Portland Choir & Orchestra's video: Backstage with Portland Choir Orchestra Episode 4: Special musical gems for Christmas

Welcome to “Backstage with Portland Choir & Orchestra.” This is our podcast series where we pull back the curtain on some of our performances and take a closer look at the music: its background, its meaning and why we thought our audience would like it. 00:00 Today’s theme: Special musical gems for Christmas. In each episode I am joined by one of our conductors—today by Dr. David Thomas, Artistic Director of Portland Choir & Orchestra, and we look back through our archives to find examples from our performances that correspond to our theme. Today we present a Christmas ‘mini concert’ with minimal discussion that showcases seldom-heard musical Christmas gems to prepare your heart and mind for Christmas Day. 01:15 Carol of the Bells. An old Ukrainian folk song matched with an energetic orchestral arrangement gives this carol a quintessential Christmas sound. 04:49 O Come, O Come Emmanuel. This moody ancient carol has its origins in monastic plainchant from the 8th or 9th century. 11:31 This Little Babe. Sung by the women of the choir, English composer Benjamin Britten’s setting of a 16th century poem about the Baby Jesus. 13:59 Christmas Lullaby. A contemplative modern carol from choral composer John Rutter. 19:14 Fum, Fum, Fum. A 16th century Catalonian carol. 21:30 Bells of Christmas. A delightful orchestral medley of Christmas carols. 29:26 Sing Noel. A fun, upbeat pairing of Go Tell It on the Mountain and African Noel, performed by our choir, orchestra, the PCO Children’s Choir and a dynamic soloist. You can watch today's musical selections directly on YouTube (without analysis or commentary): To watch more Christmas music performed by Portland Choir & Orchestra, click here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PortlandChoirOrchestra/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=8