Texas Early Music Project presents “An Early Christmas”

Friday, December 11, 2015

8pm, First English Lutheran Church, 3001 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX

Saturday, December 12, 2015

8pm, First English Lutheran Church, 3001 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX

Sunday, December 13, 2015

3pm at First Presbyterian Church, 8001 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 

It’s time for another Early Christmas! The TEMP Eurotour continues as we explore music and the intangible essence of Christmas from the cultural capitals of Europe from the 13th through 18th-centuries. TEMP puts its unique stamp on joyful chants, carols, lullabies, motets, and ballads from Western Europe and the British Isles, where many of the musical traditions we hold dear at Christmastime originated, with innovative arrangements for solo voices, small chorus, harp, violin, flute, mandolin, viols, and lute. 

 Included in our concert are the original arrangement combining elements of two Nativity pastorals from 1684 by Marc-Antoine Charpentier with soloists (Jenifer Thyssen & Meredith Ruduski) and choir with orchestra, and a seamless suite of “In dulci jubilo” with settings by the German composers Michael Praetorius, Hieronymous Praetorius, and Dieterich Buxtehude for 2, 3, 4, & 8 parts.

We also perform favorites from the Celtic traditions, including a few sung by the popular Irish Gaelic singer Abby Green. We are proud to feature nationally acclaimed historical harpist Therese Honey along with featured soloists Jenifer Thyssen, Stephanie Prewitt, Meredith Ruduski, Jenny Houghton, Cayla Cardiff, David Lopez, Brett Barnes and Daniel Johnson. Our instrumental soloists include Bruce Colson (violin), John Walters and Jane Leggiero (viols), Marcus McGuff (flute), Susan Richter (recorders), and Scott Horton (lutes).

Join Texas Early Music Project for a splendid and enriching evening of music. Encompassing six hundred years of festive creativity and beauty, this music is sure to delight your ears and warm your heart.