
Grand candlelit halls, lavish feasts, and stately dances. Escape to the regal elegance of the Elizabethan era. The time and culture of Elizabeth I also contained tension and intrigue; dark and light. And it’s all evident in the music of their Christmas celebrations.
The Rose Ensemble’s captures all of that in their popular holiday concert, as they reawaken the ancient with An Elizabethan Christmas. Add it to your holiday lineup, and treat your listeners to medieval carols, and motets and anthems by the beloved English Renaissance composers, Robert Parsons, William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons, accompanied by lute and viola da gamba. In a couple of pieces, The Rose Ensemble is joined by special guests Voces8, the vibrant young a capella group from London, for a glorious soaring sound.
In this one-hour special, you’ll hear stratospheric soprano lines, surprising harmonies, spirited poetry, and tender carols. And a brand new setting of a Tudor-era carol text by acclaimed composer Abbie Betinis.
Captured live in concert, An Elizabethan Christmas with the Rose Ensemble is hosted and produced by public radio veteran Tom Crann with artistic director Jordan Sramek.
- Total time = 58:17
- 1 optional mid-point break opportunity for ID or underwriting
music rundown:
15th century carol: Ecce, quod natura (3:40)
15th century carol: Hail Mary, full of grace (3:52)
Parsons: Ave Maria (featuring Voces8) (4:30)
Mundy: Magnificat (6:37)
Ravenscroft: Remember, O thou man (2:45)
- optional :03 break for local annct.
Byrd: Sing Joyfully (featuring Voces8) (3:30)
Amner: O ye little flock/Fear not (5:35)
anon 15th century: Lullay, lollow, lully (3:00)
Gibbons: See, See, the Word is incarnate (7:00)
Abbie Betinis (b. 1980): In this Tyme of Chrstmas (2006) (5:18)
More from Thomas Crann
La Nochebuena: A Spanish Renaissance Christmas with the Rose Ensemble
(00:58:30)
From: Thomas Crann
A rhythmic and regal retelling of the Christmas story. The Rose Ensemble reawakens the ancient with sacred songs and lively dances for the season from Renaissance Spain.
A Mexican Baroque Christmas with the Rose Ensemble
(00:58:39)
From: Thomas Crann
This holiday program features over two centuries of festive Christmas dances and songs from the great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City.

Piece Description
Grand candlelit halls, lavish feasts, and stately dances. Escape to the regal elegance of the Elizabethan era. The time and culture of Elizabeth I also contained tension and intrigue; dark and light. And it’s all evident in the music of their Christmas celebrations.
The Rose Ensemble’s captures all of that in their popular holiday concert, as they reawaken the ancient with An Elizabethan Christmas. Add it to your holiday lineup, and treat your listeners to medieval carols, and motets and anthems by the beloved English Renaissance composers, Robert Parsons, William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons, accompanied by lute and viola da gamba. In a couple of pieces, The Rose Ensemble is joined by special guests Voces8, the vibrant young a capella group from London, for a glorious soaring sound.
In this one-hour special, you’ll hear stratospheric soprano lines, surprising harmonies, spirited poetry, and tender carols. And a brand new setting of a Tudor-era carol text by acclaimed composer Abbie Betinis.
Captured live in concert, An Elizabethan Christmas with the Rose Ensemble is hosted and produced by public radio veteran Tom Crann with artistic director Jordan Sramek.
- Total time = 58:17
- 1 optional mid-point break opportunity for ID or underwriting
music rundown:
15th century carol: Ecce, quod natura (3:40)
15th century carol: Hail Mary, full of grace (3:52)
Parsons: Ave Maria (featuring Voces8) (4:30)
Mundy: Magnificat (6:37)
Ravenscroft: Remember, O thou man (2:45)
- optional :03 break for local annct.
Byrd: Sing Joyfully (featuring Voces8) (3:30)
Amner: O ye little flock/Fear not (5:35)
anon 15th century: Lullay, lollow, lully (3:00)
Gibbons: See, See, the Word is incarnate (7:00)
Abbie Betinis (b. 1980): In this Tyme of Chrstmas (2006) (5:18)
Timing and Cues
Segment 1 (29:23)
in: “Welcome to an Elizabethan Christmas...”
out: ...online at roseensemble.org.”
>> :03 pause @ 29:23 for optional local announcement. <<
Segment 2 (28:51)
in: “I’m Tom Crann...”
out: “... warmest wishes for the holiday season, from the Rose Ensemble.”
:30 promo (w/ :07 for local tag)
Additional Credits
Tom Crann with Jordan Sramek. Recording engineer: John Scherf. Tech dir: Johnny Vince Evans.





Marjorie Leet Ford
Posted on December 07, 2010 at 12:39 PM | Permalink
Elizabethan Christmas
This is Beautiful! Thank you!
Marjorie Leet Ford, San Francisco