Christmas Around Europe 2021 (BBC Radio 3, 320kbps .mp3)

A day-long festival of Christmas music and singing from across Europe and Canada in the European Broadcasting Union’s annual Christmas music day. Choirs and ensembles come together to celebrate the wonder of Christmas. First we travel to Russia with the Moscow Synodal Choir; then to Tallinn in Estonia, with Vox Clamantis, and then from Leipzig, in Germany, we hear Mendelssohn, and from Riga in Latvia, music by Handel.

11.00 Moscow – the Moscow Synodal Choir sing Russian liturgical music dedicated to the Miracle of Christmas and to the Mother of God. It includes 18 works of Orthodox choral tradition from the 16th to 21st centuries.

Anon. 17th century: It is worthy

Miliy Balakirev: From above the Prophetess

Alexander Arkhangelsky: Diligently unto the Mother of God

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: It is worthy

Pavel Chesnokov: Mother of God; The Zealous Intercessor; An Angel Cried

Sergei Rachmaninov: To the Mother of God, the Virgin, from the All-Night Vigil

Alexander Frunza: My Soul Magnifies the Lord

Nikolai Danilin: All of Creation Rejoices In Thee

Konstantin Shvedov: It Is Worthy

Nikolai Vedernikov: All Angels Rejoice

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev): Vzbrannoy Voivode, from All-night vigil

Moscow Synodal Choir

Alexey Puzakov, chorus director

12.00 Tallinn – live: Vox Clamantis sing music by Arvo Pärt and Gregorian chant.

Gregorian introitus: Dominus dixit

Improvisation by Andrew Lawrence-King

Gregorian antifon: O Adonai

Arvo Pärt: Seven Magnificat Antiphons

Improvisation by Andrew Lawrence-King

Gregorian communio In splendoribus

Arvo Pärt: Which was the Son of …

Improvisation by Andrew Lawrence-King

Gregorian antiphon: Hodie Christus natus est

Arvo Pärt: Nunc dimittis

Vox Clamantis

Jaan-Eik Tulve, chorus director

13.00 Leipzig - the MDR Radio Chorus perform Christmas music by Mouton, Poulenc, Mendelssohn, Britten, Pärt and Gruber, conducted by Risto Joost.

Mouton: Nesciens mater virgo virum, motet a 8

Poulenc: Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël

F. Mendelssohn: Frohlocket, ihr Völker auf Erden Deutsche Liturgie: Kyrie, Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe and Heilig

Britten: Hymn to the Virgin

Pärt: Seven Magnificat Antiphons

Gruber: Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

MDR Radio Chorus

Risto Joost, director

14.00 Riga – live – Christmas music by Handel and his contemporaries

Isabella Leonarda: Sonata Duodecima, op. 16/12

George Frideric Handel: Süße Stille, sanfte Quelle, HWV 205; Singe, Seele, Gott zum Preise, HWV 206

Pietro Antonio Locatelli: Trio Sonata in G, op. 5/1

George Frideric Handel: Süsser Blumen Ambraflocken, HWV 204; Flammende Rose, Zierde der Erden, HWV 210

Ilze Grēvele-Skaraine, soprano

Maija Kļaviņa, Baroque flute

Agnese Kanniņa, Baroque violin

Māra Botmane, Baroque cello

Ieva Saliete, harpsichord



1600: Athens - the ERT Chorus sing a selection of traditional Greek Christmas songs.

Tsalahouris: I prosefhi ton Christougennon (Christmas prayer), op. 78/1

Adamis: Carols from the Propontis

Tsalahouris: La nativita del Signore (The birth of the Lord), from 'Liturgy No 3

Adamis: Idiomelon for Christmas No 1

Tsougras: Popse Christos gennithike (Tonight the Christ was born), Christmas carols from Eastern Thrace

Adamis: Idiomelon for Christmas No 2

Samarás: Carols from Pontus (erasu)

Papadatos: Christmas carols from the Propontis

Taylor: Dentro Christougenniatiko (Christmas Tree)

Rosopoulos: Saranta Meres (Forty Days), Traditional carols from Thrace

Samarás: Magnum Mysterium

Pappás: Carols from Kastoria

Baltas: Dormi, Jesu, from 'Christmas Story'

Karagkezidis: Elate edo, geitonisses (Come here, neighbours), Carol from Epirus

Papadimitriou: Anarchos Theos (Eternal God), Byzantine carol

Samarás: Christmas carols from Metsovo, Ioannina

Economou: Carols from the Propontis

Nikos Vasileiou, conductor

1700: Piteå (Sweden): the Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble sing Praetorius and traditional Swedish Christmas songs.

