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)