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Christmas Carols

9/11/2020, 19 Tracks, 59:08

Featuring

  • Marcus Creed
  • Kirsten Drope
  • Sabine Czinczel
  • Frank Bossert
  • Torsten Müller
  • Bernhard Hartmann
  • Lisa Rothländer
  • Johannes Kaleschke
  • Dorothea Winkel
  • Wakako Nakaso
  • Stefanie Blumenschein
  • Wiebke Wighardt
  • Ekkehard Abele
  • Alexander Yudenkov
  • Christopher Kaplan
  • Julius Pfeifer
  • Hubert Mayer
  • Mikhail Shashkov
  • Philip Niederberger
  • SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart
  • Boris Ord
  • Robert Parsons
  • Benjamin Britten
  • Herbert Howells
  • Anonymous (Christmas)
  • Peter Wishart
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams
  • Orlando Gibbons
  • John Tavener
  • Thomas Ravenscroft
  • Elizabeth Poston
  • William Byrd
  • Thomas Adès
  • Gustav Holst

Did you know?

1/7

Performer Biography

The SWR Vokalensemble, a professional radio choir, has premiered over 250 new choral works since 1946.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

The term 'Carol' originally referred to a round dance with singing in simple verse-refrain form, common at festivals or processions.

Source: Booklet

Performer Biography

Marcus Creed, the conductor, was artistic director of the SWR Vokalensemble from 2003 to 2020 and previously led the RIAS Kammerchor from 1987 to 2001.

Source: Booklet

Cultural Impact

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge, has been broadcast live on radio every Christmas Eve since 1928.

Source: Booklet

Historical Context

In 1647, the Puritans banned Christmas from the church calendar and forbade the singing of carols in church, viewing Christmas as having 'pagan' roots.

Source: Booklet

Cultural Impact

Ralph Vaughan Williams, a conductor and composer, significantly influenced the British Christmas carol tradition by publishing The Oxford Book of Carols in 1928, which saw 36 editions by 1984.

Source: Booklet

Historical Context

Christmas Carols are as integral to Christmas in Great Britain as plum pudding and turkey, paper crowns, and mistletoe.

Source: Booklet

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