Publisher's description:
Winter feasts like the Latin Saturnalia and the Germanic Yule, airborne gift-giving figures like the Norse Ođinn Jólnir, the Slavic Ded Moroz, the Dutch Sinterklaas: from time immemorial December skies have been rather busy. Pagan patterns were readapted to Christianity – and a canonised bishop from fourth-century Asia Minor, Nikolaos, whose feast occurred near the winter solstice, merged with another bearded benefactor. Wotan's hood and Nicholas's mitre were mixed up, and by the nineteenth century Santa Claus was ready to don new red and white robes and to deliver toys on both sides of the Atlantic. The pieces on this recording (mainly from a thirteenth-century English manuscript) belong to the liturgy for the eve of the Feast of St Nicholas: they allude to his picturesque feats, such as the rescue of three needy maidens or the taming of a storm. Readings and additional songs come from the repertory associated with this widely popular saint, celebrated throughout the Middle Ages from Italy to Iceland. Originally released in 1998, this joint performance by La Reverdie and Cantori Gregoriani received enthusiastic reviews in several music magazines: ‘For those who want to enjoy some of the best liturgical singing this is highly recommended' (Early Music, 1999).

Tracks:
1. Adoremus regem seculorum 07:06
2. Nobilissimis siquidem natalibus - Psalmus I 01:56
3. Pudore bono repletus - Psalmus III 01:39
4. Auro virginum incestus - Psalmus IV 03:55
5. Lectio I 03:16
6. Quadam die tempestate - Mox illis clamantibus 03:41
7. Claudia Caffagni - Vox de celo 01:27
8. Lectio II 02:21
9. Confessor Dei Nicholaus - Erat enim valde compaciens 03:55
10. Lectio III 05:06
11. Ex eius tumba - Catervatim - Sospitati dedit egros 06:38
12. Ex eius tumba 08:55
13. O per omnia laudabilem virum - Psalmus CL 02:37
14. Qui cum audissent - Clara quippe voce 03:26
15. Copiose caritatis Nicholae - Benedictus 06:18
16. O Christi pietas - Magnificat 06:45
17. Oracio - Sainte Nicolas Godes druth 04:51