Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without music. And the story of what we perform, listen to and share at that most festive of seasons is both fascinating and transformative. Having had its roots in Rome during the fourth century with chants like 'Veni redemptor gentium', Christmas music has since gone on to become one of mankind’s most enduring cultural and religious phenomena. Whether it's heard as part of the liturgy or at the cinema, Christmas music never fails to trigger a sense of wonderment.
Using carefully chosen sound recordings and film clips, this lecture by acclaimed musicologist Professor Raymond Holden will trace the history and impact of Christmas music from its Roman roots to the present day.
