Speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin revisits this most beloved seasonal repertory, choosing additional selections to explore how classical Western composers created a canon of both secular and sacred experiences that are now deeply rooted in the celebration of the holidays.
From sleigh bells to the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy to the mystical beauties of the Nativity, every December is filled with the music of Christmas. Some favorite tunes are ancient and folk-based, others are grandly Baroque, and more recent masterpieces have evoked images of feasting, bells, snowy Christmas trees, brightly colored candy, and jolly red Santas. Enjoy the stories behind works by such composers as Bach, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Francisco Guerrero, Rimsky-Korsakov, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Gerard Finzi, and others.
British-born Franklin has been a featured speaker for organizations including the Library of Congress and NPR, exploring intersections among classical and jazz music, film scores, and the fine arts.
December 4 A Christmas Box of Musical Delights
Leopold Mozart, Leroy Anderson, Prokofiev: All drive jingling sleigh rides as snowy landscapes by Niels Gade lead to the glittering holiday magic of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve Suite. Vaughan Williams’ ravishing Fantasia on Greensleeves is complemented by the tender Sacred Lullaby, Op. 91 by Brahms. The holidays aren’t complete without Tchaikovsky’s incomparable Nutcracker, and Franklin adds to the session’s treats with Ellington and Strayhorn’s swinging homage to that most famous Christmas ballet.
December 11 Sacred Glories of the Season
Whether it’s the intimacy of a medieval carol or the mighty choirs of the Messiah, sacred music opens a nostalgic portal and taps into the deepest cravings for connection with the divine. Approaching Christmas itself, travel across Europe sampling inspiring and beautiful music written to celebrate this most spiritual time of the year. Included are exquisite choral works by Finzi, Poulenc, Gustaf Nordqvist and Georgy Sviridov, arrangements of carols by Benjamin Britten, and the most beloved seasonal choral works such as Bach’s Magnificat, Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël, Op. 12 and Handel’s Messiah.
2 sessions
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