Folkmusik, arr. Anders Öhrwall: Bereden väg

Trad.: In dulci Jubilo / Improvisation

Praetorius / Jan Sandström: Det är en ros utsprungen

Olsson: Guds son är född - Torbjörn Näsbom, nyckelharpa

Karsendal: Snön

Alfvén: Julsång

Tulpolska - Torbjörn Näsbom, nyckelharpa

Trad.: Polska efter Byss-Kalle - Torbjörn Näsbom, nyckelharpa + David Wahlén, accordion

Olsson: Advent - David Wahlén, accordion

Sköld: There is no rose

Folkmusik, arr. Gunnar Eriksson: Kristallen den fina

Gruber, arr. David Wikander: Stilla Natt

Folkmusik, arr. Jan-Åke Hillerud: Staffansvisa

Wikander: Det brinner en stjärna

Tegnér: Betlehems stjärna – Aaron Sunstein, organ

Nordqvist: Jul, jul, strålande jul

Ankarblom: Lussepolska

1800: Copenhagen: Ars Nova Copenhagen

Rheinberger: 4 Advent Motets

Pärt:...which was the son of...

Poulenc: Un Soir de Neige

Byrd: O Magnum Mysterium

Trad. Anglo-American arr. P. Hillier: Joys Seven

Trad. Portuguese arr. F. Lopes-Graça: Do varão nasceu a vara

Trad. Italian arr. P. Hillier: Gesù bambin l'è nato

Trad. Austrian arr. P. Hillier: Heissa Buama

Praetorius arr. P. Hillier: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

Trad. English arr. P. Hillier: Ding Dong merrily on high

Paul Hillier, director

1900: Berlin – The Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rinaldo Alessandrini, perform Bach cantatas and concertos.

JS Bach: Sinfonia, from Cantata 'Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte, BWV 174

Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F, BWV 1047

Sinfonia, from Cantata 'Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht, BWV 52

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G, BWV 1048

Cantta: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51

Siri Karoline Thornhill, soprano

Reinhold Friedrich, trumpet

2000 : Stuttgart – The SWR Vocal Ensemble with a programme of Scandinavian Christmas music.

Odde: Snilla Patea for choir and fiddle

Gjeilo: Tota pulchra es Maria

Improvisation

Matre: Eit barn er født i Betlehem (A Child is Born in Bethlehem)

Improvisation

Sixten: Marias Wiegenlied (Stille Nacht)

Nordqvist: Jul jul strålande jul (Yule, Yule, Radiant Yule)

Improvisation

Sørensen: Benedictus

Improvisation

Karlsson: Frid på Jord

la Cour: Hodie Christus natus est

Nystedt: Hosanna für Frauenstimmen

Praetorius, arr. Jan Sandström: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

Traditional, arr. Gunther Martin Göttsche: O du fröhliche

Asbjørn Indahl, arr. Gjermund Larsen: Gropen

Espen Wensaas, cittern

Mini Schulz, double bass

Yuval Weinberg, director

2100: Vancouver - Early Music Vancouver perform Bach.

Bach: Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben, Cantata No. 4, from Christmas Oratorio

Ehre sei Dir, Gott, gesungen, Cantata No. 5, from Christmas Oratorio

Myriam Leblanc, soprano

Suzie LeBlanc, soprano

Nicholas Burns, countertenor, altus

Colin Balzer, tenor

Tyler Duncan, baritone

Early Music Vancouver

Pacific Baroque Orchestra

Alexander Weimann, director

2200: Sofia - Gli Accordati Vocal Ensemble perform Christmas music.

Sweelinck: Hodie Christus natus est

Willaert: Sempre mi ride sta donna

Lassus: Allala pia calia

Stravinsky: Ave Maria

Lassus: Chi chilichi? Cucurucu!

Jacobus (Jacob) Gallus (Handl): Pater Noster

Poulenc: Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël, FP 152:

II Quem vidistis pastores dicite

III Videntes stellam

IV Hodie Christus natus est

Janequin: Au joly jeu

Pärt: Bogoróditse Djévo (Mother of God and Virgin)

Certon: La, la, la, je ne l'ose dire

Stravinsky: Bogoróditse Djévo (Mother of God and Virgin)

Gesualdo: Ave, dulcissima Maria

Anonymous - There is no Rose

Gli Accordati Vocal Ensemble

Dragomir Yossifov, conductor