Music Fills the Air
In the absence of The Cathedral’s customary array of live music for organ, choir and instruments, our award winning music staff offer this list of favorites to help fill your Advent and Christmas with beautiful music.
Daryl Robinson, Cathedral Organist
Toccata on Vom Himmel hoch da komm’ ich her (From Heaven above to Earth I come) — Garth Edmundson
British composer and friend James Whitbourn introduced me to this flashy toccata by Pennsylvania native Garth Edmundson as part of a recording project I was involved with during my time at Westminster Choir College. This work became my “go to” closing work for the annual Readings and Carols presented at Princeton University Chapel and has been heard each year since my arrival at Christ Church in 2017.
Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20 — Marcel Dupré
Based on one of my favorite Christmas (and Easter!) tunes, this work is a pinnacle work for any organist and is always a crowd favorite. Allegedly composed while Dupré was traveling on train between U.S. cities during one of his concert tours, I included this work on my American Fantasia disc recorded at Disney Hall as one of the few non-commissioned works on the disc, and as an ”expected” tour of the tonal colors of the instrument.
I Wonder as I Wander — arr. Thomas Coker
During my 13 or so years at South Main Baptist down the road from CCC, every Christmas Eve service featured Thomas Coker’s (Minister of Music at South Main for 25 years) exquisite setting of this haunting tune. This work always conjures up many happy memories, and in this season of solitude and distancing, this text frequently comes to mind during evening walks, particularly as our on’ry Houston weather finally cools off!
The Rune of Hospitality — Alf Houkom
Composed for a cappella chorus and guitar, this magical work evokes peace and calm always so needed during the Christmas season. The Gaelic text is as follows:
‘I saw a stranger yestreen
I put food in the eating place
drink in the drinking place
music in the listening place
And in the sacred name of the Triune
He blessed myself and my house
my cattle and my dear ones
And the lark said in her song
often often often
Goes the Christ in stranger’s guise
often often often
Goes the Christ in stranger’s guise’
JJ Mitchell, Cathedral Organ Scholar
Festival First Nowell — Dan Forrest
This work was written for Westminster Choir College’s service of Readings and Carols, held each December in the Princeton University Chapel. It is typically sung by a choir of more than 100 singers and is a wonderful setting of a classic carol with organ and brass.
Viderunt Omnes — Perotin
This piece is one of the oldest notated works of music in the world. It was written to be chanted in Notre Dame de Paris in the 13th century.
See Dat Babe — arr. Stacey Gibbs
Often, musicians are looking for works by minority composers to perform at Christmastime. This jazzy setting of a classic spiritual is one of my all time favorite Christmas anthems. Listen for a fantastic walking bass line in the lower voices in the latter half of the piece.
In Dulci Jubilo — Michael Praetorius
Michale Praetorius sometimes falls through the cracks of music history, often living in the shadow of other famous German composers of his era. His Christmas Mass is thrilling work from start to finish with large choirs singing monophonically and dozens of instruments playing with vigor. “In Dulci Jubilo” is the big finish to this grand masterpiece.
Robert Simpson, Canon for Music
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol — John Rutter
Although British composer John Rutter has written a wide range of choral music, it is his Christmas carols that have made him most famous. Far from feeling typecast he says “Christmas is still very dear in my heart. It’s kind of the world as we all wish it could be, for just those precious few days each year. A time of stillness and yet of rejoicing. So, Christmas will always be very special in my heart and it’s always been celebrated in music.”
Gloria in excelsis Deo from Cantata BWV 191 — J.S. Bach
Bach was thrifty. He originally wrote this glorious music in 1733 as part of a Kyrie-Gloria Mass for the court in Dresden. He came back to it as the first movement of his 1742 Christmas Day Cantata 191. But its ultimate assignment was to open the Gloria section of his great Mass in B Minor, the summation of his life’s work as a composer of sacred music.
The Shepherd’s Carol — Bob Chilcott
Written by British composer Bob Chilcott for the renowned choir of Kings College, Cambridge, this carol has become a favorite of many. John Rutter declares, “For my money, this is the most beautiful modern carol there is. It brings cascades of tears every time.” The Christ Church Cathedral Choir had the distinction of giving the American premiere of Mr. Chilcott’s Christmas Oratorio in December 2019.
The Music of Christmas — Carmen Dragon conducting The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra
For my last selection I want to share with you a part of my childhood. A reel-to-reel recording of this music found its way into our home when I was 9 or 10 and I played it endless from the start of the Christmas season (which for us as Presbyterians was the day after Thanksgiving) through New Year’s Day. I fell in love with its rich and unexpected harmonic shifts and lush orchestral colors. I play it during the holidays to this day. I hope you find it a good mood-setter as you write cards, wrap presents, or trim your tree. Trivia for you Baby Boomers — Conductor Carmen Dragon’s son grew up to be The Captain of “Captain and Tennille.”
English