Renaissance Noel in Chestnut Hill
Vox Renaissance Consort, under the direction of Maestro Valentin Radu, gave a memorable Christmas
Season themed music concert Saturday night in Chestnut Hill. The program was performed at St. Martin-
in-the-Fields, Episcopal Church, and was titled Renaissance Noel.
Season themed music concert Saturday night in Chestnut Hill. The program was performed at St. Martin-
in-the-Fields, Episcopal Church, and was titled Renaissance Noel.
Typically, we associate the word renaissance with the Italian arts, but Saturday’s program leaned heavily
on the music of the German Renaissance and/or Early Baroque period; religious music. There was a
piece played that was so old that nearly two centuries after its composition, JS Bach used the melody as
the basis for one of his own harmonies.
The choir of singers dressed in period costumes, and ancient period instruments were used. Some of the
composers performed were: Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611-1675), Hans Hassler (1564-1612), Johann
Schmelzer (1623-1680), Michael Praetorius (1571-1621), and Johan Pachelbel (1653-1706).
Vox Ama Deus, Artistic Director and Conductor, Radu, also incorporated traditional Christmas Carols
from his native Romania. Radu spoke briefly about the special meaning these Romanian Carols had for
him, having been born and raised under the Communist Romanian dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu.
According to Radu, it was illegal for a group of people to gather in public and sing Christmas Carols in
the Romania of his childhood. He emphasized the central importance of “freedom” to all our lives,
without getting political. After the concert, I spoke with the maestro one-on-one.
“Did you say it was illegal in Communist Romania to sing Christmas Carols in public? What would they
do to you if you did?”
“Put you in jail. God itself was outlawed in Communist Romania, because according to dictator
Ceaușescu, ‘God did not exist’. God was outlawed.”
“You mean the idea that ‘God did not exist’ was written into the laws? The constitution?”
“Yes. According to Ceaușescu.” Atheism was, in fact, written into the Communist Romanian constitution as
the official belief system. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism)
If you are going to a holiday concert to listen to your favorite Christmas music that you’ve heard since
you were a kid, then Renaissance Noel is not for you. The only piece of music I vaguely recognized was
an old version of Ave Maria. Nevertheless, this was a special concert. It is an amazing collection of mostly short compositions, clearly selected and performed with great care, including in the choice of costume.
Terrific music and a lot of fun. (https://www.voxamadeus.org/concerts)
on the music of the German Renaissance and/or Early Baroque period; religious music. There was a
piece played that was so old that nearly two centuries after its composition, JS Bach used the melody as
the basis for one of his own harmonies.
The choir of singers dressed in period costumes, and ancient period instruments were used. Some of the
composers performed were: Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611-1675), Hans Hassler (1564-1612), Johann
Schmelzer (1623-1680), Michael Praetorius (1571-1621), and Johan Pachelbel (1653-1706).
Vox Ama Deus, Artistic Director and Conductor, Radu, also incorporated traditional Christmas Carols
from his native Romania. Radu spoke briefly about the special meaning these Romanian Carols had for
him, having been born and raised under the Communist Romanian dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu.
According to Radu, it was illegal for a group of people to gather in public and sing Christmas Carols in
the Romania of his childhood. He emphasized the central importance of “freedom” to all our lives,
without getting political. After the concert, I spoke with the maestro one-on-one.
“Did you say it was illegal in Communist Romania to sing Christmas Carols in public? What would they
do to you if you did?”
“Put you in jail. God itself was outlawed in Communist Romania, because according to dictator
Ceaușescu, ‘God did not exist’. God was outlawed.”
“You mean the idea that ‘God did not exist’ was written into the laws? The constitution?”
“Yes. According to Ceaușescu.” Atheism was, in fact, written into the Communist Romanian constitution as
the official belief system. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism)
If you are going to a holiday concert to listen to your favorite Christmas music that you’ve heard since
you were a kid, then Renaissance Noel is not for you. The only piece of music I vaguely recognized was
an old version of Ave Maria. Nevertheless, this was a special concert. It is an amazing collection of mostly short compositions, clearly selected and performed with great care, including in the choice of costume.
Terrific music and a lot of fun. (https://www.voxamadeus.org/concerts)
Aristarchus Patrinos
Assistant Committeeperson for the 10th Division
of Philadelphia's 9th Ward