Northern Lights 2010: A Solstice Celebration

From: Cheryl Willoughby
Length: 58:58

Vermont Public Radio's Cheryl Willoughby presents “Northern Lights,” a singing and dancing celebration to welcome the solstice and coming of the new year. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Northern Lights 2010: A Solstice Celebration
From: Cheryl Willoughby

2010-oct08-cheryl_small Solstice celebrations include traditions like burning the Yule ("wheel") log, emblemizing the end of the old year and the start of the lighter, longer days of the growing season. Music and dancing were also important elements, to bouy the spirits and keep hopes kindled during the last days of December. Cheryl Willoughby presents “Northern Lights,” a singing and dancing celebration to welcome the solstice – and coming of the new year.

Piece Description

Solstice celebrations include traditions like burning the Yule ("wheel") log, emblemizing the end of the old year and the start of the lighter, longer days of the growing season. Music and dancing were also important elements, to bouy the spirits and keep hopes kindled during the last days of December. Cheryl Willoughby presents “Northern Lights,” a singing and dancing celebration to welcome the solstice – and coming of the new year.

Broadcast History

originally broadcast (1 time) 12/21/2009

Transcript

Music Playlist for Northern Lights 2010 with Cheryl Willoughby

Juan Ponce: Torre de la Niña – La Rondinella (“Sephardic Journey: Spain and the Spanish Jews” – Dorian 93171 – 1:43)

Traditional (13thc.): English Dance – Pavlo Beznosiuk & Mark Levy, fiddles (“Delectatio Angeli” – Hyperion 67549 – 1:55)

Susan Cooper, poet: The Shortest Day – Christmas Revels featuring narrator Robert J. Lurtsema (“In Celebration of the Winter Solstice” – Revels 1078 – 1:30)

Traditional (Québecois, arr. by Lisa Ornstein): Les Haubans (The Stays) – La Nef featuring André Marchand & Les Charbonniers de L’Enfer (“La Traverse Miraculeuse” – ATMA 2588 – 4:34)

Anonymous (Italian, late 13th-14thc.): Saltarello – New York’s Ensemble for Early Music (“A Medieval Christmas” – Ex Cathedra 29001 – 2:07)

Anonymous (Spanish, 15thc.): Dindirindin – Hespèrion XX/Jordi Savall (“Music for the Spanish Kings”...
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