Program: #20-01 Air Date: Dec 23, 2019
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Medieval Christmas in Prague, Strasbourg in the middles ages and Renaissance, and a Swedish Folk Christmas.
I. Cor Europae: Christmas in Mediaeval Prague (Tiburtina Ensemble/Barbora Kabátková). Ricercar CD RIC 410.
Prague has always been regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The name ‘Cor Europae’ (Heart of Europe) probably dates from the country’s early history, in the thirteenth century, when the Kingdom of Bohemia stretched from the Baltic to the Mediterranean. This was a period of great prosperity, especially under King Wenceslaus II Přemyslid, and culminated with the reign of Charles IV, who was both King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor. Despite the fact that Bohemia was the centre of Europe and benefited from the presence of many scholars (more especially after the foundation of the university in 1348), the local culture also preserved an older tradition there. This can be seen in the beautiful repertory for the Advent and Christmas period that have survived in the sources of Prague Cathedral and the Benedictine abbey of Prague Castle. These sources make it possible to reconstruct the liturgy of the Feast of the Nativity as it was celebrated there, with organa and tropes in the tradition of twelfth-century music, at a time when the new Ars Nova style was flourishing elsewhere in Europe. It is this music that the wonderful voices of the Tiburtina Ensemble bring to life for us.
Antiphona Ave spes nostra [1:20]
Benedicamen In hac precelsa sollempnitate [1:50]
Kyrie Creator pater increate [3:09]
Hymnus Veni Redemptor gencium [2:20]
Lectio Primo tempore [3:42]
Offertorium Tui sunt celi – Tropus Nate Dei [8:12]
Lectio Iube Domine – Consolamini [2:49]
Benedicamen Splendor patris et sol – Festivali melodia [4:10]
Benedicamen Puer natus in Bethlehem [2:01]
Lectio Consolamini [5:06]
Responsorium Descendit de cælis – Tropus Fabrica mundi [7:59]
Lectio Iube Domine – Consurge [1:49]
Benedicamen Nos respectu gracie [1:58]
Introitus Lux fulgebit – Tropus Lumen clarum rite [4:45]
Cantio Gaude quam magnificat [1:19]
Sanctus super Gaude quam magnificat [2:23]
Benedicamen Patrem parit filia [1:55]
Agnus Dei [1:40]
Motet Exordium quadruplate – Nate Dei – Concrepet infanti – Verbum caro [1:36]
Benedicamen In hac precelsa sollempnitate [1:50]
Kyrie Creator pater increate [3:09]
Hymnus Veni Redemptor gencium [2:20]
Lectio Primo tempore [3:42]
Offertorium Tui sunt celi – Tropus Nate Dei [8:12]
Lectio Iube Domine – Consolamini [2:49]
Benedicamen Splendor patris et sol – Festivali melodia [4:10]
Benedicamen Puer natus in Bethlehem [2:01]
Lectio Consolamini [5:06]
Responsorium Descendit de cælis – Tropus Fabrica mundi [7:59]
Lectio Iube Domine – Consurge [1:49]
Benedicamen Nos respectu gracie [1:58]
Introitus Lux fulgebit – Tropus Lumen clarum rite [4:45]
Cantio Gaude quam magnificat [1:19]
Sanctus super Gaude quam magnificat [2:23]
Benedicamen Patrem parit filia [1:55]
Agnus Dei [1:40]
Motet Exordium quadruplate – Nate Dei – Concrepet infanti – Verbum caro [1:36]
II. Antiphona Ave spes nostra [1:20]
Benedicamen In hac precelsa sollempnitate [1:50]
Kyrie Creator pater increate [3:09]
Hymnus Veni Redemptor gencium [2:20]
Lectio Primo tempore [3:42]
Offertorium Tui sunt celi – Tropus Nate Dei [8:12]
Lectio Iube Domine – Consolamini [2:49]
Benedicamen Splendor patris et sol – Festivali melodia [4:10]
Benedicamen Puer natus in Bethlehem [2:01]
Lectio Consolamini [5:06]
Responsorium Descendit de cælis – Tropus Fabrica mundi [7:59]
Lectio Iube Domine – Consurge [1:49]
Benedicamen Nos respectu gracie [1:58]
Introitus Lux fulgebit – Tropus Lumen clarum rite [4:45]
Cantio Gaude quam magnificat [1:19]
Sanctus super Gaude quam magnificat [2:23]
Benedicamen Patrem parit filia [1:55]
Agnus Dei [1:40]
Motet Exordium quadruplate – Nate Dei – Concrepet infanti – Verbum caro [1:36] (Spielleyt/Early Music Freidburg). Christophorus CD CHE 0218-2.
Benedicamen In hac precelsa sollempnitate [1:50]
Kyrie Creator pater increate [3:09]
Hymnus Veni Redemptor gencium [2:20]
Lectio Primo tempore [3:42]
Offertorium Tui sunt celi – Tropus Nate Dei [8:12]
Lectio Iube Domine – Consolamini [2:49]
Benedicamen Splendor patris et sol – Festivali melodia [4:10]
Benedicamen Puer natus in Bethlehem [2:01]
Lectio Consolamini [5:06]
Responsorium Descendit de cælis – Tropus Fabrica mundi [7:59]
Lectio Iube Domine – Consurge [1:49]
Benedicamen Nos respectu gracie [1:58]
Introitus Lux fulgebit – Tropus Lumen clarum rite [4:45]
Cantio Gaude quam magnificat [1:19]
Sanctus super Gaude quam magnificat [2:23]
Benedicamen Patrem parit filia [1:55]
Agnus Dei [1:40]
Motet Exordium quadruplate – Nate Dei – Concrepet infanti – Verbum caro [1:36] (Spielleyt/Early Music Freidburg). Christophorus CD CHE 0218-2.
