If you
are intolerant of reindeer with red noses and bells that jingle instead of
pealing, try listening to the soaring majesty of Marcos Portugal´s
Matins do Natal. The work was first
performed on the Eve of Christmas in the Chapel Royal of Rio de Janeiro in the
year 1811. The composer had arrived at the behest of the exiled Prince Regent
(later king João VI ) to become the Master of the Royal Chamber Music. Marco Portogallo (to use his
internationally famous name) was born in
Lisbon where thirteen of his operas were performed at the São Carlos royal
theatre and dramatically religious works at the Patriarchal Holy Church where
he had been appointed as organist. His secular music was influenced by his
lengthy stays in Italy where his comic operas were particularly popular and
performed in French, Russian and German.
The
Matinals may be a re-arrangement of several compositions which he wrote in1806
for performance at the great basilica of Mafra where the prince regent was
often in residence at the adjoining royal palace and whose family shared his
interest in sacred music required for regal festivities, occasions of State
and, of course, worship. What Marcos
Portugal achieved was a wonderful combination of sanctity with the joyful
celebration of the birth of the Christ child.
The work consists of eight responsories and a final Te Deum and lasts
about ninety minutes with much variation of tempo and the introduction of
rhythms from folk-dance and interaction between soloists, choir and an
orchestra without violins. It has been recorded by the Ensemble Turicum as two CDs (209.108 Paraty) .
At a
time of seasonal peace and goodwill enjoy the four Christmas Songs by Fernando Lopes-Graça which are included in a Naxos recording (cat.
Nº 8.579039). He was arguably the
greatest of 20th century Portuguese composers and his assiduous
research of traditional songs and dances enabled his writing of two cantatas de
natal in 1950 and 1961 which total thirty-four carols covering the twelve days
of Christmastide unto the celebration of the three kings.
Nº 1 Ó meu menino Jesus (Oh my baby Jesus)
Nº 2 Vinde Pastores (Come ye shepherds)
Nº 3 Estando a Virgem (The Virgin was)
Nº 4 Ó menino tão lindo (Oh my beautiful baby)
Adeste
Fideles – Oh Come All Ye Faithful – is attributed in Portugal as being the
magnificent work (Hino de Natal) composed by king João IV . The music is contained in two manuscripts
dated 1640 which were found in the royal palace at Vila Viçosa where once was
housed one of the largest libraries in Europe and a school of music which sent
Portuguese musicians to study in Italy and Spain under royal patronage. It should be noted that authorship was also
claimed in 1760 by the British hymnist John Francis Wade but it would seem that
his score resulted from the amalgamation of manuscripts from several sources.
For
the late evening, listen by candlelight to
the mystery and fascination of the 12th century chants of the Knights Templar which were recorded by the Ensemble Organum (CD: HMO 8905302)
after the re-discovery of an ancient manuscript at the Chateau de
Chantilly. Undoubtedly the Office of
Matins at Christmas would have been sung not only at the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem but at their magnificent redoubt which existed within the Convento de
Tomar.