Celebrate the Christmas season through a rich exploration of music and art inspired by the Nativity and the festive tradition. This presentation features highlights from the acclaimed O Holy Night recording by the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge, alongside works by composers including Mendelssohn, Poulenc, Rutter, Howells, Jonathan Dove, Gruber and several contemporary women composers. Complementing the music is a visual journey through Christmas art from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Together they reveal how artists and musicians have celebrated one of the world's most enduring cultural and spiritual traditions.
Face to face
- Christmas songs and carols by Adolphe Adam, Franz Gruber, John Rutter, Herbert Howells, Jonathon Dove
- Four Christmas Motets by Francis Poulenc
- An extended extract from the unfinished oratorio 'Christus' by Mendelssohn
- Anonymous carols arranged by Philip Ledger and Robert Lucas Pearsall
- Works by the female composers Sally Beamish, Tamsin Jones, Errollyn Wallen and Becky McGlade,
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Evaluate the beauty of this music and art composed to celebrate the Christmas festival
- Appreciate the inspiration provided by the festival to composers, writers of the text set and artists alike
- Discuss the related seasonal themes found in both the music and art
- Assess the musical and artistic depth found in this varied repertoire
