Christmas has many facets; these have been reflected in the great variety of music and art created for the festival, both sacred and secular. In this presentation we will explore outstanding Christmas music from the Renaissance onwards, and art from the Ancient world to today. Vocal and instrumental works featured will be by Tallis, Orlando di Lasso, Peter Philips, Handel, Vaughan Williams, Boris Ord, John Gardner, and arrangements of traditional carols from Italy, Holland and Ireland. The art works will include paintings, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, stained-glass windows, photos, and buildings relevant to the art and the music.
- England and the Netherlands – Thomas Tallis and Peter Philips
- Orlando di Lasso – the Netherlands, and Bavaria
- Handel – his ‘Christmas Cantata’ composed in Rome
- England – music by Vaughan Williams, Boris Ord, and John Gardner
- Carols from Italy, Holland and Ireland
- Sculpture from the Ancient worlds, illuminated manuscripts, stained-glass windows, paintings and buildings from the Middle Ages onwards
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Appreciate the differing and varied music and art created during the eras covered in this presentation
- Distinguish between the sacred and secular contexts for which the music and art were created
- Note the continuity of forms and subject matter within the stylistic changes
- Assess the cultural importance of this music and art as well as their complementarity
