Each in their own way, Berlioz’ L’adieu des bergères and Reger’s O Jesulein süß illustrate the Romantic vision of Christmas: often bucolic or even opulent – as in the Oratorio L’Enfance du Christ, from which this Shepherds’ Farewell to the Holy Family is taken – but also delicate, adopting the form of a lullaby, as in Reger’s simple German Melody about the Child Jesus, from 1650, later harmonised for four voices.
Villa-Lobos’ piece is a fine example of the assimilation of this European repertoire in Latin America, with this composer being precisely one of those responsible for the rebirth of choral music in Brazil, as can be heard in this most beautiful Ave Maria.
Continuing to advance in time, we arrive at the eclecticism of contemporary harmonisations, brilliantly exemplified here by the arrangements of Christopher Bochmann. These can be both contrapuntal and subtle, as is the case with Vaughan Williams’ carol Wither’s Rocking Hymn – an expressive piece based on a seventeenth-century English text – and homorhythmic and energetic, as in the case of the traditional Catalan carol Fum, fum, fum – an allusion to the smoke of bonfires, around which everyone would gather to talk and sing during the cold month of December. John Rutter’s Nativity Carol also forms part of this age-old English tradition, having been constantly renewed until the present day.
Naturally, the Portuguese repertoire also had to be present in this concert. Especially our rich heritage of popular melodies. These served as material for versions ranging from a contagious simplicity, such as the two pieces harmonised by Sampayo Ribeiro – Natal d’Elvas and Natal da Índia Portuguesa (Vamos a Belém) – to the chromatic complexity of O menino nas palhas in the version by Lopes-Graça or the more contemporary Dorme, Menino Jesus, by José Firmino, a composer who is still alive today.
And, to end this programme in style, a most famous American song: Jingle Bells, in a surprising jazzy arrangement for voices and piano by Ray Charles, which will certainly delight everyone on this Day of Kings!
Ages
+ 6 anos
Data sheet
musical direction Filipa Palhares
Sopranos Ariana Russo, Cecília Rodrigues, Mariana Moldão
Contraltos Joana Esteves, Marta Queirós, Rita Tavares
Tenors Diogo Pombo, Frederico Projecto, João Barros
downs Rui Bôrras, Sérgio Silva, Tiago Mota
Canto Gregoriano Puer Natus
Anónimo séc. XV There is no rose
Dom Pedro de Cristo Es nascido
S. Bach Herrscher des Himmels (Oratória de Natal BWV 248)
Hector Berlioz L’adieu des bergères à la sainte famille (L’Enfance du Christ op.25)
Max Reger O Jesulein süß
Heitor Villa-Lobos Ave Maria
Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. Christopher Bochmann Wither’s Rocking Hymn
Anónimo, arr. Christopher Bochmann Fum, fum, fum
Anónimo, harm. Fernando Lopes Graça O menino nas palhas
Anónimo, harm. Mário de Sampayo Ribeiro Natal da Índia Portuguesa
José Firmino Dorme, Menino Jesus
Anónimo, harm. Mário de Sampayo Ribeiro Natal d’Elvas (O menino que nasceu)
John Rutter Nativity Carol
James Lord Pierpont, arr. Ray Charles Jingle Bells
Prices and Discounts
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Discounts
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30% Discount for holders of the CCB Friend’s Card