The Music of the Illumination
In addition to the classical music associated with Christmas, music from the traditions associated with Indo-Persian gardens and Samuel Untermyer has been selected for the Illumination at Untermyer Gardens. Ancient Persia (550 BCE) was Zoroastrian. Its music may sound strange to many Western ears, but it would have been heard in Persian gardens for over a thousand years. As Persia gradually became Muslim, new music evolved from that tradition. Jewish music reflects the heritage of Samuel Untermyer as well as the ancient story of the Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis. New this year is Hindu music, as it would have been heard in the monumental gardens of Mughal India.
Our soundtrack includes music associated with the Abrahamic religions which adhere to the concept of the Garden of Eden as well as music found in Indo-Persian gardens: Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu. Each tradition is identified in parentheses at the end of each selection: Z, J, C, M and H.
Playlist
1) Johann Sebastian Bach; Gloria in Excelsis Deo, BWV 191 (C)
2) Parisa; Nayshaburak; Sa’di (Ghazal about a garden) (M)
3) The Cathedral Singers; Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (C)
4) Louis-Claude Daquin; Noel No. 1 (C)
5) Shirona; Yigdal (J)
6) Johann Sebastian Bach; Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243 (C)
7) The Sixteen; A Ceremony of Carols XI, Deo Gracias! (C)
8) Parisa; Tasnif Cheh Danestam (M)
9) Louis-Claude Daquin; Noel No. X (C)
10) Accentus; Nani, Nani (J)
11) Kitka; Alilo (C)
12) King's College Choir; Once in Royal David's City (C)
13) Jagjit Singh; Mere Man Ke Andh Tamas Mein, Pt. 2 (H)
14) Choir of King's College; Ding Dong! Merrily On High (C)
15) J.S. Bach; Christmas Oratorio 31, BWV 248 (C)
16) Parisa; Beloved; Sa’di (13th century lyric poem) (M)
17) The Sixteen; A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28 Wolcum Yole! (C)
18) J.S. Bach; Christmas Oratorio Part 3, No. 24, BWV 248 (C)
19) Klezmer Concertos; Canzonetta (J)
20) Rossetti/Darke; In the Bleak Midwinter (C)
21) Magdalen College Choir; What Child is This (Greensleeves) (C)
22) Mehr Yasht; Kourosh Niknam (Zoroastrian Ritual) (Z)
23) Phoenix Chamber Choir; Baloo Loo Lammy (Scottish) (C)
24) King's College Choir; God Rest You Merry Gentlemen (C)
25) Klezmer; Dem Trisker Rebns Khosid (J)
26) St. Vladimir's Liturgical Chorale; Festal Kontakion (C)
27) Jagjit Singh; Hey Gobind Hey Gopal (H)
28) J.S. Bach; Christmas Oratorio Part 3. No. 29 (C)
29) Shirona; Ashrei (Prayer)(J)
30) Choir of King's College; While Shepherds Watched (C)
31) Choir of King's College; See Amid the Winter's Snow (C)
32) Parissa; Neyriz; Rumi (13th century poem) (M)
33) Phoenix Chamber Choir; La Virgen Lava Pãnales (Mexican) (C)
34) Choir of Kiev Pechersk Monastery; Christmas Carol (Ukrainian)(C)
35) Western Wind; Lo V'chayil (J)
36) Morten Lauridsen; O Magnum Mysterium (C)
37) Choir of King's College; Personent Hodie, Piae Cantiones, Arr. Holst (C)
38) Ot Azoj Klezmerband; Araber Tantz (J)
39) Rachmaninov; Bogoróditse Dyévo (C)
40) Berlioz; L'Enfance du Christ, Op. 25 The Shepherds' Farewell (C)
41) Parisa; My Soul (popular 19th century ballad) (M)
42) Mazowsze Choir; Dzisiaj w Betlejem (Today in Bethlehem, Polish) (C)
43) Handel; Messiah Part I, No 12. For Unto Us a Child Is Born (C)
44) Grisman/Statman; Old Klezmer (J)
45) Tomás Luis de Victoria; O Magnum Mysterium (C)
46) Handel; Messiah, HWV 56 No. 3, Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (C)
47) Jagjit Singh; Sab Se Oonchi Prem Sagai (H)
48) Louis-Claude Daquin; Noel VI (C)
49) J.S. Bach; Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243 (C)
50) Western Wind; Hanerot Hallalu (J)
Open this playlist in Spotify. (Requires a free, or paid, Spotify account.)
