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Christmas with Handel

Hannah French visits Handel Hendrix House to explore how Handel may have celebrated his Christmases in 18th-century London.

Hannah French visits Handel Hendrix House to explore how Handel may have celebrated his Christmases in 18th-century London. She's joined by the museum's Deputy Director Claire Davies, resident food historian Marc Meltonville and harpsichordist and conductor Laurence Cummings as they delve into the food, wine and music of Handel's festive seasons in Brook Street.

With Yuletide music by Handel himself, alongside pieces by Johann Christoph Pepusch, Gottfried Finger, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Michael Praetorius, JS Bach and Johann Christoph Pez, with a smattering of carols and wassail tunes thrown in for good measure.

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59 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Dec 202517:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Anon

    Joy to the World!

    Performer: Adrian Partington. Music Arranger: William Llewellyn. Choir: Worcester Festival Choral Society. Conductor: Donald Hunt.
    • HELIOS.

  • Marc‐Antoine Charpentier

    Joseph est bien marié

    Ensemble: Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien.
    • ALPHA.

  • Anon.

    We wish you a merry Christmas

    Performer: Giles Lewin. Singer: Ian Giles. Ensemble: Spiers & Boden. Ensemble: Spiers & Boden.
    • The gift of music.

  • Anon

    The Boar's Head Carol

    Ensemble: Joglaresa.

  • Träd

    The Gower Wassail

    Ensemble: Joglaresa. Director: Belinda Sykes.

  • Gottfried Finger

    Resonet in laudibus (Pastorella)

    Ensemble: Niederaltaicher Scholaren. Conductor: Konrad Ruhland.
    • SONY.

  • Michael Praetorius

    Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

    Ensemble: Vox Luminis. Conductor: Lionel Meunier.
    • RICERCAR.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her BWV.769

    Performer: Simon Preston.
    • DG.

  • Johann Christoph Pez

    Concerto Pastorale (6th mvt: Passacaglia)

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Director: Gottfried von der Goltz.
    • APARTE.

  • Johann Christoph Pepusch

    Rejoyce in the Lord, O ye Righteous

    Ensemble: Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen. Choir: Girl Choristers of Canterbury Cathedral. Director: Robert Rowson.
    • ACCENT.

  • George Frideric Handel

    The Messiah: Pifa (extract)

    Performer: Laurence Cummings.

  • George Frideric Handel

    The Messiah: There were shepherds...Glory to God

    Ensemble: Dunedin Consort. Director: John Butt.
    • LINN.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Organ Concerto in F major, Op 4 No 5 - Presto

    Performer: Richard Egarr. Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

Broadcast

  • Sun 21 Dec 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3

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