Watch here the "Silencio" Premiere on Christmas Eve 2020! |
Silencio was programmed to be premiered on 19th December in Goede Rede Concerten Almere. Unfortunately, the Dutch Government announced a second National lockdown three days before the concert.
Thanks to the very quick reaction and the joint efforts of the promoter, the artists and the sponsors (Fonds Podium Kunsten and StadsHerstel Amsterdam), the cancelled concert this beautiful became this online Christmas present for all of you. |
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SILENCIO
The Christmas story retold with traditional, original and arranged music from across Europe
by Merula, Van Eyck, Bartók & Bach
In many European cultures, Christian and Pagan practices have fused over the centuries to tell the Christmas story. One of those is ‘The Song of the Sibyl’ (Spanish: El Canto de la Sibila), which amongst other parts of Spain has been performed in Catalunya on Christmas Eve nearly uninterruptedly since medieval times.
Originally composed as a liturgical drama sung in Gregorian chant, the lyrics comprise a prophecy describing the Apocalypse. These simple but beautiful arching melodies are spell-binding, spine-tingling, and combine human melancholy with the ineffable. Due to the nature of oral transmission, we face different variations and models of the Song today. Similarly to the Renaissance, where it was common practice to set the Gregorian melody of the Song to polyphonic music, we let the poem lead as thread through our programme, narrating the Christmas story while featuring old and new compositions embracing more than one thousand years of music history.
Well-known Christmas favourites of Praetorius connect with the folklore inspired sound world of Bartók; traditional Spanish Christmas songs - recited, sung, and played - pave the road towards Christmas. Electronic soundscapes echo what could have been the original sound of the Song.
A programme where festive relieve and jollity speak as much as silence and reflection. A programme conceived in 2020.
Anna Stegmann | recorders
Jorge Jiménez | violin, vielle, electronics
by Merula, Van Eyck, Bartók & Bach
In many European cultures, Christian and Pagan practices have fused over the centuries to tell the Christmas story. One of those is ‘The Song of the Sibyl’ (Spanish: El Canto de la Sibila), which amongst other parts of Spain has been performed in Catalunya on Christmas Eve nearly uninterruptedly since medieval times.
Originally composed as a liturgical drama sung in Gregorian chant, the lyrics comprise a prophecy describing the Apocalypse. These simple but beautiful arching melodies are spell-binding, spine-tingling, and combine human melancholy with the ineffable. Due to the nature of oral transmission, we face different variations and models of the Song today. Similarly to the Renaissance, where it was common practice to set the Gregorian melody of the Song to polyphonic music, we let the poem lead as thread through our programme, narrating the Christmas story while featuring old and new compositions embracing more than one thousand years of music history.
Well-known Christmas favourites of Praetorius connect with the folklore inspired sound world of Bartók; traditional Spanish Christmas songs - recited, sung, and played - pave the road towards Christmas. Electronic soundscapes echo what could have been the original sound of the Song.
A programme where festive relieve and jollity speak as much as silence and reflection. A programme conceived in 2020.
Anna Stegmann | recorders
Jorge Jiménez | violin, vielle, electronics
SILENCIO | PROGRAMME
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I. Onbevlekte Ontvangenis van Maria
The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary Jorge Jiménez (1978*) Below Zero (2020) Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644 - 1704) “The Annuntiation” - Preludium (From: “Rosenkranzsonaten”, No. 1) Jacob van Eyck (1590 - 1657) Engels Nachtegaeltje (From: Der Fluyten-Lusthof) Jorge Jiménez (1978*) Madre (2020) - Narrator: Natalia Huarte Alfonso X El Sabio (ca. 1275) Cantiga "Des oge mais quer' eu trobar” Cantiga “A Virgen mui groriosa” (From: Cantigas de Santa Maria ) 2. Geboorte van Jezus The Birth of Jesus Michael Praetorius/ Jorge Jiménez (1551 - 1621/ *1978) Es ist ein Ros entsprungen Jacob van Eyck Variations on “Puer nobis nascitur” Jorge Jiménez A Cold Night (2020) |
3. Aankondiging aan de herders
Annunciation to the shepherds Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber “Die Ankündigung” - Aria & Variatio (From “Rosenkranzsonaten”, No. 1) Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945) No 3. Pê-loc | Standing Still No 2. Brâul | Peasant Costume Erdélyi Tánc | Transylvanian Song From: Romanian Folkdances en violin duets Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) Choral “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” Anonymous (Italy, 14th Century) Istampitta In Pro 3. Aanbidding der herders The Shepherds visit Baby Jesus Tarquinio Merula (1595 - 1665) Canzonetta spirituale sopra la nanna Béla Bartók Gyermekrengetéskor | Wiegenlied No 6. Mǎrunţel | Little One (From: Romanian Folkdances en violin duets) |
