DCD 058 - The DCD Holiday Special, Part 1

Episode #58 of the DCD Classical 'Cast presents part 1 of our annual holiday music special. This program we feature music from four different labels, giving you something medieval, something modern, something traditional.... and something not.

You'll hear some familiar Christmas music played by Michael Stairs on the giant Longwood Gardens Aeolean organ. And you'll probably recognize the traditional melodies used in Peteris Aldins' "This Sacred Night."

Mary figures large in the Christmas story, and many early church services included sacred songs about the Virgin Mary in their Advent services (that's the part of the church calendar leading up to Christmas Day). We present a selection from the "Cantiguas de Santa Maria," a compilation commissioned by Alfonso X of Castille in the 1200's.

And to finish, we include some music from the Inner Voices's crossover release, "Christmas in My Dreams."

Happy Holidays!

- Ralph

This program we play:

Peteris Aldins: This Sacred Night
New York Latvian Concert Choir; Andrejs Jansons, conductor
NYLCC Records

Alfonso X: Rosas das rosas
Helena Ek, soprano
Musica Rediviva

I Saw three Ships; Silent Night
Michael Stairs, organ
DTR

Christmas in My Dreams, De King is Born Today
Inner Voices
Laurel Records