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1000 years of Christmas music
DISSECTING ROOM
In 1664, from Dresden, Germany, came the composition by Heinrich Schutz of what has become known as the first oratorio, Historia der e have one major song. Antoine Busnois wrote this Freudenund gnadenreichen Geburth blessing over our musicpiece for four voices using the one Gottes . . . (Christmas oratorio). loving ancestors—we have word, “Noël” as its only text. This The 18th century saw Christmas recorded sound. Musical repertoire genre would return in the 17th musically dominated by the concerto and our listening can thus be enriched century in the guise of organ grosso. Arcangelo Corelli wrote his by research, innovation in perpieces based on Christmas tunes, Concerto Grosso opus 6, no 8 formance, and the passion of a fine example being the (Christmas) for strings and music lovers everywhere to bring new, Nouvre Livre de Noëls by Louiscontinuo in 1712. But strong undiscovered, or undervalued Claude Daquin (Hyperion CDA opposition to this was to emerge composers and their music to life. 66816). much later. The Titan of the And this is true of Christmas music. A huge source of music for Baroque, JS Bach, wrote his The early years of the second Christmas has been the collected Christmas Oratorio in 1734 whilst in millennium in musical terms are, manuscript of 73 Latin hymns and Leipzig. naturally, dictated by the Christian carols based on traditional words and Ballet and a new sound to the church; they wrote their tunes and music of works from Scandinavia, oratorio tradition would be the words down and they are thus Germany, and Bohemia, the hallmarks of the Christmaspreserved. One Christmas plainchant Piae Cantiones of 1582. This was associated music in the 19th century. that was certainly around in 11thassembled by Theodoricus Petri, a Tchaikovsy premiered his Nutcracker century France was in 1892 complete with the introit to the mass the dance of the sugar Rights were not granted to include this image in of Christmas Day, plum fairy and the Puer Natus Est Nobis dances of Spain, electronic media. Please refer to the printed (Unto us a child is China, France, and journal. born). Another Russia. Back in favourite gradual France, Hector chant of this period Berlioz’s L’Enfance du was Viderunt Omnes Christ (1854) had (All the ends taken the oratorio out of the Earth shall see of Handel territory the salvation of our into the colours of God). This was to romanticism. Of the become more famous many lovely melodies by its association with (and harmonies to the 12th century match), The Parisian composer Shepherd’s Farewell is Léonin, who used perhaps the best the chant as the basis known. for the earliest The 20th century surviving written saw Benjamin Britten polyphony. leading the charge of The French carole British composers to was well established bring Christmas by the early 13th music to its rightful century—a musical place in the classical form that was the music repertory, forerunner of its more most notably with traditional namesake. his Ceremony of Carols. It was principally a Others were Gustav courtly dance-song Holst and Ralph but also covered more popular Finn. From its pages come the Vaughan-Williams, while John Rutter themes. The 14th English carol, with popular Gaudete (made famous by (who frequently adapts traditional its verses punctuated by the rock-folk band Steeleye Span) French carols) is also contributing a chorus, seems to have been and the tune to Good King Wenceslas. to this long tradition of Christmas associated with festivals. “At In 1604, a fine example of a music. Recently released is a the soper and after, mony athel Christmas motet by Orlando de recording of John Tavener’s Christmas songes/As coundutes of Lassus’ was written for two fourProclamation with its traditional Krysatmasse and caroles newe” part choirs. Omnes de Saba Venient influences of Greek Orthodox (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, tells of the visit of the Wise Men chant flavouring his own special c1380). The English royal court to Bethlehem. Several of the pieces tonalities (Naxos 8.555256). With at that time was still a culturally mentioned above can be found this music the 21st century, in its French court. From this period hails on the compact disc Christmas Music own way, returns to the ancient The Boar’s Head carols and their from Medieval and Renaissance Europe traditions of the early church. traditions. by the Sixteen, conducted by Harry Lorraine Limburn From 15th-century France also Christophers (Hyperion, CDA The Lancet, London, UK came the Noël, a popular Christmas 66263).
1000 years of Christmas music
Hyperion, CDA 66263
W
2204
THE LANCET • Vol 356 • December 23/30, 2000
For personal use only. Not to be reproduced without permission of The Lancet.