Playlist
1) Johann Sebastian Bach; Gloria in Excelsis Deo, BWV 191 (C)
2) Parisa; Nayshaburak; Sa’di (Ghazal about a garden) (M)
3) The Cathedral Singers; Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (C)
4) Louis-Claude Daquin; Noel No. 1 (C)
5) Shirona; Yigdal (J)
6) Johann Sebastian Bach; Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243 (C)
7) The Sixteen; A Ceremony of Carols XI, Deo Gracias! (C)
8) Parisa; Tasnif Cheh Danestam (M)
9) Louis-Claude Daquin; Noel No. X (C)
10) Accentus; Nani, Nani (J)
11) Kitka; Alilo (C)
12) King's College Choir; Once in Royal David's City (C)
13) Jagjit Singh; Mere Man Ke Andh Tamas Mein, Pt. 2 (H)
14) Choir of King's College; Ding Dong! Merrily On High (C)
15) J.S. Bach; Christmas Oratorio 31, BWV 248 (C)
16) Parisa; Beloved; Sa’di (13th century lyric poem) (M)
17) The Sixteen; A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28 Wolcum Yole! (C)
18) J.S. Bach; Christmas Oratorio Part 3, No. 24, BWV 248 (C)
19) Klezmer Concertos; Canzonetta (J)
20) Rossetti/Darke; In the Bleak Midwinter (C)
21) Magdalen College Choir; What Child is This (Greensleeves) (C)
22) Mehr Yasht; Kourosh Niknam (Zoroastrian Ritual) (Z)
23) Phoenix Chamber Choir; Baloo Loo Lammy (Scottish) (C)
24) King's College Choir; God Rest You Merry Gentlemen (C)
25) Klezmer; Dem Trisker Rebns Khosid (J)
26) St. Vladimir's Liturgical Chorale; Festal Kontakion (C)
27) Jagjit Singh; Hey Gobind Hey Gopal (H)
28) J.S. Bach; Christmas Oratorio Part 3. No. 29 (C)
29) Shirona; Ashrei (Prayer)(J)
30) Choir of King's College; While Shepherds Watched (C)
31) Choir of King's College; See Amid the Winter's Snow (C)
32) Parissa; Neyriz; Rumi (13th century poem) (M)
33) Phoenix Chamber Choir; La Virgen Lava Pãnales (Mexican) (C)
34) Choir of Kiev Pechersk Monastery; Christmas Carol (Ukrainian)(C)
35) Western Wind; Lo V'chayil (J)
36) Morten Lauridsen; O Magnum Mysterium (C)
37) Choir of King's College; Personent Hodie, Piae Cantiones, Arr. Holst (C)
38) Ot Azoj Klezmerband; Araber Tantz (J)
39) Rachmaninov; Bogoróditse Dyévo (C)
40) Berlioz; L'Enfance du Christ, Op. 25 The Shepherds' Farewell (C)
41) Parisa; My Soul (popular 19th century ballad) (M)
42) Mazowsze Choir; Dzisiaj w Betlejem (Today in Bethlehem, Polish) (C)
43) Handel; Messiah Part I, No 12. For Unto Us a Child Is Born (C)
44) Grisman/Statman; Old Klezmer (J)
45) Tomás Luis de Victoria; O Magnum Mysterium (C)
46) Handel; Messiah, HWV 56 No. 3, Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (C)
47) Jagjit Singh; Sab Se Oonchi Prem Sagai (H)
48) Louis-Claude Daquin; Noel VI (C)
49) J.S. Bach; Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243 (C)
50) Western Wind; Hanerot Hallalu (J)
Open this playlist in Spotify. (Requires a free, or paid, Spotify account.)