christmas at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Church, London on Thursday 14th December 2023

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

To Shorten Winter's Sadness

An early English Christmas

Add to my Calendar 14-12-2023 19:30 14-12-2023 21:30 36 To Shorten Winter's Sadness In the darkness of winter, we look for the light. We get together for religious reflection, to share supper, to feast and have fun into the night – tomorrow will be a brighter day! Composers throughout time have captured in their compositions these spiritual, sacred and secular occasions – and to mark the 400th anniversary of Byrd’s and Weelkes’ deaths this year, Orlando Chamber Choir focuses on the sound of an early English Christmas. Byrd’s splendid polyphony, and that of his teacher Tallis, accompany the annunciation and the birth of Christ, to which Philips adds triumphant trumpets and a choir of angels. Dering intones the shepherds' travels, and Sheppard gives glorious voices to the magi’s veneration. Praetorius’ Lo, how a Rose, set in the people’s language rather than that of the Church, leads us gently towards more secular celebrations; and Sandstöm’s contemporary setting of the same tune transports the party to the concert day – which is where you join in with the audience carols! Our programme is framed by earthly secular works about feasts and further falala – with wine and mince pies in the interval. St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Church, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Church
Bishopsgate
City of London
London
EC2M 3TL
England

Thursday 14th December 2023
7:30 PM

Programme

Edward Stauff – The Boar's Head Carol
Thomas Weelkes – To shorten winter's sadness
Charles Wood – Ding Dong Merrily on High
William Byrd – Ecce Virgo concipiet
William Byrd – Rorate coeli desuper
David Willcocks – While shepherds watched their flocks
Richard Dering – Quem vidistis, pastores?
Peter Philips – O beatum et sacrosanctum diem
David Willcocks – The First Nowell
William Byrd – This day Christ was born
John Sheppard – Reges Tharsis
Thomas Tallis – Videte miraculum
Michael Praetorius – Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Jan Sandström – Es ist ein ros entsprungen

Performers

Lucy Goddard – Director
Gavin Roberts – organ

Orlando Chamber Choir

Programme Note

In the darkness of winter, we look for the light. We get together for religious reflection, to share supper, to feast and have fun into the night – tomorrow will be a brighter day!

Composers throughout time have captured in their compositions these spiritual, sacred and secular occasions – and to mark the 400th anniversary of Byrd’s and Weelkes’ deaths this year, Orlando Chamber Choir focuses on the sound of an early English Christmas. Byrd’s splendid polyphony, and that of his teacher Tallis, accompany the annunciation and the birth of Christ, to which Philips adds triumphant trumpets and a choir of angels. Dering intones the shepherds' travels, and Sheppard gives glorious voices to the magi’s veneration.

Praetorius’ Lo, how a Rose, set in the people’s language rather than that of the Church, leads us gently towards more secular celebrations; and Sandstöm’s contemporary setting of the same tune transports the party to the concert day – which is where you join in with the audience carols!

Our programme is framed by earthly secular works about feasts and further falala – with wine and mince pies in the interval.

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