The album's program showcases the diversity of Christmas music, combining both secular and religious aspects, from naive folk songs to spiritual Latin pieces.
Compositional Technique
The Gregorian hymn Conditor alme siderum, traditionally sung at Advent vespers, was adapted in the mid-16th century to a secular French text describing a Christmas feast.
Compositional Technique
Many carols (noëls) were created by taking existing popular songs and replacing their original secular lyrics with new Christmas-themed words, a practice known as 'contrafactum'.
Historical Context
The historian Etienne Pasquier (born 1529) noted that in his youth, Christmas carols were sung almost every evening in families and also during High Mass on Christmas Day.
Historical Context
In the mid-16th century, the poet Barthélémy Aneau described the custom of singing Christmas carols (Noël) joyously at home with family during Advent.
Historical Context
By the early 17th century, diocesan authorities, such as Cardinal de Retz, Bishop of Paris, attempted to suppress the singing of carols during divine service to avoid distraction.
Compositional Technique
The album includes instrumental fantasias by Eustache Du Caurroy, which draw inspiration from both Advent hymns and popular songs like "Une jeune fillette."
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