Friday, Dec. 15, 8:00 pm
Saturday, Dec. 16, 3:00 pm
Saturday, Dec. 16, 8:00 pm
Tickets $10-$87
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Ticket sales have closed for this program
First Church in Cambridge, Congregational
11 Garden Street, Cambridge
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Don’t miss this concert program the Boston Globe calls “stellar” and the Boston Classical Review has dubbed “a hauntingly beautiful and uplifting occasion fit for the holidays.”
Our program offers a selection of music for the Christmas season—plainchant, carols, and polyphonic antiphons and settings of the Mass—that might have been heard in England in the 1440s, when the most modern of the works on the program were composed. The carols, drawn from several manuscripts, are written in a robust popular style with graceful melody and simple harmonies, while the polyphony dazzles with complex cross-rhythms, dashing melodies, and clangorous harmonies, all in celebration of one of the most glorious seasons of the Christian year.
This program will be approximately 90-100 minutes with one intermission.
View the Concert Program
I. Advent
Veni, veni, Emanuel
13th-century French
II. Annunciation
Angelus ad virginem
Arundel MS (late 13th century)
Gabriel fram Heven-King
Cotton fragments (14th century)
Alma redemptoris mater
Antiphon for the Blessed Virgin Mary from Advent to Candlemas
Sarum plainchant
Auxce bon youre delabonestren instrumental
Ave Maria I say / instrumental
Cambridge MS Add. 5943 (c. 1400)
Hayl Mary, ful of grace
Trinity Roll (early 15th century)
Gloria (Old Hall MS, no. 21)
Leonel Power (d. 1445)
Ther is no rose of swych vertu
Trinity Roll
Ibo michi ad montem mirre
Antiphon for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Leonel Power
III. Christmas Eve
Veni redemptor gencium
Hymn for first Vespers of the Nativity on Christmas Eve
Sarum plainchant
*** intermission ***
IV. Christmas Day
Dominus dixit ad me
Introit for the Mass at Cock-Crow on Christmas Day
Sarum plainchant
Nowel! Owt of your slepe aryse
Selden MS (15th century)
Gloria (Old Hall MS, no. 27)
Pycard (?fl. 1410-20)
Thys yol the beste red that y kan
Edmundus, Cambridge MS Add. 5943
Thys yol instrumental
Contratenor by Scotus Viridis Montis
Sanctus / Missa Veterem hominem
anonymous English, c. 1440
Ave rex angelorum
Egerton MS (15th century)
Lolay lolay
Cambridge MS Add. 5943
Agnus dei / Missa Veterem hominem
Nowel syng we bothe al and som
Trinity Roll
BLUE HERON ARTISTS
cantus
Kim Leeds, Clare McNamara, Sophie Michaux
tenor & contratenor
Michael Barrett, Corey Dalton Hart, Jason McStoots, Sumner Thompson
bassus
Paul Guttry, David McFerrin
Laura Jeppesen, rebec
Charles Weaver, lute & voice
Scott Metcalfe, harp
All concert dates, programs and personnel are subject to change without notice.
Please note that there is no pre-concert talk before these concerts.
Ticket purchases are non-refundable.
Blue Heron is pleased to be participating in the Card to Culture program by extending free tickets to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders.
Instructions for claiming a ticket via your card may be found by locating Blue Heron on mass.gov’s list of Card to Culture Organizations for the Greater Boston Area
Doors open half an hour prior to the concert start time. If needed for mobility, use office entrance next to the playground on Garden Street; all others please use main entrance to the sanctuary.
