A Christmas Messe: A Banquet of Seasonal English Music (2019)
Folger Consort performed "A Christmas Messe: A Banquet of Seasonal English Music from December 14th - December 23rd 2018 at Folger's Elizabethan Theater
Folger celebrated the holidays with a repast of English music ranging from the earliest carols to arrangements of favorites like Greensleeves. Actor Rick Foucheux reads comical passages from the Folger’s 1619 manuscript A Christmas Messe—recounting a tussle between King Beef and King Brawn—offers lively accompaniment to a main course of beloved Yuletide music. A wonderful Christmas feast indeed! With strings, harp, organ, winds, and chamber choir.
Was in conjunction with the Folger exhibition Churchill’s Shakespeare, on display October 6 through January 6.
Music that appears on this program includes:
Anonymously composed carols and music from medieval and early modern England: Thys Yol; Angelus ad virginem/Gabriel fram hevene-king; Alleluia Nativitas; The boares head; There is no rose; Nowell sing we; Tappster, Dyrngker; Greensleeves; Long cold nights
Later English holiday favorites: While shepherds watched their flocks by night; Dives and Lazarus; Hark! The herald angels sing
Sub Arturo plebs/Fons citharizancium by John Aleyn (died 1373)
Green groweth the holly by King Henry VIII (1491-1547)
Ah, my dear son by Robert Fayrfax (1464-1521)
Music by William Byrd (1538-1623): O magnum mysterium; From Virgin's womb/Rejoice, rejoice; Laetentur coeli
Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), arranged by Christopher Kendall for period instruments
Artists
Folger Consort Artistic Directors
Robert Eisenstein: Viol
Christopher Kendall: Lute
Guest Artists
Rick Foucheux
Crossley Hawn, Soprano
P. Lucy McVeigh,Alto
Oliver Mercer, Tenor
Dan Meyers,Winds
William Sharp, Baritone