From ancient carols to contemporary songs of celebration, this concert will lead our audiences on a mindful, devotional and celebratory journey for the Winter Holidays. We will first feature “Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten and songs about coming together with family and friends. The second half will be dedicated to discovering our connection to light and how it unifies us and brings us together. It will feature works such as “Lux Aurumque”, “Sure On This Shining Night”, and “this light”.
A Ceremony of Carols — Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
Composed in 1942 during Britten’s sea voyage from the United States back to wartime England, A Ceremony of Carols stands as one of his most cherished choral works. Written for treble voices and harp, the piece intertwines ancient and modern worlds — medieval texts set in strikingly fresh harmonies, timeless plainsong balanced by rhythmic vitality and crystalline beauty.
Britten discovered the Middle English poems that inspired the work while aboard ship, and he was captivated by their sincerity and vivid imagery. The resulting sequence traces the Christmas story from prophecy to celebration, framed by the serene processional chant “Hodie Christus natus est.” The harp accompaniment lends an ethereal shimmer, illuminating the music’s blend of innocence, awe, and radiant joy.
One of the twentieth century’s most influential English composers, Britten infused his music with clarity, emotional depth, and a uniquely personal spirituality. In A Ceremony of Carols, he captures both the intimacy of devotion and the brilliance of rejoicing — a perfect reflection of the season’s sacred light.