Ex Cathedra: Christmas Music by Candlelight

About this event

In an atmospheric concert that heads straight to the heart of Christmas, leading UK choir and Early Music ensemble Ex Cathedra presents a sequence of music flowing seamlessly from seasonal favourites to little-known gems and stunning new works. All the crucial festive ingredients will remain in place as Ex Cathedra explores the meaning, humour and wonder of Christmas in this online concert filmed at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK, one the world’s finest concert halls.

The full programme is listed below. Enjoy Christmas classics, luxurious harmony and pieces written especially for Ex Cathedra by Liz Dilnot Johnson, Alec Roth and Roderick Williams. The concert culminates with the central question of Christmas in Bach’s exquisite chorale setting How shall I fitly meet Thee?

"Atmosphere, imagination, anticipation, inspired music … the true magic of Christmas" (Birmingham Post)

Ex Cathedra is a leading UK choir and Early Music ensemble with a repertoire that reaches from the 12th to the 21st centuries. Under founder and artistic director Jeffrey Skidmore, it has developed an international reputation for its performances of Early Music, particularly from the Latin American and French Baroque. It is also proud of its reputation for championing new music, from Stockhausen at the BBC Proms to commissions from James MacMillan, Sally Beamish, Roxanna Panufnik, Liz Dilnot Johnson and several major works from Alec Roth.

The group presents its own series of concerts in Birmingham, UK, where it is an Associate Artist at Town Hall & Symphony Hall, and enjoys invitations to appear at festivals and concert series as far afield as New York and Tel Aviv.

Your ticket purchase will directly support the participating artists through IDAGIO’s Fair Artist Payout Model: IDAGIO pays 80% of the net revenue directly to the performers.

Stream available to watch until 5 January 2021.

Click here for more programme details.

Programme

• 1. Concert – approx. 80 min programme

Repertoire

1.  arr. Jeffrey Skidmore (*1951), Christmas Collage 2020

2.  Roderick Williams (*1965), O Adonaï (1998)

3.  Jehan Tabouret (Orchésographie 1589) arr. Jeffrey Skidmore, Branle de l’Official

4.  Liz Dilnot Johnson (*1964), Blake reimagined (2020)

5.  Traditional arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015), Sussex Carol

6.  Sally Beamish (*1956), In the stillness

7.  Will Todd (*1970), My Lord has Come (2011)

8.  Harold Darke (1888-1976), In the bleak midwinter (v 4 only)

9.  Philip Brooks (1835-1893), Reading: Constant Christmas

10.  Carl Rütti (*1949), I wonder as I wander

11.  Peter Warlock (1894-1930), Bethlehem Down

12.  Peter Warlock, Benedicamus Domino

13.  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Reading: Ave Maria Gratia Plena

14.  Samuel Barber (1910-1981), Twelfth Night

15.  Revelation 21: 1-6 William Tyndale, Bible (1526), Reading: And I saw a new heaven

16.  arr Michael Tippett (1905-98), Steal away

17.  Gaspar Fernandes (1570-1629), Xicochi conetzintle

18.  Kirkpatrick arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015), Away in a manger

19.  William Mathias (1934-92), Sir Christémas (1969)

20.  Richard Middleton (1882-1911), Reading: Carol of the poor children

21.  Traditional, Somerset Wassail

22.  Traditional, Lapland Oik

23.  John Joubert (1927-2019), Torches

24.  Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), Reading: A Birthday

25.  J.S. Bach (1685-1750), O little one sweet (vv 1 and 2)

26. Will Todd (*1970), Christus est stella (2004)

27. Alec Roth (*1948), Love is come again (2018)

28. J.S. Bach (1685-1750), How shall I fitly meet thee?

29. John Rutter (*1945), Gaelic Blessing

This performance was filmed at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 21/22 December 2020.