Chanson: From Darkness to Light - An Advent Carol Concert

Join Chansons for a celebration of Advent music featuring Haydn's Missa Sancti Nicolai (Mass in G Major).The first half of the concert presents Advent and Christmas carols and seasonal music opening with the Gregorian chant Rorate Coeli before Judith Weir's modern setting of the same chant, but with an English translation: 'Drop down, ye heavens'.Morten Lauridsen borrows from the Gregorian style but with a thoroughly modern and beautiful harmonic twist. Chanson will perform his 'O Magnum Mysterium', one of the most beautiful choral pieces written in the modern era.We continue with the carol 'Es ist ein Ros entsprungen' set by Michael Praetorius followed by the Norwegian composer Knyt Nystedt's setting of 'Laudate Dominum' before singing the ever popular Advent carol 'The Angel Gabriel' arranged by David Willcocks.Two more carols follow 'Adam lay y bounden' by Boris Ord and Paul Manz's 'E'en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come' before we finish the first half with one of the great masters of choral music, Claudio Monteverdi, with his exciting setting of several lines from Psalms 96 and 98, exhorting the Christian believer to sing and rejoice and play instruments to celebrate the marvellous gifts of God.In the second half Chanson will perform Haydn's Missa Sancti Nicolai, his popular setting of the mass in G Major, with guest musicians and soloists:Eilidh Bisset sopranoNaomi Fester mezzoChristopher Haggerty tenorCaspian Plummer baritonSusan Smart celloLouise Timney, David Christie violinRobert Duncan continuoJoin us on the first Sunday in Advent in St Ninian's as we start the musical countdown to Christmas 2026.