The Sixteen's Christmas Concert

14thC: Resonemus laudibus
Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina: Kyrie from Missa Hodie Christus natus est
John Joubert: There is no rose
Cecilia McDowall: Now may we singen
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Hodie Christus natus est
Bartmoliej Pekiel: Resonet in laudibus
Peter Racine Fricker: A babe is born
John Rutter: There is a flower
Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina: Motet, Hodie Christus natus est (8vv)
Interval
Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina: Magnificat a 8
Elizabeth Poston: Jesus Christ The Apple Tree
William Byrd: This day Christ was born (A Carroll for Christmas Day)
Johannes Eccard: Resonet in laudibus
Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina: Gloria from Missa Hodie Christus natus est
Traditional: The cherry tree carol
Herbert Howells: A spotless rose (from 3 Carol-anthems)
Benjamin Britten: This little babe (from A Ceremony of Carols)
Jacob Handl: Resonet in laudibus

The Sixteen's seasonal programme this year is based around Palestrina's glorious antiphon for Christmas Day, Hodie Christus natus est, and how composers as diverse as Byrd, Sweelinck, Britten and Fricker relate to that text. Settings of Resonet in laudibus by Eccard, Handl and Pekiel where 'voices of praise resound with sweetest music all around' permeate the programme, as well as symbols of nature relating to the newborn child and his pious mother, the Virgin Mary, in settings by Howells and Rutter.

The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall at 9:30pm - Carols with The Sixteen. Admission free.

The Sixteen
Harry Christophers conductor