Top Ten Medieval and Renaissance Christmas Songs

Ready to explore the world beyond the Medieval Babes? Heard some great music at the Renaissance Faire? Or just sick of "O Christmas Tree?" Here is a list of excellent recordings of marvelous Christmas music from medieval and Renaissance times. Take a moment to celebrate both the quietness and the unrestrained joy of the Christmas season with some early music.

Christmas Day I'da Moornin'

From A Winter's night: Music in the Great Hall by Ensemble Galilei. This is an energetic, joyous and light version of the old Shetland tune featuring fiddles, whistle and bass viol.

Es ist ein Ros Entsprungen

The classic Renaissance hymn was set by Praetorius and is commonly known as, "Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming." Here, it's sung beautifully by the all-male Chanticleer on their Christmas with Chanticleer album. This version features exquisite tuning, close harmony and excellent German diction.

Gaudete

Sixteen, led by Harry Christophers, provide an excellent performance of the catchy Medieval-Renaissance tune Gaudete, from the Piae Cantiones of 1582. Found on their Christus Natus Est: An Early English Christmas, this version has good Latin diction, subtle drum rolls, and tremendous energy and joy.

Lirum, Lirum

A lovely Christmas-themed Renaissance madrigal by Thomas Morley is given deserved attention by Musica Sacra on Welcome Yule. This piece is also known as "You that Wont to my Pipes Sound" from the text of the first line. Excellent diction, balance, and rhythmic integrity make the most of this lovely piece of music.

Lullaby

The exquisite tuning and balance of the acclaimed Tallis Scholars are perfectly used in William Byrd's Christmas madrigal, "Lullaby, My Sweet Little Baby". The masterful direction of Peter Phillips is obvious on their thankfully reissued Christmas Carols and Motets album. For this musical piece especially, the clear, well-blended voices provide a sweet and angelic echo of the lovely text.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Robin Bullock's version of the Medieval-Renaissance Franciscan chant on A Guitar for Christmas is unusual and enjoyable. The track opens with a moody and introspective version of the modal classic, leading into "Light of Love" and the "Sussex Carol." While technically a modern adaptation of early music, it's still a great Christmas pick.

O Magnum Mysterium

The classic Latin Christmas text, "O Great Mystery", is best known in its Renaissance setting by Tomas Luis de Victoria. It's performed beautifully by the Cambridge Singers, on Christmas with the Cambridge Singers. This performance features careful tuning and dynamics, focusing attention on the elaborate polyphony.

Riu, Riu, Chiu

Andrew Parrot and the Taverner Consort create an appealing raw quality in this raucous Spanish Renaissance Christmas song on their Carol Album. A call-and-response song with baritone solo, the musical and catchy tune has a dancelike quality.

Rorate Coeli Cesuper

From the Baltimore Consort's album, Bright Day Star. This recording features a quietly haunting wooden flute introduction and Custer LaRue's lovely soprano. The lyrical text comes from a 16^th century Scottish poem. A Renaissance classic.

Tura lura lura, lo gau canta

This obscure 17^th century Provencal carol is done in Joel Cohen's signature high style by the men's chorus of the Boston Camerata on A Renaissance Christmas. Infectiously warm and human, the shepherds' song is joyful and humorous.