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Church and Country

Donald Macleod visits the home of Jane Austen with historian Amanda Vickery and discusses religious customs and Christmas church music from Austen's era.

Donald Macleod visits the home of Jane Austen with historian Amanda Vickery to discover some of the seasonal customs and Christmas music of late-Georgian Britain.

Today, Donald and Amanda explore some of the varied church music on offer to Christmas congregations during the Georgian era 鈥 and they examine what the many memorable clergymen from Austen鈥檚 novels tell us about the changing role of the church in national life.

Trad (arr. Townsend): Arise and Hail the Joyful Day (Arr. Townsend)
The Mellstock Band and Choir

Trad.: Awake, and join the cheerful choir
Anonymous 4
Andrew Lawrence-King, Baroque harp

Attrib. Wade (arr. Vincent Novello): O come, all ye faithful
Philippa Hyde, soprano
Timothy Kenworthy-Brown, alto
Patrick McCarthy, tenor
Julian Perkins, bass
Psalmody
The Parley of Instruments, conducted by Peter Holman

Arr. Thomas Butts: Hark! how all the welkin rings
The Parley of Instruments, Psalmody, conducted by Peter Holman

Attwood: O God, Who by the Leading of a Star
Musica Sacra, directed by Indra Hughes

Mendelssohn: The Evening Bell
Silke Aichhorn, harp
Sabrina von L眉dinghausen, Harp

Handel: Messiah (Extract from Part II)
Carolyn Watkinson, mezzo-soprano
Paul Elliott, tenor
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
The Academy of Ancient Music, directed by Christopher Hogwood

25 days left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Anonymous

    Arise and Hail the Joyful Day

    Ensemble: The Mellstock Band. Choir: Mellstock Choir.
    • SAYDISC : SDL 360.
    • SAYDISC.
    • 1.
  • Anonymous

    Awake, and join the cheerful choir

    Performer: Andrew Lawrence鈥怟ing. Choir: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • John Francis Wade

    O come, all ye faithful

    Music Arranger: Vincent Novello. Singer: Philippa Hyde. Singer: Timothy Kenworthy-Brown. Singer: Pat McCarthy. Singer: Julian Perkins. Orchestra: The Parley of Instruments. Choir: Psalmody. Director: Peter Holman.
    • Hyperion: CDA 67443.
    • Hyperion.
    • 17.
  • Anonymous

    Hark! How all the welkin rings

    Performer: The Parley of Instruments. Performer: Psalmody. Music Arranger: Thomas Butts. Conductor: Peter Holman.
    • HYPERION : 5814032.
    • HYPERION.
    • 5.
  • Thomas Attwood

    O God, Who by the Leading of a Star

    Choir: Musica Sacra. Director: Indra Hughes.
    • ATOLL.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    The Evening Bell

    Performer: Silke Aichhorn. Performer: Sabrina Von L眉dinghausen.
    • HORMUSIK : 10708450.
    • HORMUSIK.
    • 13.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Messiah, Part 2 (excerpt)

    Singer: Emma Kirkby. Singer: Judith Nelson. Singer: Carolyn Watkinson. Singer: Paul Elliott. Singer: David Thomas. Choir: Christ Church Cathedral Oxford Choir. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Decca: 478 8160.
    • Decca.

Broadcast

  • Christmas Eve 2025 16:00

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