专辑简介

Our program celebrates the many facets of the Christmas celebration, with a special focus on the miracle of Jesus’ birth and the extraordinary gift of Mary’s role as Jesus’ mother. We follow the chronological narrative, starting with a “welcome” to all. Walton’s "All This Time" describes the exact moment when “word became flesh” (Verbum caro factum est), and the ever-popular “Silent night” reflects on the mystery of that holy night. Pieces by John Tavener and Elizabeth Poston celebrate the many roles Jesus plays in the world. Four pieces by English composers Benjamin Britten, John Rutter, and Patrick Hadley turn our gaze back to the mother of Jesus, after which we celebrate some of our favorite Christmas pageant characters: angels, shepherds, wise men, and stars. We finish the recording with arrangements of popular secular carols to get you into the holiday spirit. More details of our program (including texts and translations) can be found on the BCE web site.