Ruggero Giovannelli (1560-1625)
Beata es, virgo Maria

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Bogoroditse Devo

Kunibertas Dobrovolskis (1932-1986)
Es kommt ein Schiff geladen

Ivo Antognini (1963-)
Ave Maris Stella
Stille Nacht

Ola Gjeilo (1978-)
Second Eve (Ave Maria)

Hans Egg (1957-)
O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf

Gottfried Wolters (1910-1989)
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging

Jim Clements (1983-)
Gabriel's Message

Brian Kay (1944-)
Gaudate, Christus est natus

Giovanni Gabrieli (1557-1612)
Jubilate Deo

Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
In dulci jubilo
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

Gustaf Nordqvist (1886-1949)
Jul, Jul, Stralande Jul

Josef Michel (1928-2002)
Oh du fröhliche

Eric William Barnum (1979-)
Sweeter Still, A holiday Carol

Paul Mealor (1975-)
A Spotless Rose

Chœur d'enfants de la Cathédrale St. Ours de Soleure
Andreas Reize, direction

The Singknaben of the Cathedral of St. Ursus in Solothurn are the oldest boys' choir in Switzerland. With Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal they bridge the gap between the Middle Ages and modern times by skillfully blending carols and motets of the old masters together with those of contemporary composers. Take for example Michael Praetorius’ (1571-1621) beautiful setting of Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, which is juxtaposed against a new arrangement by Paul Mealor (b. 1975). Early music in a new guise can also be found in Gaudate, Christus est natus and O Heiland,reiß die Himmel auf as well as in the medieval hymn Ave Maris Stella, which Ivo Antognini (b. 1963) specifically reset to music for the choir. With the CD, the Singknaben, under the direction of Andreas Reize, string together a row of musical gems from different centuries that are all related to each other and together provide a comprehensive overview of Christmas traditions over the centuries.