Holiday Voices

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Even in the most familiar holiday sounds, there’s a long tradition behind the music. For centuries, the winter season has been marked not just by ceremonies or rituals, but by people singing together. Before choirs grew large and repertoire grew vast, it was shared voices that carried these celebrations forward – processional chants, simple hymns, and carols shaped by place and community.

This episode of Arizona Encore follows that lineage, beginning with the Phoenix Girls Chorus in medieval and modern works inspired by ancient sacred texts, and Helios in the timeless beauty of Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.

The bright resonance of Canadian Brass brings a different kind of holiday spirit, before True Concord offers intimate carols by John Rutter and Stephen Paulus. The Phoenix Children’s Chorus closes the hour with Bach, Shawn Kirchner’s spirited Brightest and Best, and a final nod to a familiar favorite sung almost everywhere this time of year.

Anonymous – Processional: Gaudeamus Hodie – Phoenix Girls Chorus

Durufle – Tota pulchra es – Phoenix Girls Chorus

Gjeilo – Northern Lights – Phoenix Girls Chorus

Gruber – Silent Night – Phoenix Girls Chorus

Leontovich – Carol of the Bells – Phoenix Girls Chorus

Anonymous – Es ist ein Ros entsprungen – Helios

Woodward – Ding Dong Merrily on High – Canadian Brass

Berlin – White Christmas – Canadian Brass

Traditional – What Child is This – Canadian Brass

Pola and Wyle – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Canadian Brass

Rutter – Love Came Down at Christmas – True Concord; Eric Holtan, conductor; Guy Whatley, organ

Adam – O Holy Night – True Concord; Eric Holtan, conductor; Alexander Tentser, piano

Paulus – A Savior from on High – True Concord; Eric Holtan, conductor

Bach – Wir eilen mit schwachen – Phoenix Children’s Chorus; Benny Dominguez, cello; Jennifer Griffith, piano; Andrea Squires, conductor

Kirchner – Brightest and Best – Phoenix Children’s Chorus; Troy Meeker, conductor

Pierpont – Jingle Bells – Phoenix Children’s Chorus; Troy Meeker, conductor

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