Poster Calmus
Calmus ensemble
Calmus
Performance Today®

Calmus

The German vocal ensemble Calmus was born out of a nearly thousand-year-old tradition of choral music at Thomaskirche, St. Thomas' Church in Leipzig. There's been a choir there for the last 800 years. The great Johann Sebastian Bach directed it for the last three decades of his life. The five members of Calmus met while singing in the St. Thomas Choir, then went off on their own as a quintet. The members of Calmus join host Fred Child in the PT studios today for some holiday tunes, including one by the old master himself.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Johann Sebastian Bach: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (Sing a New Song unto the Lord)
Cantus Colln, Konrad Junghanel, director and lute

Traditional Sephardic: Hazeremos una Merenda
Piffaro
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia

Traditional Sephardic: Psalm 30
Piffaro
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia

Traditional Sephardic: Quita'l tas
Piffaro
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia

Alexander Borodin: Polovtsian Dances, from Prince Igor
The Nashville Symphony and Chorus, Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville

Johann Sebastian Bach (arranged by Eva Beneke): Wie soll ich dich empfangen, from The Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, and Ich steh an diener Krippen hier, from the St. John Passion, BWV 245
Eva Beneke and Scott Tennant, guitars

Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Cantata for the first Sunday of Advent)
The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Collegium Vocale Ghent, soloists, Marcus Creed, conductor
Konzerthaus, Freiburg, Germany

Hour 2

Howard Shore: Hope and Memory and Concerning Hobbits
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Howard Shore, conductor

Italian Chant: Maoz Tzur
The Zamir Chorale of Boston, Joshua Jacobson, director

Vladimir Heifetz: Fayer, Fayer!
Chicago a cappella, Jonathan Miller, director
Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville, Illinois

Traditional (arranged by Steve Barnett): Al Hanisim (For the Miracles)
The Dale Warland Singers, Jerry Rubino, director
Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Perfchat with Calmus: Perfchat

Anonymous (arranged by Bob Chilcott): Nova! Nova!
Calmus
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul

Traditional (arranged by Max Reger): Macht hoch die Tur
Calmus
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul

Johann Sebastian Bach: O Jesulein Suss
Calmus
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul

Traditional (arranged by Ludwig Bohme): Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
Calmus
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul

Irving Berlin: White Christmas
Calmus
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul

James Lord Pierpont: Jingle Bells
Calmus
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul

Johann Sebastian Bach: Chorale, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, BWV 147
Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Fraser Performance Studio, Boston

Michael Praetorius: In Dulci Jubilo and Bransle de Village
Chatham Baroque
Synod Hall, Oakland, Pennsylvania

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

Bomsori Kim

Bomsori Kim

Bomsori Kim began taking piano lessons when she was five years old, but after seeing a violin concert, little Bomsori demanded an end to her piano lessons and a start on the violin. Thirty years later, she's a star. On today's show, we'll hear violinist Bomsori Kim play at a concert in Germany.

1:59:00
George Walker: Lyric for Strings

George Walker: Lyric for Strings

At 26, American composer George Walker wrote a piece in memory of his beloved grandmother. Walker had a long, successful career as a composer, but that piece remains his most performed work. On today’s show, we’ll hear ‘Lyric for Strings’ by George Walker, performed by the Ivalas Quartet at the Skaneateles Festival in upstate New York.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Samuel Frois

PT Weekend: Samuel Frois

It's time for our next 2025 Young Artist in Residence: violinist Samuel Frois. On today's show, Samuel joins Fred Child at our studio in Saint Paul to perform works by Brazilian composers Heitor Villa-Lobos and Andre Mehmari.

1:59:00
Jessie Montgomery hosts PT with Fred Child

Jessie Montgomery hosts PT with Fred Child

Grammy-winning composer and violinist Jessie Montgomery is PT’s 2025 Classical Woman of the Year, and today she joins Fred Child as a special guest co-host. Tune in today to hear Montgomery share the music that has shaped her unique artistic voice. It's a special hour of music you won't want to miss.

1:59:00
James Lee III

James Lee III

James Lee III is the composer of over 80 works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, piano, vocals, choral ensemble, and more. Lee is currently composer-in-residence with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In today's program, we'll take you to a concert in South Carolina* to hear Anthony McGill and the Pacifica Quartet play the Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet by James Lee III.

1:59:00
Respighi's Pines of Rome

Respighi's Pines of Rome

In 1924, Ottorino Respighi captured Rome's pine forests in a tone poem, complete with a recorded nightingale that still sings in performances today. Join us at a concert in Round Top, Texas, to hear Respighi’s musical postcard, The Pines of Rome.

1:59:00
Kevin Puts: Home

Kevin Puts: Home

For composer Kevin Puts, the key of C major is a sonic representation of "home." It's familiar and comforting. In 2019, Puts wrote a string quartet that begins with that familiar key, but goes on to what Puts calls "the search for new and unfamiliar harmonic terrain." He wanted the music to explore the sonic possibilities, but then return to his musical idea of home. Puts knew that, however he got there, the feeling of home would be changed by the journey. Join us today to hear the Miro Quartet play Home by Kevin Puts.

1:59:00
Young Artist in Residence: Samuel Frois

Young Artist in Residence: Samuel Frois

We’re proud to introduce violinist Samuel Frois, the next member of our 2025 cohort of PT Young Artists in Residence. Samuel recently joined Fred Child in our St. Paul studio. Listen to the music and the entire interview here.

37:49
Samuel Frois

Samuel Frois

It's time for our next 2025 Young Artist in Residence: violinist Samuel Frois. On today's show, Samuel joins Fred Child at our studio in Saint Paul to perform works by Brazilian composers Heitor Villa-Lobos and Andre Mehmari.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Gabriela Montero

PT Weekend: Gabriela Montero

In 2016, pianist and composer Gabriela Montero wrote a concerto reflecting how people perceive Latin America. She says it's not an overtly political piece, but it does express the light and dark sides of the subject. Today, we'll hear Gabriela Montero play her “Latin Concerto” with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Stockholm. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week’s Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About Performance Today®

To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, click here.

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.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

How do I leave a comment?

Send us a comment here.

About Performance Today®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00