To this day in Italy, shepherds come down from the hills at Christmas time and play their bagpipes in front of nativity scenes, reenacting the devotion of the shepherds at the birth of Christ. We'll hear a tribute to that ancient custom in Arcangelo Corelli's Christmas Concerto, performed in a place that rarely sees shepherds, New York City. Plus, we'll visit Christmas celebrations around the country and around the world, to hear great holiday performances.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Traditional (Arranged by Moses Hogan): "Glory, Glory, Glory to the Newborn King"
Chicago a Cappella with conductor Patrick Sinozich
Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston, Illinois
Tomaso Albinoni: Introduction and Allegro, Op. 6, No. 5
The Empire Brass
Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia
Anonymous: "Riu, Riu, Chiu"
Chicago a Cappella with conductor Patrick Sinozich
Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston, Illinois
Traditional (Arranged by Gunnar Hahn): "Prepare the Way, O Zion!"
The Swedish Radio Chorus and Orchestra with conductor Andreas Hanson
Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, Sweden
Traditional: Jezebel Carol
Ensemble Galilei
Beaches Fine Arts Series, Jacksonville, Florida
Arcangelo Corelli: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8
Members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The New York Society for Ethical Culture, New York City
Alfonso el Sabio: "Santa Maria, Strella do Dia"
Boston Camerata with conductor Joel Cohen
Union College, Schenectady, New York
Traditional: "Patapan"
The Spivey Hall Children's Choir with conductor Martha Shaw
Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia
Franz Schubert: Gloria from Mass No. 6 in E-flat, D. 950
The Berlin Radio Chorus and Orchestra with conductor Simon Halsey
Cathedral, Berlin, Germany
Hour 2
Henri Pensis: Fantasy on Two Christmas Carols
The Miramar Sinfonietta with conductor Henri Pensis
Anonymous: "Hodie Christus Natus Est"
Chanticleer
Stanford University, Stanford, California
Anonymous: Sanctus
The Waverly Consort with conductor Michael Jaffee
Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, Georgia
Anonymous: "Christmas Eve" and "John Come Kiss Me Now"
The Rose Ensemble
Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior, Wisconsin
Traditional: Shetland Tunes
Ensemble Galilei
Beaches Fine Arts Series, Jacksonville, Florida
George Frideric Handel: "Joy to the World"
The Empire Brass
Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia
Traditional (Arranged by Rollo Dilworth): "Sistah Mary"
Chicago a Cappella with conductor Patrick Sinozich
Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston, Illinois
Dan Forrest: "Carol of Joy"
The Brigham Young University Combined Choirs and Orchestra with conductor Ronald Staheli
Harris Fine Arts Center, Provo, Utah
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: "The Dance of the Tumblers" from "The Snow Maiden"
The Buffalo Philharmonic with conductor JoAnn Falletta
Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, New York
Robert Sieving: "See, Amid the Winter's Snow"
VocalEssence with violist Charles Gray and conductor Philip Brunelle
Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis
Stanford Scriven: "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree"
The St. Olaf Choir with conductor Anton Armstrong
St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Northfield, Minnesota
Jonathan Willcocks: "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day"
The Phoenix Chorale with conductor Charles Bruffy
Brophy Chapel, Phoenix
Richard Toensing: "As Shepherds in their Fields"
Cappella Romana with conductor Alexander Lingas
Town Hall, Seattle
Traditional: "Rorate"
Ensemble Galilei
Beaches Fine Arts Series, Jacksonville, Florida
John Francis Wade: "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
The St. Olaf College Combined Choirs and Orchestra with conductor Anton Armstrong
St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Northfield, Minnesota
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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
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