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Connections

Hosted By Stephen Peithman

Exploring the often surprising links between concepts, themes and people in classical music, from medieval to modern

Schedule

Saturday, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Rebroadcast Sunday, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
on Music Station

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Saturday, December 19, 2015

The Carol Connection 2

Christmas carols across the centuries

 

A lively tune called “Branle de l’Officiel” first appears in a book of French dances written in the 1500s. Four centuries later, it was turned into a Christmas carol called "Ding, Dong, Merrily on High."

In this hour, the story behind this and other songs of Christmas—including one that began as a celebration of spring flowers, as well as the original—and very different—“Silent Night.”

RECORDINGS USED
CD Title Group/Artist Catalog # UPC
The Carol Album [for Branle L’Officiel, Silent Night, Veni Veni Emanuel] Taverner Consort, Choir & Players; Andrew Parrott EMI Classics CDC 7498092 077774980920
Carols from Trinity [for Ding Dong Merrily on High] Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, Robert Marlow Conifer 75605 51754 2 756055175421
Woods, Women And Wine [for Tempus adest Floridum] Joculatores Upsalienses.  BIS-CD-120 7318590001202
From Heaven Above [for Good King Wenceslas] Deller Consort RCA Victrola VICS-1376 [From LP, no USC]
Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas [for In Dulci Jubilo] Chanticleer Chanticleer Records 8803 899653002055
Songs of Angels [for Good Christian Men Rejoice, Deck the Halls] Robert Shaw Chamber Singers Telarc CD-80377 089408037726
Rejoice! – A String Quartet Christmas [track 1 for ‘Joy to the World’ instrumental & break music, and track 13 for ‘Wenceslas’ promo] Arturo Delmoni, Alexander Romanul, Katherine Murcock, Nathaniel Rosen John Marks Records 12 717794709629
Handel: Messiah [for Glory to God & Comfort Ye] Dunedin Consort & Players, John Butt Linn Records CKD 285 691062028523
Nativity : Christmas Music From Georgian England [for Joy to the World] Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra, Peter Holman Hyperion CDA67443 034571174433
The Colors of Christmas [for Joy to the World] Bach Choir, Royal Phil-harmonic Orchestra; John Rutter Decca 001609202 602527822129
Christmastide [for Adeste Fidelis] Jessye Norman EMI Classics 49819 077774981927
Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale [for God Rest You Merry Gentlemen] Robert Shaw Chorale RCA DMC2-1217 [none]
The Chalice Well: English Traditional Music [for Doves Figary] Idlewild Idlewild Recordings 19891 634479042966
While Shepherds Watched [for Wesley Rondo] Timothy Roberts, Parley of Instruments Hyperion CDA67443 034571174433
Vaughan Williams: Christmas Music [for The First Nowell] City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox Chandos CHAN 10385 095115138526
Puer Natus in Bethlehem [for Corde Natus] Elmer Iseler Singers  CBC Records 1165 059582116524
Traditional Christmas Carols Vol II [for Of the Father’s Heart Begotten] The Sixteen Coro COR16085 828021608520
A Christmas Festival [for Nos Galan] Elin Manahan Thomas, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; John Rutter Collegium Records COLCD 133 040888013327
O Come, All Ye Faithful New York Choral Artists, Joseph Flummerfelt EMI Classics CDC 7499082 077774990820

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