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The Cult of the Virgin

Donald Macleod and William Lyons explore the wealth of medieval music written in Mary’s honour, and the emerging tradition of lullabies to the infant Jesus.

Donald Macleod presents songs for Mary and lullabies to the infant Jesus.

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

Mary, mother of Jesus, became a huge figure of veneration during the Middle Ages, particularly during the Christmas period. In today’s programme, Donald and William explore the wealth of medieval music written in Mary’s honour, and the emerging tradition of lullabies to the infant Jesus.

Verbum patris umanatur O O
Sequentia, directed by Barbara Thornton and Benjamin Bagby

Edi beo thu hevene-queene
John Potter, tenor
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons

Angelus ad virginem
Gothic Voices

Ecce quod natura
Ther is no rose of swych vertu
Anonymous 4

Verbum Patris humanatur
Ensemble Discantus directed by Brigitte Lesne

Verbum Patris (intrumental)
William Lyons, Nicholas Perry

Thys endere nyght
Voice Trio
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons

Ave Maris Stella
Ensemble Gilles Binchois, directed by Dominique Vellard

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Anonymous

    Verbum patris umanatur

    Ensemble: Sequentia. Director: Barbara Thornton. Director: Benjamin Bagby.
    • DEUTSCHE HM : G0100002455451.
    • DEUTSCHE HM.
    • 2.
  • Anonymous

    Edi beo thu hevene-queene

    Ensemble: The Dufay Collective.
    • Chandos CHAN9396.
    • chandos.
    • 3.
  • Anonymous

    Estampie. Edi beo thu

    Ensemble: The Dufay Collective.
    • Chandos CHAN9396.
    • chandos.
    • 4.
  • Anon.

    Angelus ad virginem

    Performer: Gothic Voices.
    • LINN : CKD 591.
    • LINN.
    • 2.
  • Anonymous

    Carol: Ecce quod natura

    Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMU907099.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 19.
  • Anon.

    Antiphon: Hodie Christus natus est

    Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMU907099.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 1.
  • Anonymous

    Ther is no rose of swych vertu

    Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMU907099.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 21.
  • Anonymous

    Verbum Patris umanatur

    Ensemble: Discantus Ensemble. Director: Brigitte Lesne.
    • NAIVE : OP 30207.
    • NAIVE.
    • 14.
  • Anonymous

    Verbum Patris umanatur (instrumental)

    Performer: William Lyons. Performer: Nicholas Perry.
  • Anonymous

    Thys endere nyght

    Ensemble: The Dufay Collective.
  • Anon.

    Ave Maris Stella

    Ensemble: Gilles Binchois Ensemble. Director: Dominique Vellard.
    • CANTUS : 70758.
    • CANTUS.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Thu 7 Dec 2023 12:00

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