Composer of the Week: A Medieval Christmas

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: A Medieval Christmas: Carols and Revelries

Carols and Revelries

A Medieval Christmas

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, A Medieval Christmas, Carols and Revelries

Donald Macleod presents seasonal music for dancing, feasting and social occasions.

Donald Macleod and William Lyons explore community Christmas traditions during the Middle Ages, including carol singing, Christmas plays and gift giving.

Donald Macleod presents seasonal music for dancing, feasting and social occasions. 

This week, Donald Macleod marks the beginning of the season of Advent by exploring Christmas music and stories from the Middle Ages.  Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful traditions and musical occasions during medieval times.  Peasants and nobles alike could look forward to many weeks of festivities, from Advent at the start of December, right through to Candlemas on 2nd February.  Some of those customs we still recognise and celebrate today. Many are now lost or significantly altered.  Donald is joined by early music expert, William Lyons, to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our medieval ancestors

In their final programme, Donald and William explore community Christmas traditions during the Middle Ages. Including carol singing, Christmas plays and gift giving.

Nowell, owt of youre sleep aryse
Adam lay ibowndyn (arr. William Lyons)
Ye have so longe kepe schepe (instrumental)
Voice Trio
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons

Nowell, nowell, nowell
Gothic Voices

Hayl Mary ful of grace
Voice Trio
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons

Coventry Carol
The King's Singers

Halle: Dieus soit en cheste maison
Sequentia

Dufay: Bonjour, bon mois
Ensemble Allégorie

Lantins, A: Ce jour de l’an, belle je vous supply
Le miroir de musique, directed by Baptiste Romain

Dufay: Ce jour de l'an
The Hilliard Ensemble

Gresley Dances (arr. William Lyons)
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod explores Christmas music and stories from the Middle Ages.

Donald Macleod is joined by early music expert William Lyons to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our medieval ancestors.

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