Celestial Harmonies

This concert will feature seasonal works by the German composer, Michael Praetorius – one of the greats of the Renaissance composers and a favourite with our choristers!

It is snowing lightly on Christmas Eve, 1615, in the north German town of Wolfenbüttel and the town is full of festive excitement. On your way to church in the evening, you walk through the Christmas Market in the town square, enjoying the sights, sounds and scents of the season. As you enter the church, the organist is already playing chorale preludes, and you see the brass and string players assembling and getting set-up for the service. The church is lit with candles flickering around the audience, who are excited to hear and sing the carols and Magnificat that Praetorius has written for the special day. – Paul Grindlay

This concert, led by Co-Artistic Directors Colin Redekop and Damian Jordan features timeless works by Michael Praetorius, one of the most celebrated composers of the German Renaissance, whose music continues to inspire with its elegance, devotion, and festive spirit.

Joining the ensemble will be the String Theory Music Collective along with guest brass players performing on historic instruments, such as the notoriously challenging sackbutt.

From well-known hymns to jubilant songs, each piece of this year’s holiday concert brings the warmth and wonder of Christmas through the sound of rich voices and vibrant instruments coming together in harmony.