The Ensemble Octavians – all former singers with the boys’ choir of the Jena Philharmonie – have recorded a musical Christmas gift with their current CD ‘A Light is Coming’ that offers well-known and unknown songs from the festival of festivals.

The young singers noticed in their concerts that there is a special synergy that emerges between themselves and their audience, particularly during these selected arrangements – they subsequently put together a personal programme in the form of this CD repertoire. It combines into a poignant whole the mysticism of the pending birth of Jesus with the wonder at the child in the manger, and finally, the exuberant joy in connection with this ‘birthday party’.

From moving verses highlighting the Christmas festival, to bible texts set to music, to rather secular contemplations – the entire spectrum of Christmas vocal music is represented here. The fact that the pieces are arranged for up to eight-voice men’s choir allows us to enjoy old favourites such as ‘Maria durch ein Dornwald ging’ or ‘Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht’ in a completely new way.

Atmospheric tones sound in the adaptation of the Praetorius arrangement of ‘Es ist ein Ros entsprungen’ by Jan Sandström or the motet ‘Tu solus qui facis mirabilia’ by Josquin Desprez and festive chords with Andreas Hammerschmidt’s famous ‘Machet die Tore weit’.

Adaptations by and for the legendary King’s Singers round out the Octavians’ repertoire both atmospherically and joyously, and focus the listener’s attention away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas to the child in the manger.

Track Listing:
1) Lorenz Maierhofer - Es naht ein Licht
2) France, 15th Century - Veni, veni Emmanuel
3) Germany, 14th Century - In Dulci Jubilo
4) Johann Sebastian Bach - Wie soll ich dich empfangen
5) Josquin des Prez - Tu solus qui facis mirabilia
6) Andreas Hammerschmidt - Machet die Tore weit
7) Franz Xaver Gruber - Stille Nacht
8) England, c.1591 - Coventry Carol
9) Guenter Raphael - Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging
10) Michael Praetorius - Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
11) Manfred Hollmann - Weihnachten
12) Wilhelm Nagel - Schoene Nacht
13) England, 1780 - The Twelve Days of Christmas
14) James Lord Pierpont - Jingle Bells
15) Joseph Bracket - Simple Gifts
16) Jay Giallombardo - Sure On This Shining Night