This year, as we do every Christmas, we will bring out our copy of the CD A Medieval Christmas. We will listen to it, I, with a glass of single malt Scotch, my wife with a glass of Sherry and some minced pies and we will settle back and listen to A Medieval Christmas, as the Christmas lights twinkle and the cat and the cockatiel doze.
The singing is provided by Pro Cantione Antiqua, which is made up of Charles Brett and Timothy Penrose (they are the countertenors) James Griffiths, Neil Jenkins and Ian Partridge (tenors.) Brian Etheridge and Michael George (basses). The musical accompaniment is provided by the Medieval Wind Ensemble, made up of Peter Davies (recorders, doucaine, bombard and bagpipes, Jonathon Morgan (recorders, doucaine, shawm and sackbut) and Mark Brown (tabor and timbrel. The conductor was Mark Brown.
Although there are 27 songs and tunes on the CD, many of them are, by modern standards, quite short, some being only a little over one minute in length.
There are a range of songs on the CD. Some (such as Ductia, Angelus ad Virgimem, Alleluia Psall at and Ecce Quod Natura are English compositions, whilst others on the CD are from France and one is from Germany.
The composers and authors of the vast majority of these songs are listed as "anon" their names lost in the long centuries of history. The composers of two songs are, however, known. A Sollis Ortus a French song was composed by Gilles Binchois in the 15 century and Tard Il Mio Cor, which is an English song composed by John Hothby, also in the 15 century.
I find it both interesting and very moving that our Medieval ancestors could have listened to at least some of these very same tunes and instruments as they marked Christmas in their own way, all of those hundreds of years ago.
A very Merry Christmas to you all!
I think this CD cost something approaching £10. But for current pricing, please check with the Ciao price comparison service.
More details
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Outstanding
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
