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December 24, 2009

'O Magnum Mysterium,' the Christmas Mystery

Music for Christmas Eve, from concerts across the country and around the world. Including what may be the most beautiful Christmas song of the 20th century, the Ave Maria, by Franz Biebl. The men of Chanticleer are in concert at Stanford University, in Palo Alto. Also, two contemplative settings of the ancient Latin text "O Magnum Mysterium." One from 1572 by Tomas Luis de Victoria, another from 1994 by American composer Morton Lauridsen. And...a choral curiosity. The Tokyo FM Boys Choir sings "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" in Japanese.

Today's Playlist

Performance Today audio is available for seven days following broadcast.

hour 1

  • Francisco Guerrero
    "Virgen Sancta"
    Chanticleer
  • Traditional (Arranged by Jerzy Kurczewski)
    "They Hastened to Bethlehem"
    The Polish Radio Chorus with conductor Wlodzimierz Siedlik
    Witold Lutoslawski Concert Hall, Warsaw, Poland
  • Wilhelm Stenhammar
    "Midwinter," Op. 24
    The Swedish Radio Orchestra and Chorus with conductor Andreas Hanson
    Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Juan de Araujo
    "Los Coflades de la Estleya"
    Seattle Pro Musica with conductor Karen P. Thomas
    Town Hall, Seattle
  • Ernani Aguiar
    "Ave Maria"
    Seattle Pro Musica with conductor Karen P. Thomas
    Town Hall, Seattle
  • Sigvaldi Kaldalons
    "Ave Maria"
    Pianist Vikingur Heidar Olafsson
    University Cinema, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Franz Xaver Biebl
    "Ave Maria"
    Chanticleer
    Stanford University, Stanford, California
  • Adam Craig
    "So Merry as We Have Been"
    Fiddler Bonnie Rideout and friends
    Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, Georgia
  • Felix Mendelssohn
    "Song Without Words"
    Cellist Lynn Harrell and pianist Victor Santiago-Asuncion
    Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, Georgia
  • Traditional (Arranged by Terje Kvam)
    "Beautiful Savior"
    The Oslo Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra
    Concert Hall, Oslo, Norway

hour 2

  • Marc-Antoine Charpentier
    Carols for Instruments
    Les Violons du Roy with conductor Bernard Labadie
  • Traditional (Arranged by Matthew Nielsen)
    "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"
    The Brigham Young University Singers with conductor Ronald Staheli
    Harris Fine Arts Center, Provo, Utah
  • Tommie Connor
    "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
    The Tokyo FM Boys Choir with pianist Megumi Yorita and conductor Etsuyo Tachikawa
    Tokyo FM Hall, Tokyo, Japan
  • Gabriel Faure
    Allegro from Barcarolle No. 6 in E-flat, Op. 70
    Pianist Sally Pinkas
    Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Rockport, Massachusetts
  • Joseph Canteloube
    "Lullaby"
    Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and pianist Malcolm Martineau
    Ordway Center, St. Paul
  • Anthony Holborne
    "As it Fell on a Holie Eve"
    Soprano Ellen Hargis and lutenist Paul O'Dette
    Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul
  • Edward Elgar
    Chanson du Nuit, Op. 15, No. 1
    The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra with conductor Scott Yoo
    St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Houston
  • Tomas Luis de Victoria
    "O Magnum Mysterium"
    The Helsinki Chamber Chorus with conductor Nils Schweckendiek
    Kallio Church, Helsinki, Finland
  • Morten Lauridsen
    "O Magnum Mysterium"
    The Danish National Vocal Ensemble with conductor Michael Bojesen
    Soborg Church, Northern Zealand, Denmark
  • Anonymous
    Symphonia de Nativitate
    Il Tempo with violinist and conductor Agata Sapiecha
    Witold Lutoslawski Concert Hall, Warsaw, Poland
  • Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger
    Gagliarda Sesta
    Chatham Baroque
    Synod Hall, Oakland, Pennsylvania
  • Franz Xaver Gruber
    "Glade Jul" ("Silent Night")
    The Danish National Vocal Ensemble with conductor Michael Bojesen
    Soborg Church, Northern Zealand, Denmark
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