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Blowe, Northerne Wynd

Donald Macleod and William Lyons introduce carols from Finland and Winter songs in Old English. And we discover the original story of St Nicholas, before he became Santa Claus.

Medieval carols and the story of St Nicholas, with Donald Macleod.

This week, Donald Macleod marks the beginning of the season of Advent by exploring Christmas music and stories from the Middle Ages. Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful traditions and musical occasions during medieval times. Peasants and nobles alike could look forward to many weeks of festivities, from Advent at the start of December, right through to Candlemas on 2nd February. Some of those customs we still recognise and celebrate today. Many are now lost or significantly altered. Donald is joined by early music expert, William Lyons, to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our medieval ancestors

Today, Donald and William introduce carols from Finland and Winter songs in Old English. Plus we discover the original story of St Nicholas, before he became the Santa Claus figure we know today.

Anon. Gaudete
Steeleye Span

Anon. Personent hodie; Gaudete; Omnis mundus jucundetur
Retrover Ensemble, directed by Markus Tapio

Perotin: Alleluia Nativitas
The Hilliard Ensemble, directed by Paul Hillier

Miri it is while sumer ilast
Blowe, Northerne Wynd (arr. William Lyons)
Voice Trio
The Dufay Collective

Seint Nicholas was borne in the citee of Patras; Cantu mirro, summa laude; Sainte nicholaes; Salve cleri speculum - Salve iubar presulum
Anonymous 4

Dufay: Ce jour de l'an
Alta Bellezza

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Dec 2023 12:00

Music Played

  • Anon.

    Gaudete

    Performer: Steeleye Span.
    • EMI.
  • Anonymous

    Personent hodie - Gaudate

    Ensemble: Retrover Ensemble, Helsinki. Director: Markus Tapio.
    • NAXOS : 8.-554180.
    • NAXOS.
    • 17.
  • Anon.

    Omnis mundus jucundetur

    Ensemble: Retrover Ensemble, Helsinki. Director: Markus Tapio.
    • NAXOS : 8.-554180.
    • NAXOS.
    • 6.
  • ±Êé°ù´Ç³Ù¾±²Ô

    Alleluia Nativitas

    Ensemble: The Hilliard Ensemble. Director: Paul Hillier.
    • ECM RECORDS : 837 751-2-.
    • ECM RECORDS.
    • 7.
  • Anonymous

    Miri it is while sumer ilast

    Ensemble: The Dufay Collective. Singer: John Potter.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN-9396.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 1.
  • Anonymous

    Dance: Miri it it

    Ensemble: The Dufay Collective.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Anonymous

    Blowe, Northerne Wynd

    Music Arranger: William Lyons. Ensemble: The Dufay Collective.
    • AVIE.
  • Anonymous

    Reading: Seint Nicholas was borne in the citee of Patras

    Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Anonymous

    Conductus: Cantu mirro, summa laude

    Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Anonymous

    Song: Seint Nicholaes

    Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Anonymous

    Salve cleri speculum

    Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
    • ANONYMOUS: And whanne oure Lorde lust to take Seint Nicholas.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 15.
  • Guillaume Dufay

    Ce jour de l'an

    Ensemble: Alta Bellezza.
    • ARCANA : A-122.
    • ARCANA.
    • 14.

Broadcast

  • Mon 4 Dec 2023 12:00

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