A Musicological Journey through Christmas via the Twelve Days of Christmas

[DivaElena]

Here are the compositions from Mr. Courtney himself! 1. Gregorian chant 2. No specific composer, though there is a Landini cadence at the end. 3. Palestrina 4. Vivaldi's "Gloria" 5. C. P. E. Bach 6. Mozart 7. Saint-Saens' "The Swan" 8. Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyrie" 9. Strauss' "The Vienna Woods" waltz 10. Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours" 11. Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Reed Flutes" 12. Souza's "Stars and Stripes"

[icebabe327]

Is not number 6 probably based on Brahms' Haydn Variations (St Anthony's Chorale), at a guess? Given that there is also a picture of Brahms there?

[KatherineXIX]

I sang this in high school chorus. There weren't many men, so they needed help from us in the Gregorian chant and Wagner sections. I actually sang bass and soprano in the same movement, so it was kind of funny.

[Pogue76]

I love this piece from the Mo. Tab. Choir & orchestra. I have this recording so I know who's performing. :)

[sigmaclass]

I wish they would have done Stravinsky, Mahler and Schoenberg! 

[RJdrumguy]

@sigmaclass Schoenberg would have been interesting! Maybe even in the style of a Berio sequenza for solo voice!

[DivinePearl]

I was SOOOO looking for this song! Thanks :) This was done by the Mormon Tab Choir.. (I had the CD)

[mindofmatt]

The renaissance motet reminds me a little of Anton Brucker.

[hdsumm]

The first time our choir did this, the congregation did not catch on until the Wagner section.

[Mootman56]

a very cool musical "tour" despite entirely missing the 20th century.

[HsoJosH88]

I think no. 3 was inspired by Sicut Cervus by Palaestrina...and No. 6 is very much like some Mozart..

[bmh4d0k3n]

@HsoJosH88 Yep! It's based on his "Vorrei spiegarvi, o Dio!" -- a concert aria for soprano.

[musiccrazygirl17]

the laramie high school is singing this for our 2011 christmas choncert . this is going to be cool to do for my senior year!!!!!!! love the song

[poprockstar101]

my choir is doing this song for our winter concert. i cant wait till its done! hope it sounds as good as this!!! love it!!

[leclavel]

Hello there! As a faculty member of a school of Architecture in Mendoza, Argentina I found this arrangement very suitable to help my students understand forms and transformations of Fine Arts trhoughout past centuries. All sorts of images (mainly from the architectural culture) were brought to the table as we listened carefully to a dimention we as architects are less used too work with, sound and time. The results of the exercise was very interesting.

[daddybearphillip]

@leclavel Lo que una manera maravillosa explorar la arquitectura. Habría adorado a estuvo allí. ¡Gracias por compartir!

What a wonderful way to explore architecture. I would have loved to been there. Thanks for sharing!

[brijhop]

ok, that helps a lot, thanks a bunch!

[brijhop]

Is there any way you could include a list of the pieces that the music comes from for each day? That would be very helpful. Thank you.

[daddybearphillip]

@brijhop I'm not sure I can name all of the exact compositions that inspired each day but I will give it a try. Perhaps Mr. Courtney can fill in the exact names for the days I only list a style/period.

1. Gregorian Chant

2. Middle Ages: ?

3. Renaissance Motet: ?

4. "Gloria" (1st movement) from "Gloria" by Antonio Vivaldi

5. Rococo Period: C. P. E. Bach ?

6. Romantic period: Mozart/Brahms

7. "The Swan" from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens

[daddybearphillip]

8. "Ride of the Walkyries" from Die Walkure by Richard Wagner

9. "The Emperor Waltz" by Johann Strauss, Jr.

10. "Dance of the Hours" from La Gioconda by Almilcare Ponchielli

11. "Dance of the Mirlitons" from The Nutcracker Ballet by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

12. "The Stars and Strips Forever" by John Philip Sousa

[daddybearphillip]

.... #10 should read Amilcare Ponchielli :)

[Esybilla]

@daddybearphillip:

I think number 3 is a Palaestrina piece. But I'm not sure which one.

[rickmillercomposer]

@daddybearphillip 3 is Palestrina

[craigmusician]

Actually, the 5th day is from the Rococo period - C. P. E. Bach

Craig Courtney

[daddybearphillip]

@craigmusician : Thanks! What an honor to have a response from the composer himself!!! My choir at church as done numerous compositions by you. Just the other night, I was thrilled by a stunning performance of your "Advent" by the Houston Gay Men's Chorus, Bayou City Chorale and Texas Medical Center Orchestra.

[craigmusician]

@daddybearphillip Thanks for the kind words! I'm sure their performance was beautiful.

[daddybearphillip]

Thanks! I think it is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I've never performed it but I can imagine it would be tons of fun. It has been a favorite for many years.

[Anrvswrk]

Nice job with the video! Is this the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? This is a unique arrangement that is extremely fun to perform! Love it!