II. Weihnacht der Speilleyt: Straßeburger
The ensemble Spielleyt - Early Music Freiburg presents on this album a series of Christmas songs from the song collection of the Strasbourg hymnbook from 1697. The preface of the hymnbook states that the song selection consists of 'außerlesenen, uhralten und ... new songs'. 'Uhralt' here means that the melodies of some songs can date back to the Middle Ages. The ensemble has restored the songs in question from the Strasbourg hymnal to a medieval sound. The ensemble Spielleyt was formed in Freiburg in 1990. The name is taking from Spielleute, the German word for medieval players. Group members were drawn from students at the University of Freiburg and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.
Am Weynacht Abend in der still
Ciaccona
Der Spiegel der Dreyfaltigkeit
Lasst uns das Kindlein wiegen
Marien wart ein bot gesant
Natali regis glorie (conductus)
O voy
Schlaf mein Kindelein
Tag und Nacht war gleich entfernet
Uns kompt ein Schiff gefahren
Zu Bethlehem gebohren
Ciaccona
Der Spiegel der Dreyfaltigkeit
Lasst uns das Kindlein wiegen
Marien wart ein bot gesant
Natali regis glorie (conductus)
O voy
Schlaf mein Kindelein
Tag und Nacht war gleich entfernet
Uns kompt ein Schiff gefahren
Zu Bethlehem gebohren
» Branle double
» Branle gay
» Branle simple
» Bergerette, 'Sans roch'
» Branle
III. Folkjul II—A Swedish Folk Christmas BIS CD 2334
Well into the previous century Sweden was largely a peasant society with folk music an integral part of daily life. There were work songs, narrative ballads and, obviously, music for dancing. Over the centuries a not always easy coexistence between religion and folk culture developed, with hymns being adapted to a folk-music aesthetic while popular traditions were given a Christian veneer. An example of the latter is the rich store of ‘Staffan ballads’, springing from a pre-Christian horse cult but given a new slant as its focus shifted to St. Stephen – the first Christian martyr.
Gunnar Idenstam and St Jacobs Chamber Choir have performed their Folkjul concerts more or less every year since 2002. The concept stem from a rich interplay between ‘folk culture’ and ‘high culture’ and in Idenstam’s arrangements a newly composed halling or polska entwines itself round the old Christmas melodies. The first Folkjul album was released in 2007 – this time the choir and Idenstam are joined by violinist Sandra Marteleur and Ulrika Bodén, one of Sweden’s most well-established folk singers.
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01 | Från himmelen kom ängeln Gabriel (Gabriel’s Message) | 2'28 | |||
| Philipp Nicolai | ||||||
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02 | Var hälsad sköna morgonstund (All Hail to Thee, O Blessed Morn) | 8'17 | |||
| Traditional | ||||||
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03 | In dulci jubilo | 4'26 | |||
| Traditional | ||||||
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04 | Tiggarvisa från Malung (Begging Song from Malung) | 3'48 | |||
| Viktor Gabrielsson | ||||||
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05 | Polska av Viktor Gabrielsson (Polska by Viktor Gabrielsson) | 4'33 | |||
| Alice Tegnér | ||||||
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06 | Nu sjunga Guds änglar (God’s Angels Now Sing) | 2'00 | |||
| Sandra Marteleur | ||||||
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07 | En gangar till kaffet (A Gangar with Your Coffee) | 3'05 | |||
| Traditional | ||||||
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08 | Det lyser en stjärna (A Star Shines Bright) | 6'35 | |||
| Emmy Köhler | ||||||
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09 | Nu tändas tusen juleljus (A Thousand Candles are Now Lit) | 2'17 | |||
| Gunnar Idenstam | ||||||
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10 | Christines polska (A Polska for Christine) | 4'19 | |||
| Traditional | ||||||
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11 | Staffansvisa / Musette (Staffan Ballad / Musette) | 4'47 | |||
| Traditional | ||||||
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12 | Staffan Halling II | 2'42 | |||
| Traditional | ||||||
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13 | En stjärna gick på himlen fram (A Star Passed Across the Sky) | 5'53 | |||
| Traditional | ||||||
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14 | Den signade dag (The Blessed Day) | 2'32 | |||
| Sofia Sanden | ||||||
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15 | Allt vid den ljusa stjärnan (Upon the Bright Star) | 4'14 | |||
| Mats Wallman | ||||||
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16 | Julottan (Christmas Morning) | 3'51 | |||
| Martin Luther | ||||||
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17 | Från himlens höjd (From Heaven Above) | ||||
Composer Info
Athanasius Kircher, Michael Praetorius, Tielman Susato, Philipp Nicolai, Viktor Gabrielsson, Alice Tegnér, Sandra Marteleur, Emmy Köhler, Sofia Sanden, Staffan Halling II, Mats Wallman, Martin Luther
CD Info
CD RIC 410, CD CHE 0218-2, BIS CD 2334