In 1664, from Dresden, Germany, came the composition by Heinrich Schutz of what has become known as the first oratorio, Historia der e have one major song. Antoine Busnois wrote this Freudenund gnadenreichen Geburth blessing over our musicpiece for four voices using the one Gottes . . . (Christmas oratorio). loving ancestors—we have word, “Noël” as its only text. This The 18th century saw Christmas recorded sound. Musical repertoire genre would return in the 17th musically dominated by the concerto and our listening can thus be enriched century in the guise of organ grosso. Arcangelo Corelli wrote his by research, innovation in perpieces based on Christmas tunes, Concerto Grosso opus 6, no 8 formance, and the passion of a fine example being the (Christmas) for strings and music lovers everywhere to bring new, Nouvre Livre de Noëls by Louiscontinuo in 1712. But strong undiscovered, or undervalued Claude Daquin (Hyperion CDA opposition to this was to emerge composers and their music to life. 66816). much later. The Titan of the And this is true of Christmas music. A huge source of music for Baroque, JS Bach, wrote his The early years of the second Christmas has been the collected Christmas Oratorio in 1734 whilst in millennium in musical terms are, manuscript of 73 Latin hymns and Leipzig. naturally, dictated by the Christian carols based on traditional words and Ballet and a new sound to the church; they wrote their tunes and music of works from Scandinavia, oratorio tradition would be the words down and they are thus Germany, and Bohemia, the hallmarks of the Christmaspreserved. One Christmas plainchant Piae Cantiones of 1582. This was associated music in the 19th century. that was certainly around in 11thassembled by Theodoricus Petri, a Tchaikovsy premiered his Nutcracker century France was in 1892 complete with the introit to the mass the dance of the sugar Rights were not granted to include this image in of Christmas Day, plum fairy and the Puer Natus Est Nobis dances of Spain, electronic media. Please refer to the printed (Unto us a child is China, France, and journal. born). Another Russia. Back in favourite gradual France, Hector chant of this period Berlioz’s L’Enfance du was Viderunt Omnes Christ (1854) had (All the ends taken the oratorio out of the Earth shall see of Handel territory the salvation of our into the colours of God). This was to romanticism. Of the become more famous many lovely melodies by its association with (and harmonies to the 12th century match), The Parisian composer Shepherd’s Farewell is Léonin, who used perhaps the best the chant as the basis known. for the earliest The 20th century surviving written saw Benjamin Britten polyphony. leading the charge of The French carole British composers to was well established bring Christmas by the early 13th music to its rightful century—a musical place in the classical form that was the music repertory, forerunner of its more most notably with traditional namesake. his Ceremony of Carols. It was principally a Others were Gustav courtly dance-song Holst and Ralph but also covered more popular Finn. From its pages come the Vaughan-Williams, while John Rutter themes. The 14th English carol, with popular Gaudete (made famous by (who frequently adapts traditional its verses punctuated by the rock-folk band Steeleye Span) French carols) is also contributing a chorus, seems to have been and the tune to Good King Wenceslas. to this long tradition of Christmas associated with festivals. “At In 1604, a fine example of a music. Recently released is a the soper and after, mony athel Christmas motet by Orlando de recording of John Tavener’s Christmas songes/As coundutes of Lassus’ was written for two fourProclamation with its traditional Krysatmasse and caroles newe” part choirs. Omnes de Saba Venient influences of Greek Orthodox (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, tells of the visit of the Wise Men chant flavouring his own special c1380). The English royal court to Bethlehem. Several of the pieces tonalities (Naxos 8.555256). With at that time was still a culturally mentioned above can be found this music the 21st century, in its French court. From this period hails on the compact disc Christmas Music own way, returns to the ancient The Boar’s Head carols and their from Medieval and Renaissance Europe traditions of the early church. traditions. by the Sixteen, conducted by Harry Lorraine Limburn From 15th-century France also Christophers (Hyperion, CDA The Lancet, London, UK came the Noël, a popular Christmas 66263).
1000 years of Christmas music
Hyperion, CDA 66263
W
2204
THE LANCET • Vol 356 • December 23/30, 2000
For personal use only. Not to be reproduced without permission of The Lancet.