Rachel Franklin for the Smithsonian Associates: Classical Sounds of Christmas

Popular speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin revisits this most beloved seasonal repertory, hand-picking additional selections to explore how classical Western composers created a canon of both secular and sacred experiences that are now deeply rooted in our collective seasonal expectations. From sleigh bells and sugarplums to the mystical beauties of the Nativity, every December our senses are filled with the music of Christmas. Some of this music is ancient and folk-based, some grandly Baroque, and more recent masterpieces have evoked images of feasting, bells, snowy Christmas trees, brightly colored candy and jolly red Santas. Enjoy the stories behind works by such composers as Bach, Handel, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Francisco Guerrero, Rimsky-Korsakov, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Humperdinck, William Henry Fry, and many others.

British-born Franklin has been a featured speaker for organizations including the Library of Congress and NPR, exploring intersections among classical and jazz music, film scores, and the fine arts.

December 12  Sacred Glories of the Season

Whether it’s the intimacy of a medieval carol or the mighty choirs of the Messiah, sacred music opens a nostalgic portal and taps into our deepest cravings for connection with the divine. Approaching Christmas itself, travel across Europe sampling inspiring and achingly beautiful music written to celebrate this most spiritual time of the year. Included are exquisite choral works by Sibelius, Poulenc, Gustaf Nordqvist and Francisco Guerrero, arrangements of carols by English composers Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten, and the most beloved seasonal choral works such as Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ and Handel’s Messiah.