A Music Thread

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Roddy McDowall and 'The Seven Deadly Virtues' from 'Camelot' :

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Just in time for the festivities. John White and Gavin Bryars with 'The Drinking And Hooting Machine' from 'Machine Music' :

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Michael Nyman and an excerpt from 'Decay Music' :

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Nyman again, from 'The Draughtsman's Contract' and 'Chasing Sheep Is Best Left To Shepherds' :

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John Cage and Jan Steele composers on 'Voices And Instruments' this is Robert Wyatt singing 'Experiences No.2' :

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Time for carol to make an appearance. And here she is, 'A Virgin Most Pure' :

King's College Choir, Cambridge

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Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band: 'On Christmas Night (The Sussex Carol) ' -

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The Kyrie from 'Missa Luba' sung by Les Troubadours du Roi Baudoin :

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Steeleye Span and 'Gaudete' from 2009 (Maddy Prior in fine voice) :

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From the town where I was born. 'The Coventry Carol (Lullay, lullay) ' sung by 'The Sixteen' :

The origin/lyrics :

History
Coventry Carol is a Christmas carol of haunting beauty, first appearing around 1591. It was performed as part of a Coventry play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The text presents the Biblical story of Herod's massacre of innocents, and a mother's anguish for her doomed child.

King Herod, troubled by the birth of his rival, and natural born King of the Jews, "slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi." Matthew 2:16 NASB

Coventry Carol is the only carol that has survived from this play.

Lyrics
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Herod the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young to slay.

That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever morn and day,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

http://www.makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_mmf_music_library_songbook/coventry-carol-history-and-lyrics-of-a-christmas-favorite.htm

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The delightful Ms. Eartha Kitt and 'Santa Baby' :

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Jane Siberry 'In The Bleak Midwinter' :

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Darlene Love and 'All Alone On Christmas' :

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Aimee Mann and 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' :

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Have yourselves a mediaeval Christmas with a jaunty Saltarello. This one's by Dead Can Dance: